Grades: bench leads Denver Nuggets to blowout

Nikola Jokić – B-

Big Honey never woke up from his proverbial slumber for the Knicks game. Maybe he could tell his teammates had the juice. Perhaps he was a little tired. Or, closer to the realm of unthinkable these days, it’s possible Jokić simply didn’t have it against New York. It verged on a lousy performance by his new, superhuman standard. He was lazy with the ball, nearly matching his seven assists with turnovers. And he couldn’t find the mark from distance. All is well that ends well, and if there’s any member of the organization that’s earned an off-night, it’s him. Still, it’s a jarring sight to see the collective buoy Jokić. His final line is still impressive — it always is — but he never took complete control of the game as he’s ever capable of doing. The bench carried the day.

Aaron Gordon – A-

Tough day to be selling any Gordon stock, though I can’t imagine anyone dialed in is keen on doing so. Gordon looked like a natural shooter Tuesday night, eager and capable from deep and more than willing from the mid-post. He double-dipped in roles by playing the finisher down low and doing damage at the rim after rolling and through timely cutting. He picked up four smooth assists for good measure, giving me another opportunity to appreciate his tertiary playmaking and use the word tertiary. Good looking out, AG.

Will Barton – A

The Nuggets don’t need to trade Will Barton. A given fan might want the Nuggets to, and there exist various hypothetical trades that are interesting in the least, if not appealing. But the Nuggets don’t need to. This current starting lineup is one of the best in the league, as was the group post-Gordon addition last season. Both featured Barton in varying roles.

He’s a flawed player and well short of a star in the NBA. There are valid criticisms to lean on for the detractors, not all of whom are haters — his defense isn’t good enough these days, the long-term health is a significant concern, and he will call his number at ill-advised times. He is, however, a good fit. The notion that he doesn’t play well with Jokić, pass the ball much, or generally buy into being a team player is as tired as it is false.

Barton was one of the best players on the floor Tuesday night, seemingly prioritizing playmaking yet scoring 20 efficient points anyway. The five assists feel like a low number, not only because he nearly had more, but because the ones he recorded came deep from his designer bag. The Thrill is not gone.

Willy B had himself a night… AGAIN🔥 pic.twitter.com/HTChmQB2lK

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 9, 2022

Monte Morris – D+

Morris played poorly. As far as poor performances go, though, ones that include six assists and zero turnovers are generally tenable.

Jeff Green – D+

Green needs the All-Star break and a spa day. His propensity to fade into the background of games is remarkable.

Zeke Nnaji – B+

Nnaji missed four threes yet still played a great game, which is a great sign. We’re waiting for signs of growth on the interior, and Tenacious Z lived up to the optimistic nickname with arguably his best game around the rim. He rebounded well and went up strong. Nnaji battled to get back into the rotation and Malone’s favor. He hasn’t disappointed since earning his stripes.

Bones Hyland – A

Bones was feeling it from the jump in Ball Arena. He played with infectious energy and talked his trash, seemingly all of his contributions coming in the form of an exclamation point. He dropped (pushed) Kemba Walker to the floor, looked at him, drained a three, and pointed at his victim. He plays with an attitude that’s lacking in Denver. That approach isn’t for everyone, but it’s an essential facet of his on-court identity and a key ingredient to his success. He led all Nuggets with 22 points via 4 of 7 shooting from deep.

JaMychal Green – A

Supposing that was Green’s last game in Denver, what a swan song it was. He scored twenty points on just seven shots, wreaked havoc with his new, signature blitz of pick-and-rolls, and earned the coveted DPOG award chain thing. After the game, he said he hopes to remain in Denver but hasn’t spent any time dwelling on the deadline.

“I’m still getting paid on the 1st and the 15th.”

King.