Denver Nuggets Fall Flat in Boston

Nikola Jokić – B

The offense wasn’t much of a problem for Nikola Jokić. It rarely is. But Jokić logged under 30 minutes again due to foul trouble, limiting his impact in a game that required his MVP touch. Jokić isn’t getting the whistle he deserves, but some foul trouble is within his control. He remains content to take seemingly minor fouls that grow into regrettable ones. And the lack of effort on defense was jarring yet again.

Still, of Denver’s star players, he’s the only one who showed up ready to compete in their toughest matchup yet.

Jamal Murray – C

Murray managed the game well, logging ten assists and zero turnovers, but his performance came down to a lack of shotmaking. Boston forced a lot of off-the-dribble shots from him, tough stuff for role players, but Murray can thrive that way. He created separation well. He just left too many makeable ones on the board.

Michael Porter Jr. – F

Porter failed his biggest test of the young season. Boston presents a tough matchup for him on paper, and they apply pressure on the court. They get into him, and Porter can struggle with physicality. After missing some makeable looks to open the game, he essentially withdrew from the contest. The lack of shooting production permeated and infected other areas of his game. The hustle we’ve seen on the glass and even on defense at times evaporated.

It’s been a great start to the season for MPJ, but the reason he failed this time matters. Porter must look in the mirror and grow from these performances. The Celtics reminded us why the regular season is important for the Nuggets and some players more than others.

Aaron Gordon – B

No one can accuse AG of tentative play lately. He brought the intensity again and opted for strong drives to the rim over regrettable jumpers more often than not. He played strong in a physical game. The most considerable criticism of his relatively quality performance is his defense. No one is stopping the Celtics these days, but it would have been a marvelous time for Gordon to steel up. That’s the box he isn’t checking for the Nuggets right now.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – B+

KCP nearly saved a lost game single-handedly in the third quarter—again. He scored nine points on 3 of 3 shooting from deep in the quarter. However, the lion’s share of his contribution came in that stretch. He finished with 15 points, one assist, and zero rebounds.

Bruce Brown – B

Like AG, Brown is proving himself a foxhole guy for the Nuggets. Brown scored 16 points, grabbed ten boards (five OREB), dished out six assists, and picked up two steals. He was ready for war, but there were diminishing returns on his minutes as the primary ball handler in a game that excluded Bones Hyland. And for all the intensity he brought around the rim, he shot 5 of 14 from the field.

DeAndre Jordan – F

Jordan finished with zero rebounds in nearly ten minutes. And this occurred despite roughly 1000 opportunities in one, now infamous, possession.

BASKETBALL pic.twitter.com/FWuG0RjzKL

— Pull up shoot  (@NElGHT_) November 12, 2022

The pickings are slim for Malone in terms of backup big options. Still, Nnaji stayed on the bench after this lack of effort from DAJ that would likely see someone else benched. Imagine MPJ or Nnaji himself turning in this effort.

Jeff Green – C

Green put his head down and got some tough, necessary buckets the hard way. But he also didn’t help any in the rebounding department. The Green – Jordan pairing has shown flashes of veteran utility. Still, those moments tend to punctuate longer stretches of inactivity.

Christian Braun – C

Braun logged significant time in a matchup well-suited for him. It wasn’t his night, though. We saw a couple of rookie yips with the ball in his hands, and the youngster couldn’t buoy a sinking bench.