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DENVER — The Nuggets are 4-2 over their last six games and boast the league’s most efficient offense during that span, but there’s still something missing for Denver who currently sits at ninth overall in the West after 31 regular season games
The Nuggets are currently ranked 27th league-wide in defensive efficiency, giving up 108.4 points per 100 possessions, two points worse than last year. Over their past six games, since Michael Malone altered his starting lineup and cut down his rotation, the Nuggets’ defense hasn’t been any better, giving up 109.4 points per 100 possessions.
However, Malone doesn’t have any immediate plans to alter his rotation, which currently consists of nine players; Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Harris, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Nikola Jokic who make up the starting unit and Jameer Nelson, Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Kenneth Faried, who comprise Denver’s bench.
“Since we made the lineup change, we’re 4-2. So if we can go 4-2 every six games, I’d be pretty happy with that,” Malone said. “So right now, I think we’re going to stay with what we have going.”
Two players that were getting spot minutes for the Nuggets; Darrell Arthur and Jusuf Nurkic before the lineup change on Dec. 15, now find themselves out of the rotation. Arthur and Nurkic are also two of Denver’s better defenders.
Arthur has only appeared in two of the Nuggets’ last six games and played a total of 15 minutes, 11 of which came in Denver’s 109-108 loss to Atlanta after Jokic found himself in second-half foul trouble.
Nurkic, who began the year as the Nuggets’ starting center and averaged 15.2 points and 10.6 rebounds over Denver’s first five regular season games, has recorded four straight DNP-CD’s.
“Obviously, it’s a challenge,” Malone said of his rotation. “The guys that I feel for like Nurkic, who’s been terrific, his attitude has been great, he’s working his butt off, he’s staying ready. Darrell Arthur, every time he’s called upon he goes out there and plays at a high level, he’s not playing right now. Obviously the two young guys.”
To an extent, Malone is right. The Nuggets are winning right now, something that couldn’t be said earlier this season, especially after a 2-4 showing on a six-game road trip that prompted the Nuggets to make significant changes to their starting lineup.
And for the moment, it looks like this current rotation is here to stay.
“I like the nine that we’re going with right now,” Malone said. “And then obviously, certain situations may arise, foul trouble, injury, we may have to go to somebody else. But I kind of like the group we’re using right now.”
