Opening Night, the Denver Nuggets are far from Pitch Perfect

“I’ve wrestled crocodiles and dingoes simultaneously.”
-Amy, Pitch Perfect

“Well… aside from the notes, the intonation, the blend, and the musicality, it was perfect.”
-my High School choral director on our group’s worst days

Dr. Herb Goodrich, my choral director quoted above, was pretty expert on what it took to win… a “stat” you don’t hear about too many musicians. Doc was unique, however, with a reputation amongst the state elite, having taken his groups to win state competitions numerous times, with prizes in several national competitions as well. So when high-school-choir’s version of Pat Riley stopped everything to tell you you were perilously close to sucking, you tended to listen.

And try to shape up, if you wanted to keep playing.

The Nuggets surely looked to be wrestling crocodiles and dingoes simultaneously on an unfortunately Thunderous Thursday night. I wonder what coach Michael Malone was able to compliment postgame about his Denver Nuggets team after such a bumpy beginning to the 2024-25 NBA season. Hopefully his speech wasn’t, “aside from the shooting, the passing, the defense, and the physicality…”

Unfortunately, such a speech would have been apropos. What were the bright spots from Thursday night’s opener? Hmmm…

• Nikola Jokic put up a triple-double
• Christian Braun was the co-scoring leader, and had a positive +/-
• The Nuggets led by six twice in the first quarter

and…

I mean, sadly, that’s about it. Joker, Braun, and Aaron Gordon each had passable shooting nights from the floor. Not a single Nugget was scintillating on offense, even Jokic, something rare. Less rare is the troubling habit the team carries over from last season of being all-hot or all-not, with no one else finding a rhythm from the floor. To illustrate:

• Jamal Murray: 4-14 FG, 2-6 3PT, 12 points, 38 minutes
• Michael Porter, Jr.: 5-17 FG, 3-10 3PT, 15 points, 32 minutes
• Peyton Watson: 1-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 2 points, 15 minutes
• Russell Westbrook: 2-10 FG, 1-4 3PT, 6 points, 21 minutes

Beyond some individually tough nights, for the team:

• 35.4% shooting from the floor, with a 25% mark from the bench
• 17.9% 3 point shooting, with a 6.3% mark from the bench
• 1-4 FT shooting from the bench, with Russ also 1-4 from the stripe
• (no, no one else on the bench shot a free throw in their collective 53 minutes)

While Julian Strawther did have a .500 shooting night, his meager six points came on 3-6 shooting from the floor, and 0-2 shooting outside the arc. Even Jokic’s decent game was overshadowed by a monster game from OKC’s Chet Holmgren. Gordon’s solid moments were far too far apart, and last year’s #1 seed came into Denver looking to prove they deserved it. Once the Nuggets long-distance shooting never showed up, Oklahoma City never felt forced to stretch the floor on defense. Jokic opened the game with a three pointer, and didn’t make another the rest of the night. Jalen Williams gave Jamal Murray a hard foul on a drive to the hoop barely two.minutes into the game, and while an ever-tough Murray bounced up and sank both free throws, it was clear which team started out as the aggressor, with the Nuggets on their heels most of the rest of the way.

While the Thunder gave Denver all they could handle, one of the Nuggets more inept nights in the last few years still only resulted in a 17-point loss. As bad as that all felt, it is still only one loss. The Nuggets have a lot to figure out, but here’s betting and hoping they don’t shortcut any of the steps it will take to try to make all of these still-compelling pieces fit. Just don’t be too surprised if that all takes a little time to come into tune. Murray, Porter, and Strawther will all return to better shooting percentages. Watson will find the right gear, and Russ will still be a straw that stirs. Let’s hope that’s right, as this Thunder team will be this sort of a puzzle for the foreseeable future.

Should Denver rack up a couple more losses of this sort, you’ll hear a rumble from Nuggets Nation akin to the one the Colorado Avalanche faithful were grumbling after the Avs 0-4 start. But take hope from that tale of woe, as hockey has vastly improved across across the hall. The hoops side shall as well. Both teams will probably need some moments of patience early in the season trying to get everyone to sing along just so. While some of the early notes from these Nuggets are badly out of tune, this first game often went about as unfortunately as it could. Give this group a little more time to see if they can harmonize.