Defense remains the most overlooked part of the Nuggets’ dominance

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DENVER — When you think about the Nuggets, the first thing you think of is probably offense.

(OK, maybe you think about Dikembe Mutombo on his back squeezing a ball for dear life, or Carmelo Anthony jab-stepping to Valhalla, or Rocky the Mountain Lion draining backward half-court shots. For the purposes of this exercise, though, just go with me, all right?)

Denver has finished in the top 10 in the NBA in points scored per possession for six years running and in the top five four times in that span, including this season. The Nuggets have reached an even higher level on that end over the past two months, leading the postseason in offensive efficiency by an absurd amount, thanks to the paradigm-shifting play of Nikola Jokić, the scoring and playmaking excellence of Jamal Murray, and contributions from up and down a roster teeming with talent and perfectly constructed to complement the senses-shattering Murray-Jokić two-man game.

When you think about why the Nuggets are one win away from their first NBA championship in franchise history, though, maybe that’s not the side of the court you should be focusing on.

“I don’t think it’s just us scoring the ball,” said Nuggets guard Bruce Brown, whose fourth-quarter explosion helped seal Game 4, at Denver’s Sunday practice. “It’s our defense. We’ve held [the Miami Heat] in the 90s the last few games, and that’s why we’ve won the game.”

As much as the 2023 NBA Finals thus far have served as a coronation for Jokić as arguably the best basketball player in the world (and the dissents sure seem to be getting quieter with each passing game), a coming-out party for Murray (on the national stage, at least) and a validation of the patience that Denver’s ownership and front office showed in building a championship-caliber roster, they’ve also provided proof that these Nuggets don’t just have to overwhelm you. They can shut your water off, too.

The Nuggets and center Nikola Jokić, at practice Sunday in Denver, need one more win for their first NBA championship. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Through 19 postseason games, the Nuggets have allowed 111.9 points per 100…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2023-06-11 23:54:51

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