NBA: Nuggets with Thomas: We shoot you out of the hall

The Denver Nuggets have caused quite a stir with the signing of Isaiah Thomas. The team from Mile High City is pushing with all their might towards playoffs after five years of hard times. The nuggets will have to win their games especially in the offense, as the weaknesses in defence appear blatant.

If you are familiar with the history of the NBA, the name Doug Moe will tell you something. He coached some legendary Denver Nuggets teams in the eighties, who drove Run-and-Gun to the top and were mostly first in the offense and last in the defense. Nevertheless, the nuggets were always a good playoff team at that time, often even a pretty good one, which around star Alex English but simply couldn’t get past the Showtime Lakers with Magic Johnson and Co.

At the present time, there could be another nuggets team of this kind, which could fill Moe with a lot of pride. Already last season Denver provided the best offense of all teams that did not reach the playoffs (6th overall, offensive rating: 109.1), but also the fifth worst defence, only the Bulls, Kings, Cavs and Suns were worse.

The offseason moves at least suggest that the gap between offense and defense could widen even further. Wilson Chandler was probably the best wing defender the nuggets ever traded to Philadelphia, the most important newcomer, Isaiah Thomas, was never more defensive than – nicely put – the lower average.

And yet this offseason can and must be considered a success for the team from Mile High City. In the draft, Michael Porter Jr., once considered the best high school player in the country, fell into their laps at position 14. However, it is not clear whether the rookie will even intervene in the coming season.

With Franchise-Center Nikola Jokic was extended for five full years (148 million, no option!), even microwave Will Barton could be tied on the first day of the Free Agency, albeit at a not quite cheap rate (4 years, 54 million). However, the nuggets were deeply caught up in the luxury tax and had to react to it. This is how Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur’s trade to Brooklyn can be explained, it was simply an economy measure. Both Bigs did not play a role in the rotation anyway, so the trade was logical.

However, the Nets did not take the two players out of pure courtesy. Including the Chandler trade, the nuggets saved a total of 90 million dollars with these moves, but also sold off the 2019 first-round pick and the 2020 and 2021 second-round picks. In 2022 Philly also has the opportunity to swap the second-round pick.

Denver paid the price to keep the youngsters, but also to make up for mistakes like the expensive extension of Mason Plumlee (3 years, 41 million) from the previous year. It must have been an announcement from the owners, the Kroenke Group, who were not willing to go into the luxury tax for a team that has not reached the playoffs since 2013.

Mike Malone’s team were at least very close last season, their dreams only burst in a duel with their direct rival Minnesota on the final day of play. Even the positive balance of 46-36 did not help.

GM Tim Connelly made this clear after the Minnesota game. “Anything but the playoffs would be a disappointment for us,” said the GM, who also praised the team for the season. “I’m very proud of the team, we have really grown together and are proud of the 46 victories.”

The core will again consist of the young trio Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Jokic in the new season. The same goes for veteran and borderline all star Paul Millsap, who missed half of the match and finally found the chemistry with Jokic in the final spurt.

Page 1: Jokic extension and cost-saving measures

Page 2: How does Isaiah Thomas help the nuggets?