After being the 29th ranked defense as recently as mid-December, the Nuggets have moved up to the middle of the pack. What has been the biggest reason for this change?
After being the 29th ranked defense as recently as mid-December, the Nuggets have moved up to the middle of the pack. What has been the biggest reason for this change?
MPJ being back gives Brown more minutes with the bench unit and more Cancar and less DAJ.
internallylinked
How far up can Nuggets go realistically? Surely above Wizards and Portland, maybe NOLA too. Boston will probably improve now with Rob Will
RustyBuckets_53
more drop coverage
n0t_malstroem
Players started trying and got more familiar with each other
The_Aught
Deep drop coverage on the pick n Roll instead of keeping Jokic way up high
chronicnugs
Defense git gud give up less pts ur welcome
slurple91
A real focus on D, swarming in the paint, and active hands.
understoodAnarchy
Effort and playing as a unit
a_epstein
giving a shit and mixing up coverage. We can’t do drop every time, we can’t hedge every time. Nuggets need to be like the other top tier defenses and show different looks consistently. I like how they’ve been using Zone intermittently.
ListenToTheMuzak
1) playing more games at home
2) players getting in better shape
3) jamal and mpj coming back from injury.
4) AG
5) Bruce brown
6) KCP
7) Vlatko
8) effort
Real_Routine_
I think they were inspired by the ire Malone posts in this very sub
Audenond
They have seen how good they can be when they put more effort into defense so they are finally buying into it.
spizcraft
Pts/game doesn’t account for pace. Our defensive rating is 114.6 (23rd) which is still better than where it was a few weeks ago (28th).
I think MPJ and Murray are doing better staying in front of their man and making rotations, and Bruce Brown and KCP have been awesome all year. Also Nnaji replacing Jordan is better for the second unit
Sprinklewoods
Just wanted to point out that list is sorted by points against, which is just as much an indicator of team pace as it is defense.
Not sure how much weight I’d actually put into that specific ranking.
ktthebb
My guess is Malone issued some spankings
MyAnswerIsMaybe
Effort, personal, a few players back from injury and Malone utilizing some unique schemes and packages to throw off teams
I do think a majority of it is the starters staggering with the bench which has its down sides. Players will be more fatigued for the playoffs and it doesn’t work as well in the playoffs.
I think this points to the fact we need to trade for either or both a new backup center and a highly defensive gaurd (Caruso?)
Osmarku
Jamal and MPJ improvement as season went on. Even Bones made tiny strides I think
Bodiroga1987
More Vlatko, Zeke instead DJ and Jeff
People love Jeff because he’s a cool character, but he literally walks the floor. Vlatko creates much more defensive pressure than Jeff. He is almost 37 and I would hate to see him take minutes away from Vlatko. Last playoff Jeff was very bad and I don’t know why Malone gave him such an advantage over the young man
teensonacid
effort
ShowdownValue
It’s crazy the difference between us and a top ten defense is one extra made basket
JokMackRant
We are still 22nd in defensive rating over all, we just play at a slow pace. Luckily the team is making a lot of progress on that end but they haven’t improved as much as the raw ppg may show.
DosZappos
Continuity and effort
HuonNyx
The answer the players gave given is communication. Playing so much at home also gives opportunities for small group practices to iron out communication and habits in switch or help scenarios.
Accomplished_Dance49
I found me a coach, Malone is he
His angry face he was so pouty
Malone says “Play fucking D”
UnseldOutletPass
They’re doing a better job rushing the passer and jamming receivers at the line
gnarlyprofessor
VLATKO CANCAR’S CHISELED THIGH MUSCLES OF PURE STEEL.
I WISH THEY WORE THE 80’S SHORT SHORTS STYLE STILL.
tron7
Surely Ryan Saunders will get some credit in this thread
BoneyardBill
Health.
FernBlueEyes
The Nuggets are serious about being championship contenders
jloafy
good d make coach smile big
petarisawesomeo
honestly it is just better effort. Everyone likes to shit on MPJ, but the length he provides at the 3 vs. Bruce Brown makes some positive difference as well.
SuperElection3215
The fact that Wizards and Bulls were ahead of them. Not hard to play better defense than no defense
wakehikecamp
Idk but our offense is better than all those top defenses
34 Comments
The staggering of starters.
MPJ being back gives Brown more minutes with the bench unit and more Cancar and less DAJ.
How far up can Nuggets go realistically? Surely above Wizards and Portland, maybe NOLA too. Boston will probably improve now with Rob Will
more drop coverage
Players started trying and got more familiar with each other
Deep drop coverage on the pick n Roll instead of keeping Jokic way up high
Defense git gud give up less pts ur welcome
A real focus on D, swarming in the paint, and active hands.
Effort and playing as a unit
giving a shit and mixing up coverage. We can’t do drop every time, we can’t hedge every time. Nuggets need to be like the other top tier defenses and show different looks consistently. I like how they’ve been using Zone intermittently.
1) playing more games at home
2) players getting in better shape
3) jamal and mpj coming back from injury.
4) AG
5) Bruce brown
6) KCP
7) Vlatko
8) effort
I think they were inspired by the ire Malone posts in this very sub
They have seen how good they can be when they put more effort into defense so they are finally buying into it.
Pts/game doesn’t account for pace. Our defensive rating is 114.6 (23rd) which is still better than where it was a few weeks ago (28th).
I think MPJ and Murray are doing better staying in front of their man and making rotations, and Bruce Brown and KCP have been awesome all year. Also Nnaji replacing Jordan is better for the second unit
Just wanted to point out that list is sorted by points against, which is just as much an indicator of team pace as it is defense.
Not sure how much weight I’d actually put into that specific ranking.
My guess is Malone issued some spankings
Effort, personal, a few players back from injury and Malone utilizing some unique schemes and packages to throw off teams
I do think a majority of it is the starters staggering with the bench which has its down sides. Players will be more fatigued for the playoffs and it doesn’t work as well in the playoffs.
I think this points to the fact we need to trade for either or both a new backup center and a highly defensive gaurd (Caruso?)
Jamal and MPJ improvement as season went on. Even Bones made tiny strides I think
More Vlatko, Zeke instead DJ and Jeff
People love Jeff because he’s a cool character, but he literally walks the floor. Vlatko creates much more defensive pressure than Jeff. He is almost 37 and I would hate to see him take minutes away from Vlatko. Last playoff Jeff was very bad and I don’t know why Malone gave him such an advantage over the young man
effort
It’s crazy the difference between us and a top ten defense is one extra made basket
We are still 22nd in defensive rating over all, we just play at a slow pace. Luckily the team is making a lot of progress on that end but they haven’t improved as much as the raw ppg may show.
Continuity and effort
The answer the players gave given is communication. Playing so much at home also gives opportunities for small group practices to iron out communication and habits in switch or help scenarios.
I found me a coach, Malone is he
His angry face he was so pouty
Malone says “Play fucking D”
They’re doing a better job rushing the passer and jamming receivers at the line
VLATKO CANCAR’S CHISELED THIGH MUSCLES OF PURE STEEL.
I WISH THEY WORE THE 80’S SHORT SHORTS STYLE STILL.
Surely Ryan Saunders will get some credit in this thread
Health.
The Nuggets are serious about being championship contenders
good d make coach smile big
honestly it is just better effort. Everyone likes to shit on MPJ, but the length he provides at the 3 vs. Bruce Brown makes some positive difference as well.
The fact that Wizards and Bulls were ahead of them. Not hard to play better defense than no defense
Idk but our offense is better than all those top defenses