OKC Thunder: TI editor power ranking week 9: The shuffle is on
Denver Nuggets. 1. team. 73. . 20-9. Previous: 4th
The big news in Denver is the defense! After posting the 23rd ranked defense last season along with the 30th ranked opponent field goal percent this iteration of the Nuggets is a revelation.
Denver currently ranks fourth defensively and given we’re a third of the way into the season it’s impossible to write this off as a mirage any longer. Especially with Millsap (their defensive captain) sidelined. Considering the Nuggets are winning without Millsap, Gary Harris and Will Barton yet still maintaining their defensive standing speak volumes.
Who would have thought Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray would be the two members of the core making sure the team maintains this mindset? Then again, if I were to pick a player who best emulates their coach’s gritty, in your face aggressive style it would be Murray.
Finally, before we get too hyped over the win versus Toronto without Millsap, Harris, and Barton the Raptors were injury depleted themselves. Lowry, VanVleet, Siakam, Valanciunas, and Powell were all out, i.e. two starters and the first two off the bench plus a key reserve player (JV splits starts with Ibaka). And they were playing their fourth game in six days on the road.
Charles Barkley argues Nikola Jokic is the frontrunner for league MVP right now https://t.co/EsElCk2eSR pic.twitter.com/upsj0cf2qX
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) December 21, 2018
Denver Nuggets:
Offensive Rating: 8th
Defensive Rating: 4th
Net Differential: 4th
Points per game: 109.4 (18th)
Offensive field goal efficiency: 46.2 percent (tied 12th)
Opponent points per game: 102.9 (3rd)
Opponent field goal efficiency: 44.5 percent (tied 6th)
3-Point percent: 34.2% (22nd)
Opponent 3-point percent: 31.7% (1st)
Record: 1st in WC
Home:12-3
Road: 8-6
Back to back sets: 4
Versus the West: 12-4
Versus the East: 8-5
Week nine 3-0: wins Grizzlies, Thunder, Raptors
On tap for week 10: Mavericks, @Clippers