this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2023

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Denver could have the second best defense in the league (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by StudentoftheGameNBA@alien.top to c/nba@nba.space

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Second only to Boston. Denver has size at every position, even Reggie has a 7’ wingspan, and every key player was with them last year.

Their weak spot in their starting lineup is Jokic but he’s huge, with good feet and hands, and he’s the best defensive rebounder in the league. Moreover, their entire defensive scheme is built around protecting him.

But now that Braun has a year under his belt he’s looking like a real positive defender. And Watson has improved enough offensively that he can play and he has elite defensive potential. Add in Zeke’s activity level and the Nuggets look to be building on the defensive momentum of last playoffs. Just now they are longer, younger, and play with more energy.

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[–] SirThixcksAlot@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Probably not but they clearly have a top 10 defense arguable top 5 defense when they’re trying.

[–] JoJonesy@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Man, the Nuggets were 15th in defensive rating last year. We all know how good they are at this point, we don't have to start making shit up to justify it

[–] SwiggySiggyDoc@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

If they a top five defense the entire season its a wrap

[–] ImTheBestNerd@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Doubtful

[–] LogDogan4@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Really don't see why Boston would be a shoe-in for #1. Grant Williams is a huge loss, and replacing Smart and Rob Williams with Jrue and Porzingis are downgrades IMO.

Not saying Denver is going to be #1 either, btw.

[–] ColdCocking@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

no that's nonsense Jokic is the worst defensive center in the league

[–] NuggLyfe2167@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Has anyone tried putting Jokic in the pick n roll repeatedly?

[–] honestnbafan@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

If Denver have the 2nd best defense in the league this year they're legitimately unbeatable lol

Like 67-15 regular season 16-3 playoffs type of unbeatable

They won the championship last year with an average defense in the regular season and an above average but not quite elite defense in the playoffs

[–] introspectiveG@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Definitely not theres way better teams defensively right now and especially since I could see them slowing down there defensive intensity at some point this season. Top-10 for sure though.

[–] leafhat355@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

One of the keys is that when Jokic is on the bench, they play a lineup where they can reasonably just switch everything.

[–] Which_Hawk_7712@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

If the Nuggets can have a top 5 defense they’ll be a dynasty. They’re a machine

[–] Coke_ButNotTheDrug@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

lol crazy how the perception of this team changes so quickly.

Just last playoffs you had people saying Jokic and MPJ were traffic cones and couldn’t guard a PnR to save their life.

[–] DenverNugs@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

No way. Just put Rui on defense.

[–] bearsquadz@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

probably not. Jokic plays lazy defense in the regular season, i can easily see them being around the 10th spot though

[–] RyanBlackburn@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Braun has a year under his belt he’s looking like a real positive defender

He was already a real positive defender last year in his rookie season. He was a defensive stud back in college.

[–] sewsgup@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

best defensive rebounder in the league

Zach Lowe had a great segment about this on his recent pod with Nekias Duncan.

teams with not-good half court offenses (ie the Lakers) rely heavily on crashing for offensive rebounds
but Jokic is so good as a rebounder he gets the def. rebound anyways, and then starts sprinting out in transition for a near-guaranteed bucket, with AD now behind on the play

[–] n0th1ng10@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Grizzlies were top 2 last year and so were the Cavs, and both should remain there this year considering their personnel, lakers could be up theee as well but they have a weak perimeter defense.