Knicks crush Nuggets: Denver’s defensive problems

Hello, my name is Dan Gartland. Between Memphis’ upset over UConn, Auburn’s last-second victory over Iowa State and North Carolina’s 21-point comeback against Dayton, the first day of the Maui Invitational couldn’t have been better.

In today’s SI:AM:

Nuggets fight
Ravens win the Harbowl
The Evolution of Juan Soto

A month into the NBA season, the Denver Nuggets – less than two years removed from the franchise’s first championship – find themselves in the middle of the Western Conference standings. They hit a new low on Monday night after going 145-118 at home against the New York Knicks.

The Knicks led by 23 points at the end of the first half and never looked back. The Nuggets never cut the lead below 17 points. OG Anunoby led New York with a career-high 40 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting.

Denver coach Michael Malone condemned his team for poor play after the loss.

“We felt embarrassed tonight.” Malone said. “We have 16 games behind us and we are talking about effort. We need to ask ourselves: who do we want to be as a team?

“Playing like you actually care would be great.”

Nuggets players, to their credit, agreed that effort was lacking.

“These aren’t X’s and O’s” Jamal Murray said. “It wasn’t a miss or a twist of fate. I just think they played harder.

The most surprising thing for the Nuggets is that they laid an egg so soon after Saturday’s 127-102 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. But it’s been an up-and-down season for Denver. The Nuggets are 9-7 on the year, while the Phoenix Suns are seventh in the West. It’s an unexpected place to see the Nuggets after finishing in the top three in the conference in five of the last six seasons, but it’s not undeserved.

The biggest difference between this year’s Nuggets team and last year’s is defense. Denver has never been a great team defensively, but ranking near the middle or closer to the top of the league over the last few years has allowed them to lead the team in effective offense. However, this year the defense has deteriorated. The 145 points that the Knicks scored on Monday night is approx most allowed by any team in a match this season. Nuggets too one of only six teams not hold an opponent under 100 points in any game this season. They rank 23rd in points allowed per game and 17th in points allowed per 100 possessions. For comparison, last season they finished sixth in points scored per game and eighth in defensive efficiency.

One of the reasons for this mistake is the fact that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, left in free agency and signed a contract with the Orlando Magic. Aaron Gordon, another solid defender, has been sidelined since November 4 with a calf injury and remains sidelined indefinitely. A weakened Nuggets team can’t be expected to keep opponents in check if players aren’t giving their all every night, which is why Malone condemned his players’ lack of effort on Monday. And he wasn’t afraid to mention names. Malone said he appreciates the leadership of veteran Russell Westbrook, but the team needs top players to show more commitment and take charge.

“He’s vocal” Malone said about Westbrook. “But we need more than Russell Westbrook. I need Nikola Jokic. I need Jamal Murray. I need the guys who were in the starting lineup here to speak up. And tonight we felt ashamed.”

Fortunately for the Nuggets, as long as Jokic remains an elite player, they will be able to beat almost anyone. Jokić is as great as ever this season. He leads the NBA with 13.4 rebounds per game, ranks fourth in scoring and second in assists. He is the type of superstar who can cover up everything and cover up many of the team’s shortcomings. However, unless Denver improves defensively, a return to championship contention is still a long way off.

…things I saw yesterday:

5. Number 1 pick in the NHL draft Macklin Celebrini’s invisible goalhis fifth of the season.
4. Lamar Jackson’s excellent accuracy on a touchdown pass that traveled more than 50 yards in the air.
3. UConn guard Solo Ball buzzer force overtime against Memphis. However, the Tigers prevailed in overtime, handing the No. 2 Huskies their first loss of the season.
2. Johnie Broome winner of the tip-in game for Auburn against Iowa State.
1. Game winner by Jaden Ivey at the buzzer of the Pistons v. Raptors game.