The Nuggets have built their identity around the idea that if the core is healthy, the ceiling is still there. But after three rough games, that comfortable assumption is starting to crack, and Bill Simmons put the uneasy reality front and center on his latest podcast.
During an NBA power poll where he ranked all 30 teams based on what he’s seen so far, Simmons slotted Denver 19th and grouped them into what he called “possible panic time”. His concern went beyond the obvious questions around Nikola Jokic. He also pointed to a much more unsettling possibility for Nuggets fans: Aaron Gordon may not be the same player anymore.
That’s the kind of fear that hits Denver right in the gut, because Gordon has become so much more than a useful starter. He’s the player who helps make the whole operation work on both ends.
When he’s available and operating at his usual level, the Nuggets look connected. When he’s not, the gaps show up fast.
Gordon’s health has become its own storyline, with the forward seemingly always dealing with some kind of soft tissue issue in one of his legs. The notion of him getting through a full season again already feels like a stretch. The bigger worry now is whether even a healthy Gordon can still give Denver the same version of himself.
That matters because Gordon isn’t some fringe piece in this equation. He’s the team’s best down-low defender and a valuable presence on the perimeter.
He’s also their best rim protector and the top answer when they need someone to handle dominant wing scorers. Offensively, he brings more than enough to keep defenses honest: he’s one of Denver’s best catch-and-shoot threats from three, a real weapon out of the dunker spot, and even someone who can push the ball and run the offense in a pinch.
He’s the kind of player who quietly holds everything together. Denver deserves credit for how he anchors the defense, but his offensive impact can get overlooked.
When the Nuggets are at their best, it isn’t just the Jamal Murray-Nikola Jokic two-man game. Gordon is part of the engine too, turning it into a three-man attack that makes the whole thing go.
Without him, the drop-off is obvious. And that’s what makes the current concern so dangerous for Denver: if Gordon can’t be counted on to bring that same two-way force anymore, there’s nobody on the roster who can come close to replacing him. That would leave Jokic and Murray carrying too much of the load for the Nuggets to be taken seriously.
It’s too early to stamp that as the verdict. Three bad games can still be just three bad games, and the picture could look different in a week. But if it doesn’t, the questions around this team are only going to get louder, and the answers may not be easy to find.
In Other News...
Nuggets Rotation Suddenly Gives David Adelman A Tough New Decision
With injuries piling up around the roster, David Adelman has been forced to keep reshaping the Nuggets rotation on the fly, and the latest version has at least given Denver some useful answers. The absences of Spencer Jones, Julian Strawther, Alpha Diallo and Cameron Johnson have opened the door for new combinations, and the coach has leaned into a lineup that asks for more energy, more length and more stability from players who have not always had defined roles.
One of the clearest beneficiaries has been rookie Trevon Brazile, whose defense and rebounding have helped steady recent minutes and give the Nuggets a different look early in games. The bench has become just as intriguing, too, with Marvin Bagley III and DeMar DeRozan both making a strong push for more responsibility after the win over New Orleans, leaving Adelman with a deeper rotation puzzle even as the injury situation keeps forcing his hand. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found The Defensive Answer Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Nuggets have already seen two very different versions of their defense against the Pelicans this season, and the latest meeting offered a much better sign for a team still trying to find reliable consistency on that end. Head coach David Adelman liked the way Denver moved from spot to spot, closed possessions with more urgency and got meaningful minutes from rookies Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins in a win that looked far more connected than their first look at New Orleans.
For Denver, the bigger question is whether this was a one-night spike or the start of something sturdier. Adelman has been looking for sharper rotation work and more force in the way his group applies pressure, and the Nuggets will need those habits to stick if they want to turn occasional defensive flashes into something they can trust as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Young Core Is Already Forcing A Rotation Debate
With the Nuggets sitting at 2-2 after a win over New Orleans and losses to Oklahoma City and Golden State, the early-season conversation has already turned to how much of the young core can crack through a crowded rotation. Rookie Trevon Brazile has been one of the more encouraging developments, stepping in for Spencer Jones and giving Denver useful frontcourt minutes with 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while the team tries to sort out its best combinations.
DaRon Holmes has had a far quieter start, and that only adds to the uncertainty around how Michael Malone will balance development with winning now. Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon have each flashed the kind of impact Denver needs, but with the schedule still in its opening stretch, the Nuggets already have more young talent than obvious playing time, and the next few games should start to clarify who sticks in the mix. [Read more 🡒]