The Denver Nuggets have been struggling defensively this season, and it's clear that something has shifted from their previous years of physical dominance. One major change has been on the sidelines, with the transition from Michael Malone to David Adelman as head coach. Brian Scalabrine, a former Celtic and current analyst, shared his insights on "The Zach Lowe Show," suggesting that Malone's gritty influence is sorely missed.
Scalabrine didn't mince words when discussing the Nuggets' current defensive woes. "I think Mike Malone’s ruggedness was really good for their team," he remarked.
"They looked big, they looked imposing, they looked physical. That has all disappeared to me."
His observations seem spot on, as the Nuggets' defense has indeed taken a noticeable dip.
A glaring example of their defensive struggles was against the Jazz, where they allowed a staggering 84 points in the paint. It was as if the Jazz were running a layup drill, exploiting the Nuggets' inability to get physical.
This marked the most points Denver has allowed in the paint since the 1996-97 season. Despite the Jazz's tanking strategy for a better draft pick, the Nuggets found themselves unable to assert their presence defensively.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray stepped up with impressive performances to secure a win, but the question remains: can the Nuggets reclaim the defensive prowess they once had? At the start of the season, Scalabrine believed they had the potential to be a top-10 defense, a feat they achieved in the 2023-24 season with a defensive rating of 112.3, ranking 8th in the league.
Currently, however, the Nuggets' defensive rating has slipped to 116.2, placing them 21st in the NBA-a point worse than their position last season. Over the last five games, although all wins, their defensive rating has ballooned to 121.3. Yet, there's a silver lining in their offensive surge, boasting an offensive rating of 128.7, the highest in the league during that stretch.
The challenge for the Nuggets will be to rediscover that "toughness" and "ruggedness" that defined them under Malone while maintaining their offensive firepower. Whether they can strike this balance remains to be seen, but their journey will certainly be one to watch.