The Nuggets’ season has already delivered enough unease to stir plenty of noise, but the bigger picture still points in one direction: this is about getting through the grind in one piece.
Denver did pick up a solid and much-needed win Wednesday night in New Orleans, a result that helped steady things after a rough opening stretch. Even so, the start has been underwhelming. The Nuggets’ two victories have both come against the Pelicans, while the Thunder and Warriors handed them heavy losses.
There’s more than just the record behind the early-season jitter. Nikola Jokic has found himself in a strange spot with the fans, Aaron Gordon may be trending down, Jamal Murray is carrying too much of the load, and there are problems popping up all over the roster.
But four games is four games. That’s the key perspective here. The NBA regular season is a marathon, and everything Denver has shown so far still says Jokic is a wins machine who can drag this team through the long haul if needed.
That’s why the Nuggets can’t get too tangled up in the early mess. Their real objectives remain the same: reach the playoffs healthy, fresh, and ready to chase a championship.
A bad week or a slow start can’t push them off course. The work now is to absorb the bumps, keep looking for what fits, and avoid making panic the plan.
The broader league picture only sharpens that reality, especially in the Western Conference. The Thunder have already lost Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, likely for the entire season.
The Timberwolves are without Anthony Edwards for multiple months and maybe longer. The Jazz have lost Jaren Jackson Jr. for 6-8 weeks with a torn MCL.
And it isn’t just the West. The East is already dealing with long absences for Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Duren, Paolo Banchero, and others.
So however rough Denver’s first stretch has felt, it can get a lot uglier around the league in a hurry. In that sense, the Nuggets’ task is straightforward: survive and advance.
That means protecting health, keeping players as fresh as possible, and giving the roster a chance to settle into a rhythm. It also means recognizing that the season won’t unfold perfectly. The Nuggets are already dealing with issues involving Cam Johnson, Julian Strawther, and Spencer Jones.
None of that makes the job easy. Even doing everything right doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing. But the blueprint is there, and Denver needs to follow it - stay steady, take the lumps, and keep its eyes on the bigger prize.
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 🡒]
Aaron Gordon Has Become A Real Nuggets Concern
Aaron Gordons importance to Denver has only grown as the Nuggets have tried to steady themselves through a rough stretch, and that is exactly why the current discussion around him has gotten louder. Bill Simmons raised the topic on his podcast, framing the Nuggets as a team that may be close to a panic point if Gordon is no longer able to provide the level of two-way impact they have come to expect from him alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
The concern is not just about one quiet night or a temporary dip. Gordon has been dealing with recurring soft tissue leg issues, and for a player whose value comes from constant movement, physical defense and timely offense, that is a real worry for Denver. If he cannot stay on the floor and sustain the same kind of production, the Nuggets suddenly have a much thinner margin for error than they would like at this stage. [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 🡒]