The Denver Nuggets’ shaky opening has given the San Antonio Spurs a clear reason to feel better about what lies ahead.
Denver has already stumbled twice to start the season, dropping its opener to the Oklahoma City Thunder before losing at home to the Golden State Warriors on Monday. That second defeat drew boos from the Ball Arena crowd, a rough early sign for a team that, at least right now, does not look like the kind of Western Conference problem San Antonio should be losing sleep over.
The Spurs haven’t exactly cruised either. They opened with losses to the Thunder and an impressive Houston Rockets team.
Even so, their early issues have been more about sorting out new lineups and rotations than anything deeper. Once that settles, they have the kind of two-way talent that can make life miserable for opponents.
That’s what makes Denver’s current form worth watching. The Nuggets may find their rhythm, but the bigger question is whether their ceiling still stacks up with San Antonio’s.
Defense remains the glaring issue for Denver. Last season, the Nuggets were among the league’s worst teams on that end, finishing near the bottom in defensive rating. There were signs of life in their first two games, including a comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans, when David Adelman used a big lineup with Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Trevon Brazile that generated some strong stops.
That progress did not carry over against Golden State. The Warriors hung 134 points on Denver with efficient shooting, and rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg carved them up for 31 points while attacking the rim repeatedly. More broadly, the Nuggets have had trouble keeping teams out of the paint, allowing 52.7 points there.
That is exactly the kind of weakness San Antonio can punish. The Spurs have guards who can win off the dribble, get downhill, finish craftily, and draw fouls. And then there’s Victor Wembanyama, who is almost impossible to contain if a defense does not have enough size and toughness around the rim.
Nikola said it himself after the loss to the Warriors: the Nuggets are not meeting the standard defensively right now. If that continues, it will be hard for them to control games against the defending Western Conference champions later on.
That also sets up a prime test for Wembanyama against Jokic. In seven career head-to-head matchups, Jokic has won five and put up eye-popping numbers: 37.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. This season gives Wemby a chance to change that story.
He has the support around him to make it happen. The Alien’s cast can help wear Jokic down on both ends and take some pressure off by occupying Denver’s best defenders, leaving Wembanyama room to get easier looks and make his presence felt when the game tightens up.
In Other News...
Spurs Suddenly Have A Tough Decision Behind Wembanyama
The Spurs are still sorting through the early-season edges of their rotation, and the center minutes behind Victor Wembanyama are already drawing attention after two home losses in the first three games. Mitch Johnson singled out rookie Tarris Reed Jr. for the energy and defense he brought against Dallas, a useful sign for a team trying to find steadier footing when Wembanyama rests.
Luke Kornet entered the season looking like part of that backup equation, but Reeds early showing gives San Antonio a different kind of option to consider. If the Spurs want more resistance and activity in those non-Wembanyama stretches, the frontcourt mix may not stay fixed for long, and that is the sort of decision that can shape not just a game, but the rhythm of an entire rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Have A Real Chance To Upgrade Around Wembanyama
Injuries to Anthony Edwards and Jalen Williams have turned the Spurs roster-building conversations into something more immediate, and it has them looking at ways to sharpen the group around Victor Wembanyama. The appeal is obvious: San Antonio needs more defense and more dependable shooting, and the kind of upgrades that once felt like long-shot ideas suddenly feel more plausible when the market shifts.
Two names that surface in those discussions are PJ Washington and Royce ONeale, each offering a different fit for what the Spurs are trying to build. Washington would bring frontcourt versatility, while ONeale would add another wing who can defend and space the floor, but neither idea is simple, and any move would still depend on player availability and approvals before it goes anywhere. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Have A New Frost Bank Center Feel Players Are Talking About
The Frost Bank Center has a different look these days, and it is the kind of arena tweak players tend to notice right away. San Antonio has installed a new lighting system that puts more emphasis on the court while dimming the seating areas, bringing the building in line with what many other NBA venues already do.
Luke Kornet has already picked up on the change and talked about how it alters the atmosphere inside the building, giving games a sharper focus once the lights go down. Coach Mitch Johnson, meanwhile, has not made much of the adjustment himself, which only adds to the sense that this is one of those subtle arena changes that matters more to the people on the floor than the people running the team. [Read more 🡒]