People see that the Nuggets are humming along, that Nikola Jokic is putting up monster numbers on a nightly basis, that Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are healthy and off to great starts, and that the bench is deeper and holding its own while the key starters rest and stay fresh.
But what they may not realize is that the Nuggets have been playing defense at an elite level this season. Through their first 11 games, the [Nuggets have the 2nd-best defensive rating](https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced?CF=MIN*GE*15&dir=A&sort=OFF_RATING) in the entire league, trailing only the Thunder.
They made a lot of changes in the offseason, but they didn’t touch their core, and it’s not like they brought in any defensive stoppers or anything like that. Yet while everyone in the rotation may not be an elite defender, everyone is coming in with the right mindset.
The depth is allowing everyone to stay fresh, and everyone who hits the court is giving the right effort and making sure they’re in the right spots, and it’s all paying off. Maybe the Nuggets can’t sustain a top 2 defense in the league, but it appears they should be able to sustain a good enough defense to compete for a title.
Nuggets’ new additions have made massive difference on defense
--------------------------------------------------------------
Guys like Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Peyton Watson have been leading the defense, but the new additions have made a big difference. Cam Johnson’s offensive struggles have been well documented, but he is playing excellent defense.
Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. are known for offensive prowess, but they’ve both been guarding and making an impact on the defensive end. Jonas Valanciunas is the best backup center the team has had in years, and his rebounding and presence around the rim have made a big difference.
These guys aren’t going to appear on All-Defense teams, but the collective effort of the group is working extremely well. David Adelman has preached a more aggressive defensive scheme, and the players are carrying it out with the right mindset. With one of Jokic or Val on the floor, they should be a stellar rebounding unit at all times.
The many long, athletic wings just need to commit to guarding, pressuring ballhandlers, and keeping their man in front of them, and this should all work quite well. They’ll be tested with Braun and Johnson set to miss some time, but the system in place is working very well. And if the Nuggets sustain an elite defense, there’s a good chance they’ll be raising another championship banner.