Denver’s Situation Headed Into Game 3

So far in the Nuggets, Suns series it has looked one sided. The Suns have taken the first two games by 25 and 17 points, so the question for the Nuggets is how can they recover? Just by watching the games you can tell the Nuggets need to have better shot selection, and not let the Suns get hot.

With about six minutes left in the third quarter in game one, it looked like the Nuggets were going to win. The Suns were missing all of their shots, and the Nuggets were making all of their’s. Nikola Jokic was successfully guarding Deandre Ayton and forcing bad threes. All of the sudden, the Nuggets let up just a little bit on defense, and looking back, that was the reason the Nuggets lost the game. Mikal Bridges got his first good shot off in the third quarter and he drained it. Mikal went on to score the Suns next 8 points putting them back in the game. With Mikal creating momentum, Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, Devin Booker and seemingly everyone else on the Suns started making all of their shots. I use that example because that shows the Nuggets need to constantly give all effort on defense. If Deandre Ayton cannot make easy shots under the basket and have to pass to people for bad, contested threes, the Suns will not win games.

I mentioned in my first blog convering this series that Michael Porter Jr. will have a big role for the Nuggets, and I was 100% right. The first three quarters of game 1 Michael was playing excellent but as soon as Mikal Bridges started playing well, MPJ choked. He played terribly the rest of game 1, and had a much worse game 2. In order for the Nuggets to take game three, MPJ will need to stay focused on defense and getting good shot attempts.

If Michael Porter Jr. can carry his weight, and if Denver can play good defense they will have a chance in this series; but if Denver can get to the free throw line, they will dominate. The Suns have been playing very tough defense the entire series but you cannot tell by the fouls on Denver, because there are barely any! Denver is not getting to the free throw line at all so they start relying on subpar jumpshots! The games Denver gets to the free throw line, they will win.