Despite the arrival of a new era, the Denver Nuggets will continue to grapple with the identical challenges they faced in 2021.
Led by the talented MPV Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have made strides in their gameplay, resulting in more victories. However, due to the absence of key spin players, it is difficult to view them as anything more than a slightly below-average team. Currently, the Nuggets rank 20th in the league after 35 games, with a net rating of -0.5. Their offensive and defensive ratings stand at 19th place, with scores of 108.5 and 108 respectively.
Denver’s injury report keeps growing, but there is hope as some participants return from the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s examine who Denver may be missing in the upcoming days once again.
Denver & , injury report
Jamal Murray (recovering from a left ACL injury), Markus Howard (dealing with a left knee sprain), and Michael Porter Jr. (recently underwent lumbar spine surgery) remain sidelined as anticipated. Additionally, PJ Dozier is currently battling a left AC tear.
Vlatko Cancar, who had recently made a comeback from a non-COVID related absence, unfortunately suffered a broken finger on his right hand during the game against the Dallas Mavericks. Currently, there is no specified timeline for his recovery.
Since his return from COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Austin Rivers has been struggling with a worsening finger injury. It is uncertain how close he is to being fully healed, even though his availability is already uncertain. The team heavily relies on him to fill in the gaps left by other absent players.
The next three individuals in Denver’s health and safety protocols are Jeff Green, Monte Morris, and Zeke Nnaji. It is currently challenging to determine if any of these three players will resume playing, as no public or reported information has confirmed whether they have tested positive or not. Among them, Nnaji appears to be at the greatest risk of being sidelined.
This involves a total of five players who are currently part of the rotation: Dozier, Jeff Green, Morris, Murray, and Porter. Additionally, there are two reserves, Cancar and Howard, who are in need of playing time but may still be unavailable. Furthermore, there are two more players, Nnaji and Rivers, whose participation in the game is uncertain.
In addition, it is worth noting that Denver has undergone multiple coaching changes for health and safety protocols. This includes interim head coach Michael Malone and assistant coach David Adelman stepping in. With the absence of several other coaches, first-year assistant manager Popeye Jones has assumed the role of head coach for the last two games.
Apart from Jokic, who is the most obvious choice, who else can Denver and the Nuggets’ fans depend on considering the absence of several players?
Facundo Campazzo stands up for the hurt Nuggets.
Despite not having impressive statistics, Campazzo’s importance to the team cannot be denied, especially considering the Nuggets’ lack of depth in the guard position.
In Denver, Dozier, Howard, Murray, Morris, and possibly Rivers are currently absent. This means that four or five members of the team won’t be able to participate. Will Barton III has been doing his best to fill the void, but Denver is in desperate need of another player to step up and alleviate the burden on Gordon and Jokic.
Campazzo has been that person.
Campazzo’s last 15 sports showcase an impressive average of 8.4 points and 5.8 assists per game. However, these numbers merely scratch the surface of his remarkable story.
Despite playing less than 27 minutes per game, he has an average of 1.3 turnovers and 5.8 assists. He compensates for his turnovers by stealing the ball an average of 1.6 times per game. He has also improved his consistency in attacking the basket and taking three-point shots when the opportunity arises. However, his scoring efficiency is not as high as some would expect, with only 40.2% of his points coming from field goals and 35.8% from beyond the arc. Nevertheless, his determination to penetrate the defense and create open shots has benefited the Nuggets.
Although Campazzo lacks defensive skills and struggles with scoring, he has been giving his all to the Denver Nuggets, who are in dire need of support from their players. Despite his limitations, Campazzo can still make a significant impact, as demonstrated in his performance as a starter against the Rockets. He scored 22 points, made four touchdowns, contributed 12 assists, had five steals, and made two blocks, showcasing his ability to contribute in multiple areas of the game.
If Denver wants to achieve victory, they will require much more than what they currently have. Undoubtedly, Jokic serves as the driving force for Denver. Despite the lack of recognition in his MVP odds, he deserves to reclaim the MVP title.
January is a home-heavy quarter for Nuggets.
The Nuggets and NBA bettors have a hopeful future ahead. Apart from the return of four players and their head coach, they can also anticipate playing eight out of their next 12 games in Ball Arena.
The crucial factor in their seemingly imminent success lies in their upcoming challenging six-game homestand. They will face tough competition against the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Detroit Pistons. Denver’s schedule intensifies further as they embark on a six-game road trip within a short nine-day period, concluding the first month of 2022. This emphasizes the paramount importance of winning the home games.
Despite a weakened roster, the Nuggets’ victory at home against playoff-worthy opponents may be the determining factor in securing a top-six position in the Western Conference or even a spot in the play-in game. However, their prospects of winning the playoffs hang in the balance.
What lies ahead will only be revealed with time.
