If there’s one thing that’s been famously plaguing the Nuggets for the last 5-10 years, it’s been the minutes when Nikola Jokic is off the court. But that’s all set to change this year as the front office has finally put the necessary depth and complementary players around him. They should be able to field strong lineups for 48 minutes every night, whether Jokic is on the court or not.
Obviously, nobody is expecting the team to play as well when Jokic comes out of the game, but the dropoff in recent years has been extremely damaging. On media day, David Adelman made a point of talking about the non-Jokic minutes, emphasizing how vital it is for the team to support their superstar and keep him fresh for the playoffs.