Sir Charles in Charge
Fansided

NBA: 10 early observations of the 2017-18 season

By Evan Dyal

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center on October 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center on October 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 20: Emmanuel Mudiay #0 of the Denver Nuggets controls the ball against Eric Bledsoe #2 of the Phoenix Suns at Pepsi Center on November 20, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 20: Emmanuel Mudiay #0 of the Denver Nuggets controls the ball against Eric Bledsoe #2 of the Phoenix Suns at Pepsi Center on November 20, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Pump the brakes on Denver 

A sexy pick in the offseason to be one of the sleeper teams in the league was the Denver Nuggets. I too was a part of this and had them as the sixth seed in the West. That is still possible, but there are chinks in the armor. Last year, Denver’s main weakness was defense, it was the second-worst in the league. This year it looks much improved, they are 15th in the league. Adding Paul Millsap helps and so does playing the Kings, but the Nuggets certainly look much better on that end. What is surprising is Denver’s elite offense is 23rd in the league. The most shocking part is they are 26th in pace.

This team used to play at a blistering pace. Part of that is again adding Millsap, and also playing at Utah is a factor, but Denver needs to get back to pushing it, its where they are at their best. There are still some good parts, Denver is 8th in assists, and Nikola Jokic is again creating looks for teammates that no one else can create. The problem is they are turning it over more than any other team in the league. Young players like Jamal Murray and Emmanuel Mudiay are coughing it off at an alarming rate, plus the Joker is too. That is what is holding the offense back. They are third in offensive rebounds, ninth in effective field goal percentage and ninth in true shooting percentage.

Denver will get better, Jokic regained his shooting touch in the third game, Mudiay is looking better, Will Barton is crushing it, but they may not be as good as we think. Gary Harris is off to a slow start, and Wilson Chandler has struggled. Denver needs those two to pick it up. The main this t

hough is the turnovers, they are killing this team. They need a point guard; good news Nuggets fans Eric Bledsoe is available. Bledsoe may not be the perfect fit with Jokic, but he would be a huge upgrade.

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