Nuggets Not Contenders? Perk Says No Way!

Nuggets’ Title Hopes Questioned as Struggles Continue

The NBA action is heating up, and not everyone is looking like a championship team. While some teams are riding hot streaks, the reigning champs, the Denver Nuggets, are facing tough questions about their contender status. Host George has been tracking the league’s top stories. “Let’s go coast to coast and get you caught up on the action from around the NBA,” he said to kick off the discussion.

Thunder Roll, Hawks Soar

First up, the Oklahoma City Thunder are on a tear, winning their 10th straight game by crushing the Brooklyn Nets. The Thunder’s defense was incredible, allowing only 24 points in the first half. “Boy, did they get on their asses like back pockets yesterday defensively,” remarked analyst Kendrick Perkins (Perk). He highlighted their “tenacity, the deflections, the activity” in that dominant first half performance.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks are also on a winning streak, now at 11 games. A huge part of their success was a 74-foot heave from Jonathan Kuminga at the end of the third quarter. Analyst Brian Windhorst (Windy) pointed out the Hawks’ consistent strong defense, noting they’ve been “a top 10 defensive team for two and a half months now.” He also added, “They are healthy and they are powerful.” The Hawks had seven players score in double figures in their recent win, showing off their impressive depth.

Celtics Keep Winning, Brown Shines

In the East, the Boston Celtics continue to impress. Jaylen Brown dropped 32 points and was given the game ball after they beat the Golden State Warriors. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla spoke about the pressure of playing for Boston. “It’s really hard being a Celtic and you got to live up to the past,” Mazzulla said. Perk agreed, explaining that playing for Boston means living up to the legacy of a “city of champions” and a “historic franchise.” He suggested Brown could be on his way to joining the ranks of Celtics greats, perhaps even earning MVP honors.

Grizzlies Upset Nuggets, Doubts Grow

The focus then shifted to a Western Conference showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite a strong performance from Nikola Jokic, including a deep three-pointer, the Grizzlies pulled off a win. Ty Jerome, back from injury, had a notable game for Memphis, hitting a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter that helped seal the victory. “You know it’s March when Ty Jerome is going off,” commented George. “He’s back, man. He had to sit out the whole year basically with injury and now he’s reminding everybody why he got that contract.”

The loss dropped the Nuggets to 9-12 since February 1st. This has led to serious concerns about their ability to defend their title. “What’s your level of concern for the Nuggets right now?” George asked Windhorst.

Perk’s Bold Take: Nuggets Are Not Contenders

Windhorst acknowledged the Nuggets’ tough travel schedule, landing in Memphis at 3:30 AM after a difficult back-to-back. However, he stressed the importance of winning games, especially against teams lower in the standings. “When you play a tanker, you got to you got to win. You just got to win,” he stated. While he believes the Nuggets still have a high ceiling and can be “dangerous,” he understands the frustration of fans.

Perk didn’t hold back his opinion. “I’m going to say the quiet thing out loud,” Perk declared. “The Nuggets are not legit title contenders.” He broke down his reasoning, focusing on both offense and defense. “In order to be legit title contenders, it’s two sides of the basketball,” he explained. Perk pointed to the Nuggets’ struggles in clutch moments, citing Jokic’s “uncharacteristic turnovers.” He also highlighted their defensive weaknesses. “Teams are licking their fingers, waiting on the Nuggets because you know that you’re going to be able to get off,” Perk said. He specifically mentioned a lack of perimeter defense and rim protection, stating, “You can’t have both. Either you’re going to struggle on the perimeter and you have great rim protection or you have sorry rim protection and have elite perimeter defenders. They have neither to be honest with you.”

Can Denver Turn It Around?

Despite these doubts, the Nuggets are still fourth in title odds on DraftKings, trailing only OKC, Boston, and San Antonio. George posed a question about whether there’s enough time for the Nuggets to build chemistry, drawing a parallel to the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent turnaround. Windhorst admitted he agrees with Perk’s assessment, especially concerning the defense. “If you can’t defend in this league…” he trailed off, implying it’s a fatal flaw. He acknowledged that the Nuggets have shown flashes of championship-level play at times this season, but it’s not consistent enough for him to believe they are true contenders right now.

Perk humorously pointed out that Windhorst’s response essentially confirmed he agreed with him. “So, really, you agree with me? I guess,” Perk said, leading to a moment of shared, albeit reluctant, agreement on the Nuggets’ current standing.

The Nuggets’ next few weeks will be critical in determining if they can silence the doubters and prove they still belong in the championship conversation.

Source: Perk: 'The Nuggets are NOT CONTENDERS' 👀& Windy has a hard time disagreeing | NBA Today (YouTube)