Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets might be in trouble with multiple injuries to star teammates, says Insider

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets lost game 3 embarrassingly to the Los Angeles Clippers and now have injuries piling up.

Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets might be in trouble with multiple injuries to star teammates, says Insider

Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets might exit playoffs early

The Denver Nuggets came into the playoffs with a major question mark surrounding coaching. They had just fired longtime head coach Michael Malone a couple of weeks before, which meant, the pressure would be on Nikola Jokic and the team to perform.

They had done their part to keep the series exciting enough. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley even trolled his employers for not scheduling game 3 of the playoff series on TNT. He believed the Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers clash was an all-timer.

But game 3 was anything but that, as the 2023 champions succumbed to an embarrassing 34-point loss on the road. Jokic was animated on the sidelines as his team had no answer to the Clippers offensive and defensive schemes. But ESPN Insider Marc J. Spears believes there is something else the Nuggets have to worry about.

I’m worried about this team. Let’s see if they got the heart of a champion. They got some injuries. Michael Porter Jr. might not play Saturday. Jamal (Murray)’s hurting, Russell Westbrook is hurting. Aaron (Gordon) told me he can barely jump right now. How much heart do you have left.

Marc J Spears said

The senior writer at Andscape mentioned that considering how their season has transpired so far, the Denver Nuggets might as well prepare to go on vacation. With their starters hurting, they can only go so far with Nikola Jokic leading the way. The team is barely fit to challenge the healthier and better Clippers.

‘Wounded animal’ Denver Nuggets have season to forget

Sitting along with Marc J Spears was Bobby Marks, who referred to the Denver Nuggets as a ‘wounded animal’. They had everything going for them from the start of the season. They were even considered to be one of the best teams in the league.

Many felt that other teams should fear the Nuggets. However, their form since the All-Star break has been abysmal for a team who was touted to be the best. Their struggles resulted in Michael Malone losing his job.

Nikola Jokic led his team to perform well in Game 1. But they do had no answer in games 2 and 3. Injuries to starters aside, their bench is not performing well and they are looking short of ideas. On the contrary, the Los Angeles Clippers look like a team firing on all cylinders.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne noted that the locker room was gloomy at best. They seemed to have lost their spirit, which is why Spears advocated their need for a vacation. They need to recharge and start afresh and then come back to the offseason with a plan.

Nikola Jokic’s legacy could take a hit if Nuggets exit first round early

Nikola Jokic is in the running for a fourth MVP award. The Serbian has built a legacy of being one of the best players in all of basketball. He even finished the regular season with a triple double. All of those signs indicate his legacy is intact.

But the way their regular season ended has dampened his hopes of winning that fourth MVP. Now that form has continued to the playoffs. The problem with injuries aside, how Jokic leads his team will impact his legacy.

If he continues to rant and complain to his teammates and coaches, a new perception will start building against him. On top of that, the way the Nuggets quit against the Clippers in game 3 will go on to paint a picture that Jokic might not be the best player in all of basketball. That is because fans know the best players at least put up a fight.

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