The Injury Catalyst: Missing Defensive Anchors

The Injury Catalyst: Missing Defensive Anchors

The root of Denver’s current defensive woes traces directly to prolonged absences in the wing rotation. Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) have been out for weeks, with both missing key games through Christmas and into the current seven-game road trip. Gordon, who was averaging 18.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and strong two-way impact before going down in mid-November, provides elite versatility—switching 1-through-5, contesting shots with length, and anchoring help defense. Braun, emerging as a breakout two-way force earlier in the season, brings tenacity, quickness, and perimeter disruption that has been sorely missed.

Additional injuries have compounded the issue. Peyton Watson has dealt with hip/rib concerns in recent weeks, limiting his availability as a rim protector and versatile forward. Cameron Johnson (right knee hyperextension) is also sidelined for an extended period, further thinning the wing depth. Without these players, Denver’s lineup combinations have trended heavily offensive but defensively porous. Bench units featuring Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and others have posted defensive ratings in the 130s-137 range—among the league’s worst percentiles—leading to blow-by drives, late rotations, and wide-open corner threes.

Coach David Adelman has acknowledged the regression, noting it’s partly a “mindset thing” amid limited practice time and heavy workloads on stars. Optimistic updates suggest Gordon and Braun could return toward the back end of the road trip (potentially late December or early January), but until then, the Nuggets must navigate without their primary stoppers.

Recent Games Highlight the Pattern

December has been dubbed “Defenseless December” by analysts, with defensive lapses recurring in high-profile matchups:

• December 27 vs. Orlando Magic (127-126 loss): Anthony Black exploded for a career-high 38 points (14-24 FG, 7-11 3PT), torching Denver’s perimeter defense. Without Gordon and Braun, Black attacked mismatches, pulled up over smaller guards, and exploited sagging help. Orlando shot 41% from three and mounted a comeback, with Denver’s clutch defense crumbling (138.0 defensive rating in clutch situations this season). Jokić posted another triple-double, but the team couldn’t get stops late.
• December 25 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (OT win, but defensive concerns): Denver survived a high-scoring affair, but allowed Anthony Edwards and others to generate easy looks. Corner-three defense remained a glaring weakness, with opponents capitalizing on closeouts and rotations.
• Earlier December losses and close calls (e.g., against Houston, Utah, Dallas) showed similar issues: poor closeouts, fly-by contests, and struggles defending the perimeter without length and athleticism from injured wings.

The Nuggets rank around 20th in defensive rating for the month, a sharp drop from their top-5 start to the season. Corner threes have been particularly problematic, as noted by ESPN’s Zach Kram—Denver’s inconsistent rotations and lineup variability allow shooters to feast in high-value areas.

Clutch Defense: A Growing Red Flag

One of the most alarming trends is Denver’s performance in clutch situations (games within five points in the final five minutes). The Nuggets are just 5-8 in such games this season, with a staggering 138.0 defensive rating in those stretches—worse than several lottery teams. This contrasts sharply with their reputation for clutch execution in prior years, where Jokić-Murray pick-and-rolls and late-game poise often sealed wins.

Recent examples include fouling too much, failing to force turnovers, and allowing fourth-quarter outbursts (e.g., Orlando’s 43-point Q4 surge). The heavy offensive load on Jokić and Murray leads to fatigue, reducing their defensive impact. Without defensive specialists to handle primary assignments, stars get targeted in switches or help situations, leading to scrambling and breakdowns.

Broader Implications and Potential Fixes

Denver’s elite offense (potentially the most efficient in league history) has masked these issues, keeping them atop the Western Conference standings. Jokić remains unstoppable, Murray provides scoring bursts, and additions like Russell Westbrook (strong December averages in points, assists, rebounds, and steals) have provided energy off the bench. But sustainable contention requires balance—defense wins championships, and the current formula risks early playoff exits if vulnerabilities persist.

Analysts point to several factors:

• Lineup inconsistency from injuries forces suboptimal groupings.
• Mindset and effort lapses in closeouts and rotations.
• Depth limitations when wings are out, exposing guards and bigs in perimeter matchups.

Once Gordon and Braun return, Denver’s defense should rebound—both players rank highly in on/off metrics for defensive impact. Adelman has emphasized “sit down and guard” fundamentals, and increased practice time could help. In the meantime, players like Peyton Watson, Bruce Brown, and even Westbrook must step up in on-ball and help roles.

Looking Ahead

The Nuggets’ road trip continues with tough tests, but health returns could shift momentum. If the defensive aces come back strong, Denver can reclaim their two-way identity and challenge for the top seed. Until then, this “all-too-familiar problem” of perimeter defense crumbling without key pieces will test their resilience.

The offense carries them, but the defense determines how far they go. December’s struggles serve as a reminder: even title favorites can’t afford prolonged lapses when the playoffs arrive.