The Denver Nuggets are 0-2 to start their street journey after dropping final evening’s sport to the hapless Washington Wizards. Now, Denver faces a a lot harder opponent: the Atlanta Hawks. The Nuggets doubtless landed within the early morning hours after touring from Washington, so relaxation can even be an element. Like Denver, Atlanta sits simply above .500 this season. In contrast to Denver, the Hawks are heading in the right direction, beginning a six-game successful streak tonight whereas Trae Younger is taking part in a number of the finest ball of his profession.
The Necessities
WHO: Denver Nuggets (11-10) vs. Atlanta Hawks (13-11)
When: 4:00 p.m. MST
Or: The home that Jake constructed. Atlanta, Georgia.
How you can watch/hear: Denver Stiffs doesn’t condone piracy…until it’s a fictionalized seventeenth century piracy. Altitude TV the place obtainable, NBA League cross for these not within the Nuggets market. Altitude+. Radio Altitude 92.5 FM. Present up in dreadlocks with a glittery tumbler, Atlanta Braves camo hat and sun shades, yell “Yeah yeah” and safety will say “oh excuse us Mr. John, over right here” and escort you immediately to your courtside seats.
Rival weblog: Peach hoops
The match
| Place | Nuggets | Falcons | Benefit |
| PG | Jamal Murray | Trae Younger | Falcons |
| SG | Christian Braun | Dyson Daniels | Even |
| SF | Michael Porter Jr. | Jalen Johnson | Even |
| PF | Aaron Gordon | Zacharie Risacher | Nuggets |
| C | Nikola Jokic | Clint Capela | Nuggets |
| Bench | Russell Westbrook, Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji | Vit Krecj, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu | Falcons |
The three issues
What to be careful for: any semblance of perimeter protection
The Nuggets would possibly very properly be the worst workforce within the league at defending the perimeter proper now. It was troublesome to look at. The Hawks, however, have a gaggle of men who harm you from the perimeter. It begins with Younger, one of many sneakiest guards within the league with limitless vary and wonderful passing capability, however there’s additionally Jalen Johnson who has actually come into his personal, in addition to Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter on the bench. If the Nuggets do not focus and, frankly, begin taking satisfaction in the best way they play protection, it is going to be one other lengthy evening.
What to recollect: Protection additionally results in offense
I am throwing in a superb outdated George Karl cliché right here, however with the Hawks, it is true. For those who put within the effort on protection, Atlanta will flip the ball over and once they do, they are going to surrender the third most factors within the league because of turnovers. So it is not only a matter of not being embarrassed on one aspect of the sphere. Denver must play strong protection, particularly when Nikola is resting, and create straightforward factors in transition. They’re greater than able to doing it, they’re fifth within the league in factors off turnovers proportion and first in quick break factors, however they first have to deal with the place these factors come from: protection.
The factor to guess on: Nikola Jokic on 1.5 three-pointers (+100)
I like Joker for just a few threes tonight. He is hit two or extra in eight of his final 9 video games and remains to be taking pictures above 50 % from three. After scoring 56 factors final evening, I believe Nikola is likely to be a little bit winded tonight and possibly rather less aggressive. I see him settling for just a few extra exterior pictures tonight, however since he is Nikola, rattling Jokic, a few of these pictures will fall. At +100, this looks like a straightforward resolution.
