The tendency to believe remains strong until a game like Portland comes along. Then it’s clear the Nuggets need to be shaken up like a snow globe.
Against a bad team, the Nuggets fell back into a familiar trap this season, sleepwalking through long stretches with questionable effort. Operating with no safety net left them vulnerable to getting beat, and Anfernee Simons obliged with a game-winner at the buzzer.
The acrobatic shot made it clear it is time to have the conversation: Should the Nuggets trade for Chicago’s Zach LaVine?
For me, the answer is yes.
They owe it to Nikola Jokic, whose prime can not be wasted with an underachieving lineup and a bench that is an island of misfit toys. They need another true scorer who is proficient from beyond the arc — the Nuggets’ greatest weakness — and will attack the rim (another Nuggets flaw). LaVine is nailing 43.5% of his 3s. Michael Porter Jr., while younger and increasingly durable, appears to have reached his ceiling. He is a nice player with a star contract, too often a non-factor at the end of games. And LaVine provides security if Jamal Murray’s shooting slump — he has been better recently — is actually the start of a permanent regression.
LaVine is available for a reason. He had foot surgery last season and turns 30 in March with two years and roughly $95 million remaining on his contract. But it doesn’t require squinting to see LaVine flourishing with the space Jokic creates on the floor.
If the Bulls are serious about semi-tanking, the Nuggets need to make them take Zeke Nnaji’s contract as part of any deal involving Porter. The trade deadline is not until Feb. 6. But watching Denver clumsily navigate the season, urgency is required. Either the Nuggets address their problems, or they’re headed for a first-round exit.
LaVine comes with questions. So, too, did Aaron Gordon, and his fit should be a reminder, if not a prompt, to make a move.
Light the lamp: The Avs entered Friday with five wins in their last seven games, including two from new starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. If he finds consistency, everything becomes possible for this team. Lost in the goalie shakeup, the Avs feature three 40-point scorers this season, including an NHL-best 52 from reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon.
Run around: Audric Estime flashed his potential with a team-high 48 yards on nine carries in the loss to the Chargers, despite only playing 20 percent of the snaps. The rookie holds the key over the next two weeks. If he emerges as the top back, it makes the Broncos less one-dimensional and allows them to play keep-away from Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes.
Mail Time
We can’t blame the free kick at the end of the first half for the Broncos’ total collapse in the second half. Our blocking wasn’t great, Bo (Nix) couldn’t move the ball downfield and there were lots of bad plays and penalties. Maybe it was payback for the lucky drop by the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor last week?
— Dan, St. Louis, email
Coach Sean Payton would agree with several of your points. He takes umbrage with the characterization that he mismanaged the clock at the end of half, stressing the importance of aggressive play. Regardless, the Chargers game bore out a simple truth: The Broncos need to play cleaner football even if several of the calls (most notably on Justin Strnad) or non-calls (Where was the pass interference flag for Marvin Mims Jr.?) were questionable in the loss. The Broncos have exceeded expectations this season, but to reach the playoffs, they must resist the temptation to play the victim. That’s how they found themselves in a depressed state before Payton’s arrival. The NFL lacks sentimentality. Don’t like the outcome? Play better against better teams. Period.
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