The Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves are navigating very different challenges as the NBA season continues. Recent data highlights Denver’s need for more scoring from Cameron Johnson, Oklahoma City’s historically strong defense and Minnesota’s struggle to replace departed depth.
Nuggets
Denver ranks second in offensive efficiency and third in net rating, but forward Cameron Johnson has yet to match his usual output. The 28-year-old is averaging just 9.4 points while shooting 33.3 percent from three-point range, nearly 10 points below his career average.
Signs of improvement surfaced after Johnson rested a right biceps strain. Over his last two appearances he has posted 14.5 points on 9-for-17 overall shooting, including 5-for-8 from long distance. The Nuggets are also without reserve guard Christian Braun, who is expected to miss at least six weeks with an ankle sprain.
Thunder
Oklahoma City is 17-1 despite not having Jalen Williams available. The Thunder own a plus-16.3 point differential, well ahead of last season’s NBA-record mark of plus-12.9. Their defensive rating of 103.1 points allowed per 100 possessions leads the league by a wide margin; the gap between Oklahoma City and second-place Detroit matches the spread separating Detroit from the 22nd-ranked Utah Jazz.
Oklahoma City’s dominance has been so pronounced that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has sat out the entire fourth quarter in more than half of the club’s games.
Timberwolves
Minnesota’s depth, a key factor in consecutive Western Conference finals trips, took a hit when Nickeil Alexander-Walker was traded to Atlanta. The Timberwolves now rank 28th in bench minutes and bench scoring, according to NBA Advanced Stats.
Center Naz Reid is averaging 13.1 points off the bench, but rookies Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. have not found a rhythm, both shooting below 40 percent effective field goal percentage. Shannon is also managing a bone bruise in his left foot.
Second-year guard Jaylen Clark has emerged as a possible in-house solution. He is defending at a high level and hitting 36 percent of his three-point attempts, though opponents may still choose to leave him unguarded late in games.
Source: Hoops Wire
