With over half the season to go, the Denver Nuggets’ New Year’s resolutions could be the difference in having a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. There have been several surprises opening the year, both good and bad. Shifting the focus to improve what hasn’t worked could help the team overcome shortcomings.
Denver Nuggets 2025 New Year’s Resolutions
Getting Healthy and Gaining Chemistry
Luckily for the Nuggets, they have one of the most reliable superstars in the league, Nikola Jokić. Denver has avoided major injuries but has dealt with minor, nagging health issues. Aaron Gordon has missed the most games, playing in 17 of 31 contests. Jamal Murray has missed a few small stretches, too. With multiple minor injuries, mostly staggered throughout the season, it has been a struggle for the starters to play together.
Russell Westbrook has stepped up tremendously in the absence of Gordon and Murray. He is bringing the energy and effort the Nuggets desperately need, especially defensively. He has been a difference-maker — his per 36 minutes average of 2.4 steals marks a career-high. He has filled the shoes of the injured players as the Nuggets are 8-2 in his ten starts.
Having one of the best starting lineups in the NBA puts pressure on the bench to perform well enough until the starters can re-enter the game. Denver’s bench has already shown struggles this season, proving they need more chemistry. With the previously mentioned injuries, finding playing time together has been tough for the reserves. Westbrook has been in and out of the bench lineup, leaving two young guys to step up — Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther. Both players have shown improvement throughout the year but still lack consistency.
A Reserve to Step Up
The Nuggets’ bench only has three reliable players, which could cause health concerns later in the season. Staying fresh should be a priority; the easiest way is for another bench player to step up. Dario Šarić, Zeke Nnaji and Hunter Tyson could take on greater roles. They have had chances to prove themselves this season but haven’t made a significant impact yet. Tyson has played the best out of the three, showing consistent effort while on the court. His shooting has been inconsistent, but his defensive effort has been there. His minutes have increased this season but fluctuate depending on how he plays.
With Denver already having some early-season injuries, reliable depth can be the difference between winning and losing some contests. Whether Tyson continues to impress or one of the other players steps up and proves their worth, the Nuggets would benefit greatly from having another reliable bench player. If one of the Nuggets’ New Year’s resolutions were to come to fruition, gaining more depth would be a top priority.
Consistency From Jamal Murray
After his career year a season ago and signing a max contract in the offseason, Murray had high expectations heading into 2024-25. Although his expectations were high, he had a rough start this year. Despite that, he is starting to turn the corner and return to his usual self. Through his first 16 games on the season, Murray averaged 17.7 points, 6.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, shooting 41.9% from the field and 33.3% from three. Over the last nine games, he has averaged 23.6 points, 6.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game, hitting 47.0% from the field and 42.3% from three.
With the Nuggets giving Murray a big extension, it’s expected for him to play at that level. His recent play aligns more with a player with a max contract player. If Murray can continue his good play consistently, it will give the Nuggets a huge boost. They could rise in the standings to get home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
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