Fast Break Article 3/21/13 - What Makes the Nuggets So Good?
03/21/2013 17:04
The Denver Nuggets are on a 13 game win streak and are playing the 2nd best basketball in the NBA. The question that remains in my head is how the Nuggets are so good!? They don’t have a superstar (I don’t believe Kenneth Faried or Andre Iguodala are superstars) or a great scorer.
So what makes them so good?
Is it chemistry, defense, or the coach? They definitely have chemistry (their distribution of the ball is great). Their defense is shaky (25th in league in opponents per game). Everyone knows George Karl is a great coach.
First I will start off with their offense. Their distribution of the ball might be the best in the league. The Nuggets have 6 players who average 10+ points per game and 2 players who average 9 points per game.
This is caused by the fast break. Anybody can make a layup, so when the Nuggets get on a fast break anyone could score. Their fast break is great. JaVale McGee, their center, is extremely fast and athletic.
They also have a dunk contest participant (Kenneth Faried) which allows the crowd to get into the game.
All of these fast breaks and the distribution of the ball makes perfect chemistry. No one complains about not getting any shots, and players go crazy after a dunk or alley oop.
They all know their roles (Run, run, run, run) and their play fits perfectly with George Karl. George Karl loves to run on fast breaks and that’s exactly what they do. All of the perfect chemistry causes the Nuggets to have the 3rd best team PPG in the NBA.
Their defense is definitely not the reason they win (They have the 25th best opponents points per game).
Basically, there is one thing that makes the Nuggets so good:
Chemistry
Video of Nuggets highlights (Look how many fast breaks and alley oops there are):
