Paul Millsap isn’t worried about the Nuggets’ offense.
Typically free-flowing and fluid, it has been noticeably mundane and labored over Denver’s four-game losing streak. But Millsap, the Nuggets’ defensive anchor, still isn’t concerned.
“We don’t care,” he said ahead of Thursday’s game against Atlanta. “We were 9-1 and last in 3-point percentage, so the offense doesn’t matter. Our main focus is to win games. Our offense is going to come. We’ve got a lot of talented guys, a lot of guys who can score the ball. … If we get down, get our defense back right and get our routine right on defense, we’ll be alright.”
Millsap could’ve been referring to Gary Harris, a career 36 percent 3-point shooter, who’s making just 29 percent of his shots from deep. Or he could’ve been alluding to Jamal Murray, who at 27 percent 3-point shooting this season, is well off his 35 percent career mark. He could’ve even been talking about himself, as his field-goal attempts (9.5 per game) are the lowest since the 2009-2010 season with Utah.
But Millsap’s point was that even though the offense has lacked its typical verve, it has been the defense that has let the Nuggets down lately. And once the defense rediscovers its early-season form — that is better closeouts, smoother pick-and-roll defense and multiple efforts — the offense will likely open up as a result.
“We’ve proven we can win without hitting shots, so when you know you can do that, there’s really no excuse,” said veteran Mason Plumlee.
Less than two weeks ago, Denver had the best-rated defense in the NBA.
