DeMar DeRozan is taking the air out of Nuggets’ high-powered offense

Writer David Decker argues that DeMar DeRozan's fit with the Denver Nuggets has severely hindered the team's offensive efficiency early in the season. Denver's offensive rating plummets from 124.5 when DeRozan is off the floor to 106.0 during his 150 minutes on the court. Decker notes that sharing the mid-range area with Nikola Jokic has badly congested Denver's spacing, contributing to the team falling to 16th in offensive rating through six games.

To solve the issue, Decker suggests head coach David Adelman adjust his lineup combinations. He proposes testing DeRozan as a backup point guard and distributor alongside perimeter threats like Cameron Johnson and Trevon Brazile, rather than continuing to clog the paint alongside Jokic.