Christmas couldn’t come at a better time for the beleaguered Nuggets. Just two months into the season, a little cheer is needed in the aftermath of two road losses that have everyone from the players to the front office taking stock in how far the franchise has fallen.
Personnel moves appear likely if the Nuggets (12-17) drop much further from playoff contention.
“We’re going to come back refreshed after visiting with our families, having a good holiday,” Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried said. “I think we’re going to come back, everybody is going to feel the relief, like ‘All right, guys. Let’s try to make something out of this. Let’s try to make something out of nothing.’ “
There’s still plenty of time for the Nuggets to turn their season around, but judging by their play on the court, it hasn’t seemed like anything is changing.
The Nuggets are consistent only in that they appear to skip the details that make teams play well, making the same errors over and over, many times within the same game. Their loss Tuesday night at Brooklyn was only the latest example.
Denver was up by seven points with nine minutes to play, then was outscored 19-4 en route to a 102-96 loss.
Coach Brian Shaw expressed his exasperation afterward.
“It just defines where our team is right now,” Shaw said. “We’re not very good.”
But can they be?
Faried said yes.
“I believe in my teammates. I believe in these coaches,” Faried said. “I think we can get it done.”
Injuries have played a part in the Nuggets’ struggles. Rotating players in and out of the lineup has made it difficult for Shaw to settle on a group that works. That can make it confusing for the players to know their roles or try to figure out how things best fit together.
On Friday against Minnesota, forward Darrell Arthur hopes to return to action. The Nuggets’ best defensive big man has missed four consecutive games with a strained lower left leg. His hustle and defensive smarts will be a welcome addition.
Guard Randy Foye is still a ways off as he recovers from a torn right quadriceps. The Nuggets are bringing him along slowly.
Forward Danilo Gallinari recently underwent an arthroscopic procedure to address torn meniscus in his right knee. He’ll be out at least three weeks.
“It’s been tough with those guys out,” Shaw said.
And what kind of team will Gallo return to?
The Nuggets aren’t New York Knicks-level bad, but they are falling well short of the playoff expectations they set for themselves.
And 53 games remain. The Nuggets know they need to start turning things around, or changes will be made.
Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or
