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Coming into the season, analysts predicted the Denver Nuggets would win about 54.5 games. Even if the Nuggets win their remaining three games, they will finish 54-28. That falls short of the mark that head coach David Adelman’s team set out to achieve.
Although they have basically met expectations, the way they have gone about winning has not been convincing. Their inconsistency has raised questions about the team’s overall direction, bringing increased attention to Adelman and his future with the Nuggets.
With an important postseason looming, the Nuggets must now consider whether Adelman is the right coach to lead the team moving forward.
Adelman’s Time with the Nuggets
David Adelman had been an assistant coach with the organization for the past eight seasons, winning a championship with the team in 2023.
Now, Adelman is in his first full year as head coach of the Nuggets, following the sudden, unexpected firing of Michael Malone at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Initially, the move shocked many, but it provided the Nuggets with a much-needed boost heading into the playoffs. After a four-game losing streak before the dismissal of Malone, the team responded by winning its final three games of the regular season under Adelman.
Then, in his first postseason series, Denver defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round in seven games. The Nuggets followed that up by pushing the eventual-champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a seven-game series, this time losing in the deciding game.
The Defensive Dilemma
This season, the Nuggets have shown flashes of their full potential. However, they haven’t been able to stay consistent, particularly on the defensive end of the court.
There have been conversations within the media critiquing Adelman’s ability to coach the Nuggets. With a bottom-20 defense in the league, many wonder if he is the right coach for this team.
Historically, a team with a defensive rating over 112 cannot win a championship. The only exception — ironically — was the 2023 Nuggets, with a rating of 114.2.
If the Nuggets don’t make a deep run in the playoffs this postseason, will Adelman coach them next season? It is hard to expect repeated success with these defensive performances, potentially prompting a dismissal in the offseason.
Potential Solutions
There are multiple routes the Nuggets could take with their head coach position after the playoffs.
The most realistic option is keeping Adelman in his current role. He has a strong familiarity with the roster and the potential to succeed, especially considering this is only his first full season as head coach. Retaining Adelman provides continuity and stability for the organization. This allows the Nuggets to avoid the disruption and cultural shift of hiring a new coach.
However, numerous other candidates could help the Nuggets excel in areas where they are currently lacking.
The first name that comes to mind is Jeff Van Gundy, an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers. Tyronn Lue has praised him for his defensive game planning as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers, and he also brings past head coaching experience from the New York Knicks (1995-2002) and the Houston Rockets (2003-2007). This features an NBA Finals appearance with the Knicks in 1999.
Micah Nori is also another candidate who could suppress the inconsistencies the Nuggets have. Nori is currently the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has received the top spot from the NBA General Managers’ survey as the best assistant coach over the past two seasons.
The Timberwolves’ defensive rating has been ranked around top five over the past several seasons. Nori is partially responsible for this as Chris Finch’s right-hand man, as well as having the ability to create impactful defensive schemes. His presence could elevate the ceiling of the Nuggets, possibly leading them to a top defense.
Although it is most likely that Adelman remains the head coach, nothing is out of the realm of possibility. The organization already made a surprising move, parting ways with Malone with three games left.
If the Nuggets fall short of expectations this postseason, the front office may once again need to make a difficult decision.
The post The Denver Nuggets Have a Difficult Dilemma With David Adelman appeared first on The Lead.
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