The Nuggets’ defensive woes this season are well-documented. They’re dangerous on protection, certain, however they’ve Aaron Gordon again and wholesome, and he confirmed in the Nuggets’ 136-134 extra time win over the Spurs why that alone makes him the Nuggets ace in the hole, and it makes the Nuggets a team nobody wants to see in the playoffs.
The Nuggets entered the ultimate 5 minutes of the recreation down 4 factors, and Victor Wembanyama had 30 factors for the Spurs coming into the clutch. But the Nuggets deployed Gordon on Wemby, and Gordon shut him down.
Wemby completed with simply 4 factors over the recreation’s subsequent 10 minutes, and Gordon confirmed everybody what a distinction maker on protection he’s for the Nuggets.
Gordon has performed in simply 34 of the Nuggets’ 78 video games, lacking chunks of the season with a hamstring harm, however when he is been wholesome and on the ground, he is been the Nuggets’ finest defensive participant. Gordon has a defensive score of 110.6 in video games he has began, a lot decrease than Nikola Jokic’s 115.3 throughout his 62 begins.
Gordon brings the aura and the vibes to the Nuggets
Gordon has such a great aura that Cam Johnson known as Gordon the “aura curator.” AG agreed, “I curate the vibes, man. I bring the vibes.” And does he ever.
The swagger Gordon confirmed in defending Wemby was a unbelievable sight to see. Wembanyama could not budge AG, who has a decrease heart of gravity and extra power than the MVP candidate.
Every cease Gordon received for the Nuggets constructed extra confidence. Nuggets followers had been standing up at house with every cease, as a result of we noticed one thing that is been lacking most of the season. Stand-up protection and stops that allowed the Nuggets to crawl again and get one other clutch win.
AG saved Wembanyama below management
The Nuggets did not have AG on Wemby for the whole recreation, however he did defend him the second-most times in half-court possessions this season, 44 possessions price. Wemby scored simply 12 factors with Gordon on him. Gordon neutralized him.
And it is that defensive distinction the Nuggets have been lacking. Gordon is the glue of the staff, farming his aura out. That you can really feel what was constructing at the finish of the recreation, that Nuggets followers knew AG was going up on Wemby, and we had an opportunity, was a second we have been ready for all season.
The Nuggets are actually 22-19 in clutch video games on the yr, and 7-3 since the begin of March. Two of these clutch video games had been buzzer beaters by MVP candidates.
With Gordon’s protection and vibes, and the Nuggets’ eight-game profitable streak, they’re nicely poised to enter the playoffs on the highest word of the yr. The vibes are excessive, AG.
