Nuggets on the precipice

What they should try next

BY DAVID THORPE

The Wolves’ defense smothered Jamal Murray and dominated Denver in Games 1 and 2. AARON ONTIVEROZ/THE DENVER POST

If you stopped watching Game 2 of the Nuggets-Wolves conference semifinal matchup at the halftime buzzer, I understand. 

At one point, Reggie Miller commented it seemed like there were seven Wolves playing defense. That’s a fair analysis. The Wolves gave the Nuggets no openings, and by the end of the first half, had reduced the reigning champs to a middle-school AAU team.

Think of the Nuggets’ offense as a jet with two propellers: Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Right now, as one engine is sputtering the other must fend off a tornadic onslaught of defenders.

Murray, clearly limited by his lingering calf injury, lacked his typical explosiveness and lift. That left Jokić with too much work, as the creator of all of the Nuggets’ scoring opportunities. It resulted in his looking rattled for the first time that I remember. Neither Murray nor Jokić looked confident in …