I think it’s safe to say that the Denver Nuggets have gotten off to a pretty disappointing start, especially when you consider how encouraging that first victory against the Rockets was.

After that game, I wrote how the Nuggets showed us a glimpse into their future, and that’s exactly what it was: Their future. Maybe those Nuggets will show up a few more times this year, and hopefully they’ll become a mainstay down the line, but right now, that’s not who this team is.

This team is, at best, mediocre.

And that’s not the worst thing in the world. Of course this isn’t a great team — they won 30 games last year! — but that doesn’t mean this is the team we’re going to see for the next 77 games. Yes, there are some issues that need to be resolved. But let’s see if they can resolve them before we go calling this season a total wash.

Here are the three biggest things that are currently holding the Nuggets back: