The Nuggets recently posted two straight overtime wins and my immediate takeaway was simple: They owe Nikola Jokic an apology.

Denver got off to a rocky start. Entering Friday night, Jokic, the reigning MVP, averaged a career-high 31.5 points in 39 minutes per game.

Nobody values ​​winning more than Jokic. But this squad makes him selfish. He has to shoot 3s because so few go in while everyone else does. He is forced to play a minute and a half because Dario Saric seems lost as a substitute and Zeke Nnaji is stuck on the bench.

The idea is to maximize Jokic’s prime. To raise another banner. Watching this team, it seems like the goal is to raise their blood pressure. In a local story that has gained traction nationally this week, the tension between general manager Calvin Booth and coach Michael Malone has become an open secret.

Booth tries to win every now and then by bringing in young players to increase athleticism and satisfy the owners’ desire to avoid luxury taxes. Malone, ever the competitor, tries to win every night and struggles to balance micro and macro goals.

And it’s hard to trust young guys — Christian Braun deserves it — when two max-contract players, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., remain inconsistent and confusing. The Nuggets need a career year from Murray, and he is showing his age, looking tired and hurt between big hits. MPJ simply has too many free evenings to shoot. Although Russell Westbrook gets high marks as a teammate and for his energy, he doesn’t solve the team’s most glaring problems: the need for better three-point shots and backup players who can keep up 15 minutes a night.

The season is still in its infancy. But what the Nuggets are doing with Jokic is not sustainable. He needs rest. And more than anything, Jokic needs help: from his GM, from his coach, from his teammates, not a few “I’m sorry”s at the end of an unforgettable season.

Jetsetter: So we can expect the Jets to make the playoffs after ending their five-game losing streak on Thursday night. Give me a break. They would have to finish the season at 8-1. How about seeing this undisciplined team make anyone believe this is going to happen? Even with 10 wins, they would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Broncos. Aaron Rodgers was signed to the Jets as Joe Namath. He looks more like Willie Mays with the Mets.