DENVER – Effort. There is no stat to measure it. It cannot be felt, moved or heard.

But it can be seen.

And it certainly can be noticed, both in its abundance, and in the case of the Warriors’ 129-104 shellacking on Friday night at the hands of the Nuggets in an Emirates Cup group stage matchup, in its absence.

From Warriors coach Steve Kerr, to future Hall of Famers Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, to 25-year-old relative newcomers Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis, the team’s lack of competitive fire galled the Warriors.

“We just had a lack of purpose and energy, really right from the start,” Kerr said. “Competitive fire, connection, a competitive edge. We didn’t have it.”

Yes, the Warriors have played their last two losses without Steph Curry, their best player and leader. But

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