There’s no doubt that the Nuggets are one of the best teams in the NBA. With the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic, and with possibly the best starting five in the league, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
However, despite their formidability, Denver has come up short of reaching the Finals in each of the last two seasons. Fans have cited injuries, poor defense, lack of depth, coaching, and more amongst the many reasons as to why.
Now, though, the Nuggets front office has made some changes to try to get over the hump this year. But, there are still a few question marks remaining.
Can Jamal Murray Still Be a Go-To Option?
In the last few seasons, the trend amongst champions has been a strong one-two punch. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had Jalen Williams, Jayson Tatum had Jaylen Brown, and three years ago, Jokic had Jamal Murray. All six of those guys averaged over 21 points a game in the playoffs, and they all had the ability to score at any given moment.
What’s more, Murray averaged significantly more than the other two second options, Brown and Williams.
Murray’s 26 points per game in the 2023 playoffs put him in serious All-Star caliber conversations. It also proved to be more than enough to help Denver coast to a championship. However, fans are beginning to wonder if that version of Jamal Murray is still around.
Post-Championship Jamal Murray
Immediately following his tremendous 2023 playoff run, the media believed Murray was poised for a breakout, All-Star season. However, in the next two years, Murray only increased his average from 20 points per game to 21.
This was not a big deal, though. Murray had always averaged around 20 points; he would then reliably skyrocket his production in the playoffs. In the bubble and during that 2023 run, Murray saw his average increase by more than six points per game.
NBA Champion Jamal Murray's 2023 Playoffs:
26.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 7.1 APG 🏹 pic.twitter.com/PRRdz3Tis0
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2023
With elite game after elite game, Murray quickly became known as one of the greatest playoff risers in NBA history. But that narrative has died down in the last two years.
Murray only averaged 20 and 21 points, respectively, in the last two playoff runs. He did not look like the Jamal Murray of old in the elimination series against the Timberwolves and Thunder.
Yes, the Nuggets are overflowing with other talented scorers. And yes, maybe Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson can shoulder some of Murray’s burden. But, when it comes down to crunch time, the best teams rely on their one-two punches, and Denver could be in trouble in big moments without theirs.
Additionally, scoring is not the only concern when it comes to Jamal Murray.
Can the Nuggets’ Starters Defend?
The Nuggets’ defense was simply brutal last season — their 22nd-best defensive rating lost them many big games. While trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson was absolutely a step in the right direction, it may not be enough.
Jamal Murray has really struggled defensively in the last few years, and the Nuggets have had significant challenges going up against elite guards. When Murray guards them, they score at will. But even when Gordon or Braun take the matchup, it forces defensive mismatches and often results in plenty of kickouts for three.
Additionally, for as great as Jokic is, his interior defense leaves much to be desired. It often feels as though opponents have secured a free bucket as soon as they reach the paint.
It is obvious that Murray and Jokic will be getting plenty of minutes, especially in big moments at the end of games. However, with two defensive uncertainties on the court together during crunch time, it makes hard battles all that much harder to win.
Even if all the starters do their jobs, though, there is one other concern, and that’s the bench.
Can Denver’s Bench Step Up
On paper, the Nuggets’ new bench looks amazing. Perhaps better than any other bench in the Jokic era.
Denver brought back Bruce Brown, signed Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas, and youngsters Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes, and Julian Strawther are developing nicely.
However, for all elite teams, bench scoring and facilitation are paramount. For as good as this group is, those are areas in which they struggle.
The Nuggets mostly went the 3-and-D route, shoring up their defense will improving on their shooting from distance. However, their bench seems to lack someone who can create their own shot.
Brown and Watson are more defensive-minded, Hardaway Jr. is more of a catch-and-shoot guy, and Valanciunas is not who he used to be. A name that’s been circling around for a while for Denver is Strawther, but with his inconsistencies and defensive lapses, he may not see the court that much this year.
Additionally, the bench lacks a true point guard. Denver will let Brown handle the ball as they did in their championship year; while this worked then, it may not work now.
Brown isn’t a great passer, and he’s not known for running offenses. In a league that values high-octane guards, this could work against the Nuggets. Additionally, similarly to Strawther, Pickett is an option for this backup point guard role, but he likely won’t play too much either.
Can Denver Still Succeed?
Despite these concerns, Denver is still very much a contender. Just having Nikola Jokic alone puts them in such conversations. However, this year will not be a cakewalk like 2023 was.
The Nuggets will need to face several daunting challengers like the Thunder, Timberwolves, and Rockets in the West alone. With two of those three having eliminated the Nuggets in back-to-back years, Denver will need to bring their A-game.
Unless somebody else on the Nuggets begins averaging more than 20 points, Murray will need to make a leap for at least the playoffs. Additionally, Murray, along with Jokic, will need to play at least sufficient defense in the final minutes to prevent more close losses. Finally, some people from the bench, whether it be Brown, Strawther, Hardaway Jr., Pickett, or whoever else, will need to pick up some of the scoring and facilitating slack.
There is certainly heavy competition in the league this year. But, many are also saying that this is the best the Nuggets have looked in the Jokic era. If they address these issues, the sky is the limit for Denver. However, if they let their wounds fester, they could be in store for yet another season of disappointment.
