Exactly one month ago, the Nuggets were a one-man band. Denver was barely above .500 at 12-11, and while Nikola Jokic had been playing like an MVP candidate, he had little support behind him. Jamal Murray was struggling to score consistently and efficiently. Michael Porter Jr. had mostly struggled after missing 10-straight games due to COVID protocols. The Nuggets’ bench was up and down.
A lot changed for Denver over the last few weeks. Jokic has continued to be at the center of the MVP discussion, but Murray began the best and most consistent regular-season stretch of his career. Porter bought into becoming more of an all-around player, and Michael Malone has hit the right notes with his undermanned bench.
At 21-15 and on a four-game winning streak, the Nuggets have some real momentum.
How can the Nuggets ensure that Michael Porter Jr.’s strong play continues post-All-Star Break?
Adam Mares: I think that this has more to do with Michael Porter Jr. than the Nuggets. Staying committed to the process of becoming an all-around player and not worrying about touches, shots, or points will continue to lead Porter towards more touches, shots, and points. Michael Malone and the Nuggets can help him out by looking to play him at power forward more often, playing him alongside Nikola Jokic more often, and just sticking with him through the inevitable ups and downs.
Harrison Wind: Michael Porter Jr.’s held up his end of the bargain as of late. He’s bought in defensively, and while Porter still makes mistakes on that end of the floor, he’s growing as a defender. Porter has also rebounded the ball extremely well — he has five double-doubles in his last six games while starting at power forward — and is becoming the all-around player that he and the Nuggets want him to be.
Now, the Nuggets have to do their part. Porter must continue to play the way he has, but Denver also should try and keep him in the same role that he was thriving in pre-All-Star Break. That means playing Porter heavy minutes at the four as long as he continues to make strides on defense. This season was always about the process for Denver. The process of integrating Porter with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets need to do everything they can to keep that process moving in the right direction.
Brendan Vogt: They have to put him in a position to succeed, which involves starting him at power forward or avoiding the Paul Millsap pairing at least. Michael Malone’s got a full plate at the moment. Alternatively: Porter may be more comfortable in his NBA skin and not necessarily thriving due to the position change. If that’s the case, it’s his challenge to stay locked in defensively at small forward, even if it’s a bigger ask of him.
Has Jamal Murray officially taken the leap?
Adam: I think he has. There will always be lessons to learn, challenges that pop up, and slumps that create speed bumps on his upward ascension toward superstardom but I think Jamal Murray has rediscovered what works for him as a player and what it takes to play at the level that he reached in the bubble and over the last month of this season. He’s in better shape, he’s healthier, and he seems to have a near-perfect grasp on when to be aggressive looking for his shot and when to focus on the point guard aspects of his job. I’m curious to see if there is a regression in Murray’s game once Gary Harris returns to the starting lineup, but I think Murray is entering the back half of the season in a great spot.
Harrison: For Murray, it’s always been about his consistency. Well, how about 12-straight 20+ point games? Finally, Murray’s giving Michael Malone the consistent play that he’s been pleading for over the last few seasons. What I love about Murray’s floor game right now is that he’s starting to master the art of when to really activate his scoring and when to act as a more classic point guard and look to get his teammates involved.
Take Denver’s recent win in Indiana for example. Murray was fairly quiet in the first half and scored nine points on just 2-3 shooting. But he let Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton, who all hit double-figure scoring in the first half, cook. Once halftime hit, Murray sensed he needed to turn it on and tallied 14 points over the third and fourth quarters. He’s playing confident, controlled and composed basketball right now.
Brendan: Murray is an All-Star caliber player. There’s no doubt on any given night he can play like an elite guard, and lately, he’s on a mission to bury the label of an inconsistent player. Whether Murray’s injuries have grown more manageable, or he’s played himself back into elite shape, this run he’s on appears sustainable to some extent. He’s getting to the rim with ease, can’t miss from mid-range, and stepping his game up in the clutch. Is it the leap? We’ve had this conversation so many times, and I’m sure we’ll have it again, but Murray’s playing inspiring basketball right now. When he’s in shape, and he’s locked in, he can run with anyone.
When the Nuggets are fully healthy, what should their Starting 5 be?
Adam: It’s really hard to provide an answer to this given how little we’ve seen of some of the team’s more experimental lineups. Obviously, Murray, Porter, and Jokic are in. I think Harris has proven to provide a lot of value on the defensive end but I also love a second ball-handler alongside Murray. Can PJ Dozier fill that role as a small forward in the starting lineup? Can Will Barton? I think one of those two options would get my vote with a slight edge towards Dozier for his defense and for Barton’s fit on the bench unit.
Harrison: Jamal Murray-Gary Harris-Will Barton-Michael Porter Jr.-Nikola Jokic
The starting lineup that the Nuggets ended the first half of the season with — Murray, Morris, Barton, Porter, Jokic — was a +57 in 131 total minutes this season. It’s a wild differential that was mostly built off of two recent blowout wins. That lineup was a +29 in Denver’s win in OKC and a +20 in the Nuggets’ victory over the Bulls. In the four other games that Denver used that starting lineup over the last six games, that combination was a +1, +1, -1, and then a -19 in Indiana.
Denver needs more defense in its starting lineup, particularly at the point of attack if it wants to keep playing Porter at the four, and Gary Harris is that guy. While I’m a firm believer that part of the reason why Jamal Murray’s scoring and efficiency has leveled up over the last month was that he was playing alongside another point guard (Morris/Campazzo), the Nuggets can still get to those lineups on their second unit. If Harris is healthy, he’s their best option to open games next to Murray.
Brendan: Jamal Murray-Gary Harris-Will Barton-Michael Porter Jr.-Nikola Jokic
Wind talked me into this in our recent one-on-one conversation on the DNVR Nuggets podcast. Putting a point guard alongside Murray is a mouth-watering prospect, but running Monte Morris alongside Jamal Murray and Will Barton III is a scary proposition in the playoffs. Denver needs Harris’ defense — especially if the Utah Jazz is the team to beat. PJ Dozier is the obvious Wild Card here. He makes more sense than Morris defensively, and probably Barton as well. Is he a better option than Harris? Potentially, but I think he’s yet to prove himself a reliable cog in a healthy offense.
Is PJ Dozier of Facu Campazzo more important to Denver going forward?
Adam: Both guys can play a big role for the Nuggets but I think Dozier better fills an immediate need for the Nuggets. His length allows him to play multiple positions and in multiple configurations. The biggest concern for Dozier is whether or not he is willing and able to stay within his limited role alongside the team’s star players, a skill Campazzo has mastered.
Harrison: Dozier
Campazzo’s most valuable skill right now is that he plays the exact role that Denver needs him to. He’s an irritant, a pest, and someone who’s going to make his opponent uncomfortable. He’s a gifted pick-and-roll player and also an instinctual defender who makes plays that no other defender even thinks about making. Campazzo’s going to play hard for every single minute that he’s on the floor and typically isn’t going to play outside of his role.
His biggest strength is Dozier’s most glaring weakness. Dozier at times does more than Denver needs him to and is just a tad too aggressive in looking for his own shot. If Dozier can dial it back a bit and focus on being an elite defender and distributor, which is what the Nuggets need from him, he’s going to be a factor in a playoff environment where Campazzo’s lack of size could hurt him.
Brendan: Dozier
As mentioned above, he’s the wild card in Denver’s plan. At the moment, they’re choosing between a well above average-floor general in Morris and an elite perimeter defender in Harris. If Dozier develops into a reliable playmaker and polishes his finishing around the rim, he could provide the best of both worlds.
