The List: The value of chemistry and continuity for the Denver Nuggets

“The List” is a brand new series that serves as a companion piece for the “Notebook” episodes of the Locked on Nuggets podcast and the DNVR Nuggets podcast. In this edition, I share notes on Jamal Murray’s lack of three-point shooting, the team’s continuity, and Nikola Jokic’s ability to put defenses into uncomfortable situations.

1. One of the things that makes Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets difficult to guard is that they can force defenders into positions that they are unfamiliar with. For example, in the clip below, the Nuggets run an action that ends with Jokic receiving a ball screen from Jamal Murray out on the wing. The base of this play is called “C Corner” and it is one of the more common actions in the NBA but the Nuggets place Jokic into the key spot that is usually reserved for forwards or even wing players who are more used to handling the ball in the pick and roll.

Placing Jokic there is like hiking the ball to your tight end and running your quarterback for a post route. This was the first time all season that the Nuggets have placed Jokic into that specific part of this action so it is no wonder that the Timberwolves completely blew their defensive assignment.

2. Murray is taking just 4.6 three-point attempts per game, the same amount as Jokic and about half as many as players like Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, and Trae Young. Murray doesn’t need to shoot quite as many as those guys but the Nuggets do need to find ways to get Murray to take more good three-pointers, like the one he passed up in the clip below.

3. Plays like this one are indicative of the value of continuity. Will Barton knows exactly where Murray should be on the fast break and is able to make a 180 degree touch pass to Murray without ever glancing back to make sure that he is in the right spot. Over time, players just feel the court and feel their teammates well enough to play blindfolded.

4. You can tell that Michael Porter Jr. is trying hard to figure out what kinds of shots this team and this coaching staff are wanting him to take. He’s almost come off as passive in certain moments and it is clear that he is trying hard to avoid the multi-dribble isolation moves that were a huge part of his arsenal as a high school player.

But for Porter, equally as important will be figuring out how to turn basic moments like the one in the clip below into the types of shots that he wants. He catches the ball in the corner and decides to dribble into a pick and roll rather than a quick pitch that will allow him to attack the same action but without the burden of having to dribble his way around the screen. Little details like this will probably take the better part of two seasons to perfect, but they are exactly the types of situations he is going to want to read quickly in order to maximize his shooting opportunities.

5. Gary Harris has been struggling to read the court over the first three weeks of the season. Here he misses Jokic on an easy elbow flash and Jokic tries to set him straight.

6. Just another clip of Jerami Grant giving full effort until the play is over. Grant hasn’t looked great yet this season, but it hasn’t been for a lack of effort or attention to detail.