DNVR Player Grades: Denver Nuggets get the W but are still trying to find their identity

Everyone take a deep breath.

That’s what the Nuggets are saying to each other in the visiting locker room at The Amway Center right now after a narrow 91-87 win over the Orlando Magic. It was an ugly, frustrating, and puzzling night, but a win is a win.

Still, the Nuggets have a long way to go. You get the feeling deep down that Denver knows what its identity is, but for some odd reason is struggling to find it. Nikola Jokic sleepwalked through the first half and then put the Nuggets on his shoulders in the second. Jamal Murray was consistent throughout the entire game. Denver’s first five with Torrey Craig still isn’t jiving.

A loss tonight coupled with an embarrassing defeat on Thursday in New Orleans could have potentially sent the Nuggets into Defcon 1. That’s a crazy thought through just six games but after watching how disjointed Denver has been as of late, it would have been warranted.

The Nuggets won even though they shot just 37% from the field and 32% from 3. It was an ugly offensive night, but Denver’s defense stepped up when its shots weren’t falling.

Let’s check out the report card.

Honor Roll

Jamal Murray – A-

Murray was Denver’s most consistent player on Saturday. With Jokic not making an impact in the first half, Murray shouldered the Nuggets’ scoring load, tallying 12 points over the game’s first two quarters. Denver’s point guard had some ugly moments including two turnovers and a late-clock foul to end the first half but was big late in the game finishing off Orlando at the free-throw line. Murray’s 21 points were a team-high and he did his damage on an efficient 7 of 15 shooting.

The Class

Nikola Jokic – B+

What a weird night from Jokic. After Michael Malone said earlier in the day that he wanted Jokic to play with more aggression and attempt around 15 shots, Denver’s big man came out and attempted zero field goals in eight first-quarter minutes. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but on a basketball court.

The second half was a different story. Jokic opened the third quarter by hitting back-to-back three-pointers and looked like a different player. He began to attack Nikola Vucevic off the bounce and got to the free-throw line. He played aggressive, determined, and in control. He dominated Orlando over the third and fourth quarters finishing with 20 points–16 of which came in the second half–seven rebounds and four assists.

Gary Harris – B-

Harris was solid but unspectacular in Orlando. He finished with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, four rebounds and four assists, and the type of defense that you expect from Harris every time he steps on the floor. One observation about Harris’ season so far: he’s loving the floater. It certainly looks like he’s taking more shots of that variety this season.

Principal’s Office

Jerami Grant – C

The most exciting part of Grant’s night was when Malone played him at small forward for the first time this season with Paul Millsap and Jokic occupying the other frontcourt spots. It was only for a couple of possessions but you wonder if it’s a look Denver will go to more over the coming weeks as the Nuggets search for defensive options. Other than that stretch, Grant’s night was forgetful. He finished with three points and one rebound in 21 minutes off the bench.

Torrey Craig – D

Craig continues to start for the Nuggets and Denver, like it did in New Orleans in Craig’s first start for the injured Will Barton, got off on the wrong foot offensively. It was an all-around rocky shooting night, but those struggled began in the first quarter when the Nuggets tallied a total of 17 points after 12 minutes of action. Craig missed both of his 3 point attempts Saturday and the defense continues to sag off of him when he’s roaming around the arc. Craig even passed up an open look from 3 in the fourth quarter. He’s now his last 10 3-point attempts after converting on two triples in the Nuggets’ opener and is shooting 2 of 13 from 3 on the year.

Defensively, Craig had some nice moments and recorded two steals but a forgetful one came when he was beaten backdoor badly by Aaron Gordon in the second half. He finished with two points, four rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes. Behind Craig, Malone split the backup small forward minutes between Michael Porter Jr. and Juancho Hernangomez. Both forwards had their ups and downs tonight. Porter had a couple of nice moments playing alongside Jokic but made too many rookie mistakes on defense, like failed box-outs and a few defensive miscues for Malone’s like. Hernangomez drilled a 3. The Nuggets got the win, so it would be surprising if either jumped Craig in the rotation.

Malik Beasley – D

Yeesh. Beasley went 1 of 8 from the floor and turned the ball over twice in just 13 minutes. After a hot start to the season, Beasley has struggled in his last couple of outings.