Is this the real Jamal Murray and MPJ? If so, strap in for a long playoff run

Jamal Murray didn’t hesitate.

After rubbing shoulders with Nikola Jokic near with right elbow early in the first quarter of the Nuggets’ scrimmage against the Orlando Magic, Murray darted out to the 3-point line, received a pass from Paul Millsap and in one motion squared his shoulders and fired his first shot attempt.

It was the first shot Murray has taken inside the Disney World bubble and a promising one at that. Murray said during the NBA’s hiatus that one of his goals, once the season resumed, was to shoot more 3-pointers and be more shot-ready. He stayed true to his word in Denver’s third and final scrimmage before the Nuggets’ eight seeding games begin Aug. 1 against the Miami Heat.

Murray launched six triples and sunk three in only 26 minutes of action in Denver’s 114-110 loss to the Magic. Under a minute restriction, Murray tallied a game-high 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting to go with four rebounds and four assists.

“We haven’t even practiced 5-on-5 with everything with the (coronavirus),” Murray said. “So to get out there playing 5-on-5, my first time in a long time, a couple of months maybe. It just felt good to be out there with everybody and just hoop.”

Murray needed some help Monday, and it wasn’t going to come via Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets’ All-NBA center was quiet against the Magic and attempted just one shot in 23 minutes and turned the ball over six times. Instead, it came from Michael Porter Jr., who also took part in his first game inside the NBA bubble.

Just ten seconds after Porter checked into the game midway through the first quarter, the rookie received the ball from Jokic on the left wing and took two hard dribbles to his right. Porter shot-faked, discarded his defender, and launched an 18-foot jump shot.

Swish.

On Denver’s next possession, Porter gobbled up an offensive rebound and flushed a two-handed slam. He tallied 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting to go with seven rebounds (four offensive) in just 20 minutes.

“I worked really hard while I was in Denver, and while I was back home in Missouri, just to try to stay in shape and stay ready,” Porter said. “Especially when I knew I was coming late. I wanted to be ready so that I didn’t have to take days and days to get in shape and get ready. So I think that work paid off for me because I felt pretty comfortable on the court.”

A loss is a loss, except in a scrimmage inside of a bubble. The Nuggets still don’t have their full rotation available, and the team continues to be extremely cautious with Gary Harris (hip). He was also held out of the team’s second scrimmage after arriving at Disney World. Monte Morris wasn’t in uniform although he’s on track to be available for the Nuggets’ first seeding game, so Torrey Craig, who by the way went 4 of 7 from 3-point range, was thrust into backup point guard duties. Will Barton, Jokic, and a handful of Denver’s other role players still seem to have coats of rust on their games too.

Murray and Porter don’t, and both were incredible in their Disney debuts. Murray was dancing in the open floor and half-court Monday and looked quicker and more agile with the ball in his hands than he did when the season was suspended in March.

One of the most significant areas of growth in Murray’s game this season came in the pick-and-roll and the types of reads and passes he was making in the half-court. He made a few brilliant reads against the Magic. This Joker-Esque sideline slinger was my favorite.

Besides keeping his game fine-tuned, Murray also added muscle during the hiatus. I asked Malone how Murray’s new physique will help him on the court.

“Anytime you can improve your body and get in great shape, get stronger, it’s only going to help you on the court,” Malone said. “This is a very physical game. It’s a grown man’s league. We know that. So your ability to add weight and get stronger is going to make you a better finisher. Hopefully, allow you to play more consistent basketball over the course of a game. Absorb hits. Get into screens. Not die on screens. Blow them up. I think Jamal was locked in and focused over the break.”

I’m not going to fret about Jokic’s sloppy start in Orlando, although it’s been exactly that. He’s turned the ball over 18 times across three scrimmages, although many of those giveaways can be attributed to the wonky ‘Tall Ball’ lineups that the Nuggets were forced to deploy in their first two games. He also hasn’t had his typical touch around the rim, which you can attribute to the layoff. Jokic should be fine.

But if this is the Murray and Porter that Denver will get come playoff time, watch out. Murray has been one of the league’s top swing players over the last several years, and when he’s on, the Nuggets are a really tough team to beat. When Murray and Porter are both on, the Nuggets can beat anybody. No other role player on Denver’s roster raises the Nuggets’ ceiling to the level that Porter can.

If Murray and Porter post stat lines like they did Monday in the playoffs, Denver can score with West’s top offenses, the Mavericks, Rockets, Clippers, and Lakers. Those four teams are the first, second, third, and fourth-ranked offenses respectively in the league this season. The Jazz is ranked eighth in offense — one spot ahead of Denver — but the loss of Bogdan Bogdanovic bumps them down a tier.

Quite frankly, the Nuggets may need to rely on their offense to advance deep in the postseason. Denver gave up 114 points Monday to the Magic, who hold the worst Offensive Rating (24th in the league) of the 22 teams invited to Disney World.

If this is the Murray and Porter that the Nuggets will get come the playoffs, Denver is a legitimate threat in the West. The Nuggets can beat anybody in their path if those two are both playing at their peaks.