Jamal Murray, Wilson Chandler shine in Nuggets quarter-season grades

 

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The Denver Nuggets are just over a quarter of the way through the 2016-17 season. Denver boasts an 8-13 record in the midsts of an important six-game road trip, one where they’ve already won in Philadelphia and lost in Utah.

Here’s how the Nuggets grade out over the first quarter of the year (in alphabetical order):

Darrell Arthur | INC

Averages: 8 games. 14.5 minutes, 5.5 points (41.5 FG%, 42.1 3P%), 2.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.3 steals

While Arthur played 21 minutes in Denver’s win in Phoenix and 23 minutes in their latest victory against the 76ers, he hasn’t found consistent minutes and a stable spot in Michael Malone’s rotation since returning from offseason knee surgery. Once he does, Arthur should return to the lockdown defensive form he showed last season as one of Denver’s most versatile and reliable defenders. That prowess came out against Joel Embiid earlier this week and will continue to show itself as the season goes on.

Will Barton | A

Averages: 9 games, 30.1 minutes, 14.6 points (42.6 FG%, 44.4 3P%), 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 blocks, 0.6 steals

Barton has only played in one more game than Arthur, but his role has not fluctuated when he’s been in the lineup. What Barton has proved, even when playing through an ankle injury for three games late in November, is his ability to stretch the defense from beyond the arc is no fluke. Barton is shooting a strong 44.4 percent from distance and has been better defensively than he was last season. Even with his usage slightly down (from 23.1 to 21.4 percent), Barton’s statistics haven’t slipped.

Malik Beasley | A-

Averages: 9 games, 6.0 minutes, 2.9 points (31.0 FG%, 0.8 3P%), 0.4 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.0 blocks, 0.2 steals

The No. 19 overall pick has flashed his potential during the 54 total minutes he’s played this season. Beasley came to the Nuggets with a lethal jumper that he’ll get more and more comfortable unleashing against NBA quality defenders. Beasley showed what he could do against Golden State earlier this season in his first extended minutes, scoring 12 points on 5-10 shooting in 15 minutes but hasn’t played more than 12 minutes since.

The two-guard is the furthest away from contributing out of Denver’s three rookies and looks unsure of himself when handling the ball in the halfcourt at times, but that comes with being a rookie and not seeing the floor often enough to get into much of a rhythm.

Wilson Chandler | A

Averages: 19 games, 30.9 minutes, 18.2 points (47.7 FG%, 36.7 3P%), 7.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.2 blocks, 0.8 steals

What a season it has been for the 29-year-old Chandler. Career high’s in points, field goal percentage, rebounds and most importantly a full bill of health has paced Chandler and cemented him at the forefront of the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award race at the quarter mark this season. Although he’s coming off arguably his worst game of the year, a 10-point effort in Denver’s win over Philadelphia, Chandler should continue to shoulder much of the Nuggets’ scoring load off the bench, although he’ll get some help on that front once Barton eventually moves back into a bench role when Gary Harris gets healthy.

Kenneth Faried | B-

Averages: 21 games. 23.5 minutes, 9.1 points (48.3 FG%, 0.00 3P%), 8.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.0 steals

He’s playing the lowest amount of minutes since his rookie year and while his defense hasn’t been outstanding, Faried is playing better overall on that end of the floor this season than he’s played in years past. He has struggled as the smallball five to close games, and as of late against stretch four like Ryan Anderson. On offense, Denver is averaging an anemic 99.7 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor compared to 104.9 when he’s off it.

There are questions about Malone’s rotation that remain with a healthy roster. There’s simply not enough minutes out there for a Nikola Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic, Arthur, and Wilson Chandler, who has played almost exclusively four this season to go around. Luckily for Malone, all of the Nuggets’ frontcourt players haven’t been healthy at the same time, but once Jokic returns from a sprained wrist, Malone will have to make some tough decisions on minutes and playing time.

Alonzo Gee | C+

Averages: 10 games, 8.1 minutes, 1.1 points (25.0 FG%, 0.00 3P%), 1.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.1 blocks, 0.5 steals

Gee was signed at a time in the season when the Nuggets were without Harris and Barton and needed help on the wing. Malone and general manager Tim Connelly needed a veteran who they trusted with rotation minutes who they felt they could win games with and eventually arrived at Gee over someone like the unproven Beasley. Gee won’t wow you on offense, or look for his shot on that end of the floor.

He’s just 3-12 from the field on the year with all three of his makes coming inside the restricted area although he’s just 1-4 on layups, per NBA.com. Gee’s defense, which is his calling card, has been okay. He held Russell Westbrook to 2-7 shooting when he was defending the Thunder guard one-on-one, but on the season, the Nuggets are still better defensively with Gee on the bench.

Danilo Gallinari | C+

Averages: 18 games, 36.1 minutes, 16.9 points (40.3 FG%, 36.8 3P%), 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, 0.7 steals

Malone called Gallinari’s season “inconsistent” on the offensive and defensive end roughly one month ago, and since then Gallinari still hasn’t been able to get into the rhythm he enjoyed last season. His scoring and free throw rate has surprisingly spiked downward and he’s not getting to the line nearly as much in isolation situations as he did in 2015-16. His defense has been suspect as well.

However, the tides (offensively) may be turning for Gallinari after his 24-point night against the 76ers, which included an 11-12 showing from the free-throw line, and while the Nuggets aren’t going to ride Gallinari’s coat tails to the playoffs this year, they need their best pure offensive player to be more consistent if they want to snag a top-eight seed in the West. Gallinari’s shooting percentages are on par with his career numbers and he’s playing the most minutes per game of his career, so it might just come down to getting the Italian more looks on the offensive end of the floor.

Gary Harris | INC

Averages: 4 games, 22.8 minutes, 10.8 points (45.7 FG%, 30.8 3P%), 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, 0.4 steals

Harrison has appeared in just five games for the Nuggets this season. He’s currently sidelined with a right foot injury which he hurt soon after returning from a partially torn groin he suffered in preseason play. The Nuggets hope to have Harris practicing at some point during their current six-game road trip.

Juancho Hernangomez – A

Averages: 17 games, 11.1 minutes, 3.0 points (43.2 FG%, 41.2 3p%), 2.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.4 steals

Although he’s played limited minutes in a crowded Denver rotation, Hernangomez has impressed, especially on the defensive end. Hernangomez long-term will settle in at the four-spot but the Nuggets have played him almost exclusively at the three when Hernangomez has played meaningful minutes, compensating for his lack of strength. The results have been positive.

Hernangomez limited Kevin Durant to 1-5 shooting when matched up on the MVP candidate earlier this year and is holding opponents to just 31.6 percent shooting from the field when he’s the closest defender, according to NBA.com. That’s the best mark on the Nuggets and the fourth-best in the league among players averaging more than ten minutes per game, albeit on a small sample size. Hernangomez has also been effective from deep, converting on 41.2 percent of his three’s.

Nikola Jokic | B

Averages: 18 games, 23.5 minutes, 9.4 points (50.4 FG%, 27.3 3P%), 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.4 blocks, 0.7 steals

Jokic has had an up-and-down start to his sophomore season but was coming on as of late before a wrist injury sidelined him for the past couple of games. His confidence was zapped after the failed Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic frontcourt marred the start of Denver’s season and as a result, he wasn’t as aggressive as he should have been early this year on both offense and defense.

As of late, Jokic got some of the swagger back that he showed during his rookie season as the 21-year-old recorded back-to-back double-doubles against the Suns and Heat before his injury and is now playing exclusively at the five. It looked like Jokic was on a path back to the starting lineup but his injury will delay that progress. Once Jokic gets back into the lineup and strings together a few quality games, he’ll be knocking on the door and likely set to regain his spot among the Nuggets’ starting five by the time the trade deadline passes.

Mike Miller | INC

Averages: 4 games, 4.3 minutes, 2.3 points (75.0 FG%, 75.0 3P%), 1.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.0 blocks, 0.0 steals

The 36-year-old has only appeared in four games for the Nuggets this season and Miller’s most notable play was an inbounds pass that found Mike Conley‘s hands in Memphis’ last-second win over the Denver. Miller also played four minutes in the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets. Hopefully, Miller doesn’t appear on the floor for Denver much more the rest of the season.

Emmanuel Mudiay | D

Averages: 21 games, 30.8 minutes, 13.4 points (35.3 FG%, 27.5 3P%), 4.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.9 steals

It has been a tough opening 21 games for Mudiay who can’t seem to take that sophomore step to a more dependable offensive and defensive player. Mudiay’s statistics look identical to his rookie year numbers across the board, and while he’s handed out 45 assists to just 19 turnovers over the past ten games, he hasn’t taken the steps many expected him to on defense, with his jumper, or when handling the ball.

Mudiay has shown flashes, but his poor play at times has been amplified by Jamal Murray‘s brilliance in his rookie year. It will be an important run up to the half-way point of this season for Mudiay as he’ll get his backcourt mate Harris back shortly which should help the second-year point guard out on both offense and defense.

Jamal Murray | A

Averages: 21 games, 21.8 minutes, 10.0 points (39.2 FG%, 39.3 3P%), 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.3 steals

Through just 21 NBA games, Murray has quickly become the” must watch” player on the Nuggets’ roster. When he enters games he brings an electric energy to the offensive end and while his defense still has a ways to go, you can never fault him for the effort he brings on that end of the floor. Murray’s shot is falling from the paint, mid-range, and 3-point land, and he’s kept his turnover numbers down although he hasn’t been asked to handle the ball that much primarily playing off the ball. As the season goes on expect Murray to play more minutes, spend more time at point guard, and continue to excel, although he’ll likely go through another significant slump this season as practically all rookies do.

Jameer Nelson | A-

Averages: 21 games, 26.4 minutes, 9.5 points (45.6 FG%, 40.8 3P%), 2.8 rebounds, 4.4  assists, 0.1 blocks, 0.6 steals

The Nuggets could not have asked for a better start to the season from Nelson. He’s outplayed Mudiay while playing heavy minutes with Denver’s second unit, which is no easy task, is running the offense to the best of his abilities and having an efficient shooting season as well.

The Nuggets are roughly six points better per 100 possessions on offense with Nelson on the floor and he has been stout on defense as well despite playing with a depleted bench mob. He’s closed a few of Denver’s games lately over Mudiay, a trend that could continue if the Nuggets keep winning those games. Nelson is already averaging around the same amounts of minutes he played last year, a number that’s likely to drop slightly with Barton back in the lineup, Harris returning soon, and Murray’s emergence.

Jusuf Nurkic | C

Averages: 21 games, 21.7 minutes, 9.5 points (50.0 FG%, 0.00 3P%), 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 blocks, 0.7 steals

After a standout preseason where Nurkic rattled off three straight double-doubles at one point, the big man has struggled to stay consistent in the regular season. One night Nurkic will show flashes of the defensive potential and low-post scoring prowess he holds, like he did recently for moments against Embiid, but then will revert back to his low-efficiency offensive self.

The Nuggets like to play through Nurkic in the post to start games and like to keep the big man involved when he’s out there, but Nurkic is only shooting 40.6 percent on post-ups per Synergy and scoring just .72 points per 100 possessions on the block – which is lower than Faried, Jokic, and Arthur. Nurkic’s minutes, like the rest of Denver’s frontcourt, have been in flux this year and he will continue to start with Jokic out of the lineup but needs an encouraging couple of games to get his momentum headed back in the right direction.