DENVER — The Nuggets are fighting to the last breath for a playoff berth and sit just one single game behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The playoffs have been a goal for Denver going all the way back to Media Day when every player up and down the roster made it very clear that the playoffs as a goal was an emphasis within the organization and it remains a goal today, with just a week left in the regular season.
Now, as Denver finds themselves playing meaningful basketball with just three games remaining, they have a chance to accomplish that goal. Making the playoffs would be wonderful but it’s actually the experience gained throughout this playoff push that’s most important. For the Nuggets’ young core, this push is instrumental in their maturation as players and learning to play under pressure.
“The fact is that we are playing every game throughout the 82-game season trying to win, trying to compete, and trying to create the culture and identity that we want,” Michael Malone explained. “Whether we make it or not, I think we have exceeded everyone’s expectations across the country in terms of being a team playing meaningful games and is still alive this late in the year. The experience for our young guys especially. You cannot put a dollar sign on that. It is only going to help their development and speed up their development, which is most important.”
Not only is it helpful for the growth and development of Denver’s many young players but it also allows an even better insight into the mental makeup of each individual player on the roster for the front office and coaching staff. The Nuggets have been experimenting for years trying to find out what they have in their young talent and which players to build around. Being able to see how those potential franchise players compete and react under pressure is extremely helpful and should hopefully allow the Nuggets a clearer picture of which players are foundational pieces to build around.
“Every game matters, every quarter matters, every possession matters. The fact that we have played with that pressure in those games it allows you to take a deep insight into who each individual is,” Malone said. “Is this a guy that we can build with? Do we believe in him? When the pressure is there and we need a stop or a basket or a win is this a guy that we believe can help us get there? This is great for our staff and our front office and our organization because we are finding out the intangibles. What is his makeup? It gives you great insight into who we are, who we have, and who we want to build with going forward.
Denver has gotten their best look into the makeup of their young players since the All-Star break with Gary Harris leading the team in minutes played with 794 and Nikola Jokic right behind him with 627. Jamal Murray comes up sixth on the team with 539 total minutes, which is just 33 minutes less than Jameer Nelson has played. This playoff push has been on the back of the Nuggets’ young core and has not been an easy road, but it has paid immediate dividends.
“I think it is invaluable, I really do,” Malone said. “Coming out of the All-Star break with 26 games to go, every game has been like a playoff game for us. We held the eighth spot for 51 days. It is kind of like holding off a city. Like Portland is laying a great siege. Every time we win they win. But 51 days we hold onto that spot which I think is pretty incredible considering all the things we have had going on with our team.”
Murray has shown that this playoff push has been monumental for his development. Not only is Murray playing meaningful minutes at point guard as a rookie while pursuing the playoffs but he has started three games as of late for an injured Nelson and Denver is 3-0 in those games. When Murray is in the starting lineup he’s posted an offensive rating of 112.3 and a defensive rating of 103.2 which is good for a +9.1 net rating, meaning the Nuggets are outscoring their opponent by 9.1 points per 100 possessions when Murray’s in that role. That’s an outstanding margin.
“You can’t simulate this in practice. Jamal Murray is starting games right now and is playing 25-30 minutes a night. Going into year two he is going to be tested and he is going to be proven,” Malone said. “He will be a true second-year player next year because of everything he has gone through.”
That development culminated into what was Murray’s best game as a professional in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans at home in a game Denver desperately needed. Murray did so while dealing with some pretty significant pain.
“To me, Jamal Murray, if people knew how much pain Jamal Murray is playing with right now,” Malone said. “The guy is tough as nails, which nobody really knows or sees. But the fact is that he goes and makes two free throws at Miami on the road to seal the game and the plays that he has made.”
Murray posted career-highs for points in a game (30), shots made (10), shooting percentage (71.4), and minutes played (38) against the Pelicans and after that behemoth of a performance, Murray was his harshest critic.
“I did not shoot well,” Murray said. “I was 2-6 from three.”
It hasn’t been just Murray either. While Jokic’s dominance of the 2016-17 season has been well documented, it’s been Emmanuel Mudiay‘s recent contributions that have gone largely unnoticed. The second-year point guard is averaging 11.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and just 1.5 turnovers in his last five games while converting on 40 percent of his threes since rejoining the rotation. Malone raved about Mudiay’s ability to stay ready and not get down on himself after getting removed from the rotation entirely earlier this season.
“Emmanuel Mudiay starts, doesn’t play when he was taken out of the rotation, doesn’t feel sorry for himself, and comes out mentally tough,” Malone said. “And plays good basketball in meaningful games.”
Malone knows how important this final stretch is for Denver. The Nuggets are growing before everyone’s eyes and it has been a beautiful maturation so far, especially after watching Harris, Murray, and Jokic combine for 73 points against the Pelicans.
Where Denver ends up in the playoff hunt is to be determined but one thing is for sure: The Nuggets’ young core is getting the chance to grow as players and they’re taking full advantage.
“Big picture-wise and looking forward, not just these three games and hopefully the playoffs. When you have Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, and Nikola Jokic playing at such a high level, that is the future of the franchise going forward,” Malone said. “To see them playing at such a high level in meaningful games that gets us, as an organization, excited because that is a lot to grow with. If we continue to add pieces around guys like that then I think that our future is very very bright and it is exciting for all of us.”
