Michael Malone started to dream big once the calendar flipped to April.
The Nuggets were 2-0 since acquiring Aaron Gordon at the March 25 trade deadline. Denver blew out the Atlanta Hawks at home, and then two nights later took care of the Joel Embiid-less 76ers thanks to 30 points from Jamal Murray and a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double from Michael Porter Jr.
The new-look Nuggets’ first big test came on April 1 in Los Angeles against the Clippers, who suited up both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. In a 101-94 Nuggets win, Nikola Jokic had just 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, but all five Denver starters scored in double-figures. Murray tallied 23 points. Porter went for 20. Will Barton chipped in 19 points. In his third game in a Nuggets uniform, Aaron Gordon had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. His defense, specifically on Leonard, was superb.
“At that point in time, I really felt we had a chance to win it all this year,” Malone said following the Nuggets’ Game 4 loss to the Suns and around 20 minutes after Denver’s season officially ended. “I really did.”
Malone’s thought was the same one that permeated throughout Denver after that win over the Clippers. It was so obvious what the Nuggets had.
Denver boasted the MVP of the league. At point guard they had a proven playoff star who was playing his best basketball of the season. Tim Connelly had made the all-in trade for the perfect two-way piece that could defend the high-scoring wings that were going to dot Denver’s upcoming playoff path.
All the pieces were in place. Everything fit.
After returning from Los Angeles, the Nuggets rattled off seven straight wins, four of which came by double-figures. It was a special two weeks. If you lived it, you know. The Nuggets had the look, the feel, the aura of a championship team.
But Denver’s season came crashing down two games later. With 50.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ April 12 loss to the Warriors, Murray tore his ACL and was lost for the season.
It’s amazing how fast things can change in the NBA. How in one split-second your championship foundation can crumble with one wrong step. There’s no way to plan for it. There’s no way to soften the blow. All of a sudden, it doesn’t matter that Gordon fit as well on the court alongside Denver’s Big 3 as he did on paper.
You knew these Nuggets would continue to fight because that’s just what they’ve always done. Denver doesn’t know any better. The Nuggets won nine of their next 10 as injuries to Denver’s backcourt continued to shake up a rotation that was already in flux. They battled. They scrapped. They clawed. They inspired, until they just ran out of gas.
In the end, the Suns were just too good, too talented, too well-coached, and too smart to not overwhelm Denver and take advantage of how shorthanded the Nuggets were. For the Nuggets to beat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games and closeout Damian Lillard on his home floor without their starting backcourt was nothing short of extraordinary. Nothing will ever be able to take that away from these Nuggets and this MVP.
It’s difficult to draw sweeping conclusions from this year based on the fact that so much went out the window after Murray was lost.
It was an ultimate “What if?” season.
—– Jokic was incredible. He was the best player in the NBA this season. You unsurprisingly saw signs of fatigue — both physical and mental — creep in at the tail end of Denver’s run after Jokic played 109 of the last 109 games for the Nuggets since Aug. 1 of 2020. Jokic was third in the NBA in total minutes this season and was one of just 11 players to play in all 72 regular-season games.
—– Gordon was everything the Nuggets envisioned him being (when Denver’s roster was fully healthy). The Murray-Barton-Porter-Gordon-Jokic lineup appeared in only five games this season and played a total of 110 minutes. The Nuggets outscored their opponent by 43 points (281-238) when that group was on the floor. That lineup recorded a pristine 127.1 Offensive Rating, 108.7 Defensive Rating, and an 18.5 Net Rating. Gordon was just what the Nuggets needed.
—– I can’t see Denver being too perturbed by how Gordon finished the playoffs when thinking about his fit next season (he’s under contract for the 2021-22 season) and potentially beyond. The Suns series wasn’t pretty for him. Gordon converted just 41% of his field goals against Phoenix, shot 0-8 from three, and was just 5-18 from the field across Games 3 and 4. But when Denver — and I’m really talking about just Murray here — was healthy, Gordon was great as the 4th or 5th scoring option. He was miscast as a second or third option in the playoffs. Then again, Murray’s expected to miss much of next season and Gordon’s offensive role could continue to be heightened, but I’ve got more confidence in him scoring effectively in a regular-season environment than in the playoffs. He showed he could do that somewhat efficiently in April and May. Gordon was also great defensively in the playoffs. He was every bit as advertised on that end.
—– Porter’s season ended on a frustrating note as he wasn’t able to carry the confidence and stability that he found late in the series against Portland over to the second round. He was up and down as a shooter throughout the postseason (41.5% vs. the Blazers and 37.5% vs. the Suns from three) and defensively needed to be better. It was yet another reminder of how different regular season and playoff defense can be. Porter made defensive strides throughout the 72-game season, but those went out the window at times in a playoff environment. Still, Porter’s just 22-years-old and this was second NBA second season. He didn’t miss a game this year due to injury and looked like a star in the regular season. If I’m Denver, I’m giving Porter a max rookie extension this offseason and not thinking too hard about it. He’d still be tradeable on that contract too if the Nuggets wanted to move him down the line (I don’t think the Nuggets have any desire to move him right now.) Porter said after Game 4 that one of his top offseason priorities is ball-handling, which he thinks can take his game to the next level.
“I really admire some of the bigger wings who just are really really good ball handlers,” he said. “Like KD, or Paul Geoge, Kawhi, Jayson Tatum.”
—– You’ve got to feel for Will Barton. What an unlucky turn. He has another really good regular season, is on track to be healthy in the playoffs for the first time since Denver has made the postseason, and gets injured again late in the year. Barton fought with the Nuggets’ medical staff to increase his minute restriction ahead of Game 3 and then pleaded with Malone to let him play more. The result: Barton played 28 minutes in Game 3 and 39 minutes in Game 4. He was Denver’s second-best player after coming back and led the Nuggets in scoring in Game 4.
—– It’s not a given that Barton will be back in Denver next season. He has a $14.6 million player option for next year that he has to decide on by July 31. After Game 4, Barton reaffirmed that he wants to be a starter when asked and said the talent and championship potential that the Nuggets have will play a role in his decision on whether or not he returns. My feeling is that Barton will pick up the option if he can’t negotiate a long-term deal with Denver. Barton also explained what he wants in the next steps of his career.
“Just to be appreciated. Being in a winning environment, a chance to win,” he said. “Just to be myself, to play my game.”
—– Monte Morris had a great playoff run and really stepped up as a playmaker and scorer when the Nuggets needed him to. I have to believe that what he was able to do in the postseason made some lasting impressions both in Denver and around the league. Facu Campazzo’s rookie year was a success. PJ Dozier was very good this season and I think he’s due for a bigger role next year. Paul Millsap’s play really fell off in the playoffs and Denver can’t count on him to be a 20+ minute per game rotation player next season. JaMychal Green has a $7.6 million player option for the 2021-22 season that I’d be surprised if he turned down. JaVale McGee? He played four total minutes in the playoffs. I’d welcome him back in a reserve role, but McGee could seek out more money and playing time elsewhere. The same goes for Austin Rivers.
Real quick, back to that championship thought that crept into Malone’s head at the beginning of April. It was also top of mind for Nuggets executives, staffers, and Denver’s roster. There was a real, genuine, and honest line of thinking that ran through Ball Arena just over two months ago that this could be the year. The West was there for the taking and the Nuggets rightfully thought they had the pieces to emerge on top.
“Of course. Yes,” Jokic said when I asked him after Game 4 if he shared Malone’s sentiment back in April that the Nuggets could win the championship this season with a healthy Murray.
It’s too early to put a timetable on when Murray, who tore his ACL on April 12, could return. Injury expert Jeff Stotts wrote on InStreetClothes.com in February that the average return to play for recent ACL tears in the NBA is roughly 342 days. But every injury is different and every athlete can heal at a different speed. Murray has already been attacking his rehab too and I’d think he’ll be pushing to get back on the floor as soon as he’s cleared.
It’s tough to forecast what next season will look like. I can’t imagine Denver springing to acquire a marquee starting-level point guard to hold down the fort until Murray returns. The Nuggets have Morris, Campazzo and Dozier under contract next season, and Denver can be a very, very good regular season team without Murray. With Jokic, Porter, Gordon, and another deep rotation, the Nuggets can make a push towards the top of the West standings again. But you worry about the strain that could put on Jokic if he has to shoulder much of the offensive load for 82 games next year.
Man…
Get well soon, Jamal. What a story it would be if he could return for next year’s playoffs and help the Nuggets make the run they were supposed to be making right now.
