The List: Timing is everything for the Denver Nuggets

“The List” is a brand new series that serves as a companion piece for the “Notebook” episodes of the Locked on Nuggets podcast and the DNVR Nuggets podcast. In this edition, I share notes on the importance of timing in the half court, Jamal Murray’s balance, and Will Barton’s open court playmaking.

1. It was evident on the very first play of the game that the Denver Nuggets were bringing a lot more energy and intensity to their offense. It’s a copycat league where every team is scouting and studying their opponents so new plays never go unnoticed for long and 95% of every team’s playbook is made up of mostly the same basic plays.

The devil is in the details. Which players are in which spots and taking on which roles, subtle changes to the spacing and timing of cuts, and so forth. But all of that only accounts for about half of what makes a play effective. The other half is made up of a mixture of talent and effort. So when the Nuggets’ offense is struggling in the half court, often times it comes down to either missing shots or playing with less that full effort. That was certainly the case against the New Orleans Pelicans last week but it was certainly not the case against the Miami Heat.

2. The Nuggets had just three fastbreak points against the Orlando Magic and are averaging just 10.7 fast break points per game, the 7th fewest in the NBA. But on Monday, they managed to manufacture 18 fastbreak points thanks to a renewed emphasis on getting out in transition and the return of Will Barton, one of the team’s best transition playmakers.

3. Gary Harris is still struggling with his decision making in the pick and roll (PnR) and most of that stems from an inability to put pressure on the rim protector and/or read the lob to the rolling big man.

4. Jamal Murray has really good upper body balance on his jump shot. It really jumps off of the screen on plays like this one where he gets forced into an awkward pivot but still manages to get square and into his shooting rhythm smoothly.

5. Monte Morris provides a nice contrast to Gary Harris as a PnR playmaker, which is understandable given that Morris is a pure point guard and much more familiar running the PnR. Here he demonstrates perfect timing on every single one of his cuts, screens, and reads.

6. Another example of phenomenal timing and footwork attacking the basket from Monte Morris and an even better example of how well-timed weak-side action on offense can create momentary lapses in the defense’s help rotations.

7. Torrey Craig might not be a great PnR playmaker but I still don’t think that the Nuggets should avoid using him as a ball-handler within the regular flow of the offense. Often times ignoring one of your players on offense can do more harm than allowing them to stay involved albeit with the understanding that they take fewer risks.

8. The inverted 5-1 PnR that Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic have perfected over the last two seasons is still one of the most deadly actions in basketball. In the clip below, the two manage to create just enough pressure on the defense for Will Barton to slither into a perfect cutting angle for the and-one.

9. Jamal Murray is a gamer. He doesn’t always make the right play but he works hard to make each play work.

10. This was one of the more memorable plays from Monday’s game, in part because of the complete bewilderment on Jokic’s face as he threw the ball away.

11. One of my absolute favorite cuts in basketball and the exact type of cut that an elite passer like Jokic loves seeing his teammates make.