Jamal Murray is the Nuggets’ Most Important Player
When Jamal Murray plays well, the Nuggets win. When he struggles, they lose. Simple as that.
So far in the 2019 NBA playoffs, Murray is averaging 25.2 points and 5.5 assists per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range in wins, but just 17.6 points adn 2.8 assists on 38 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range in losses.
Nikola Jokic is still clearly the Nuggets’ best player but he seems to just play well every game, win or lose. So what this maybe proves is that he needs a second star playing alongside him for the Nuggets to play at their best and win.
No matter how important you think Murray is to Denver’s success, he is the definition of an x-factor and he’ll likely be the key to determining how far the Nuggets go in the playoffs. The inefficient Murray will shoot them to a second-round exit. The star Murray can help them advance to the conference finals and at least make things interesting against Steph Curry and the Warriors.