Denver Nuggets: The challenge of building on last year’s playoff run

Will the Denver Nuggets be able to build off last season? 

The Denver Nuggets were one of last season’s more exciting teams and that’s before they even went to the bubble where they overcame a 3-1 deficit twice, witnessed the Jamal Murray coming out party, and went to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2009.

The team was fifth in offensive efficiency and 16th in defensive efficiency last season when using Cleaning the Glass’ metrics and their main core of players got better, most importantly with Michael Porter Jr. playing well enough for the team to trade Malik Beasley at the deadline.

I wrote last week about what’s next for the team after losing Jerami Grant in free agency, a decision which somewhat shocked the NBA and the Nuggets, but more power to Jerami for wanting a bigger role on offense and getting paid while doing it.

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The crux of the article is that it puts a lot of pressure on MPJ and Gary Harris to step up on defense from where they were a year prior.

Players that can guard Kawhi Leonard in the playoffs and at least have a shot against LeBron James are hard to find and with the Nuggets’ cap sheet, it’s their best (and only) bet to look on the inside at the next wing stopper.

Porter has the physical tools to guard some of the elite forwards in the league but you’d be hard-pressed to find good defensive footage of him and Harris had an underwhelming and injury-riddled season.

Denver pivoted well, however, picking up JaMychal Green to replace Jerami, it’s about as good as you could hope for the price tag associated. All the players and coaches had only nice things to say about him at training camp with the usual platitudes of ‘the guy you want on your team’, ‘fighter’, and so on.

It’s also not out of the realm of possibility that he has the best offensive season of his career.

And speaking of best offensive seasons: Nikola Jokic is probably going to continue his streak as the best center in basketball despite not getting enough media attention compared to Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns, but that’s okay.

In classic Jokic fashion, he’s not worried about his standing in the league, talking only about the team’s offense as a whole:

"“I think we’re opening it up a little bit more and [being] more aggressive. If you attack the rim, attack the rim aggressively to get to the line,” he says during training camp.“If you’re open, just shoot it. If we play a bit more simple, it’s going to help us a lot. That’s the emphasis coach gave us.”"

Jamal Murray went scorched Earth in the playoffs and after people picking him as the next breakout star for three seasons now, but, let me know if you’ve heard this before but this is the year Jamal breaks out and averages 20-plus points per game.

Gary Harris shouldn’t have another down year (we’re currently off the back of two) but even if he does, the team has Will Barton coming back from injury and two rookies behind him in RJ Hampton and Facundo Campazzo.

"“I’ve had conversations with Gary and not necessarily regarding the starting lineup,” head coach Mike Malone said at training camp media availability.“More importantly just in terms of Gary and myself figuring out a way to get Gary back to playing at the level I know he’s capable of.”"

The classic well-drafted Denver depth is there, but the only concern I have is when it comes to backing up Nikola Jokic. Yes, it’s a minor role, but at the moment, it’s Bol Bol behind Jokic since Mason Plumlee got (

over

)paid this offseason.

Unless it’s not?

"“Yes, I did love Mason…but I’m really excited about Isaiah,” Malone adds.“He’s 22 years old and he knows who he is as a player. That sounds simplistic, but it’s really important for players to know who they are. Isaiah has been great in our practices, his ability to run the floor, screen, roll, finish at the rim, make athletic plays defensively at the rim and be a shot-blocker.“I’ve really been impressed with his talk. He’s a new player that’s come into our gym and is not afraid to open his mouth, especially on the defensive end of the floor.”"

The only issue with the entire process is with the small forward position. MPJ obviously took that mantle with Will Barton injured and the team’s probably hoping Porter can grow into a superstar-level of a player.

When asked about the starting position, Barton adamantly said he was a proven starter in the league.

"“Looking back to last season, seeing what I was able to do, I think it’s clear cut why I’m in this league and I’m a starter,” he said."

As two offensively dominant players in Barton and MPJ, you could talk yourself into both helping boost the second unit when Jamal and Jokic sit. I don’t envy Mike Malone’s role here in deciding who gets the nod on opening night.

Since Malone got the Denver, the team has steadily risen up the standings and while last season’s winning percentage was lower than the one prior, they managed to go further in the playoffs.

It’s because of that consistent improvement, the age of the core, the high ceiling, and the amount of tough playoff experience under their belt that I’d be picking the Nuggets to return to the Conference Finals.

They also have the chemistry argument on their side, something which might’ve helped them in the Orlando bubble when teams had to spend every day with one another on the Disney campus. We’re seeing a lot of bad buzz from other Western Conference contenders like the LA Clippers and Houston Rockets as well as the Golden State Warriors losing Klay Thompson for another season, why can’t the Nuggets return?