The Denver Nuggets are hoping that returns from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. could help surge the team during the latter portion of the season.
Last season, the Denver Nuggets were subjected to an untimely injury that all but nuked their chances at making a deep run in the Western Conference playoffs. This season, they’re hoping the exact opposite happens.
Instead of losing a key component heading into the postseason, the Nuggets are hoping to add two key components to the team during a last-season surge that could help the team make a deep playoff run.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned that the Nuggets are hoping for returns from Jamal Murray (knee) and Michael Porter Jr. (back) before the end of the season. The return of two key players as talented as Murray and MPJ could be the difference in the Nuggets bowing out in the first round of the playoffs vs. possibly making an unlikely run to the NBA Finals.
At the moment, the Nuggets are currently 20-18. That’s good enough for the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings. If they can get to a 4-5 matchup, perhaps that would be in the best possible spot – even for a team as talented as the Nuggets, you kind of want to avoid the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz in any potential first-round matchup.
Murray has not played at all this season after suffering a torn ACL during the latter portion of last year’s regular season. He’s made strides in his rehab and the expectation is that a return could take place sooner rather than later.
MPJ attempted to play through injury this season but was shut down and underwent back surgery after playing just nine games.
If they could return both players before the end of the season, it could really help this team surge into the postseason – even an 80 percent version of both players would go a long way in helping this team navigate through the difficult West.
At the same rate, you can expect that the Nuggets aren’t going to rush either back. The last thing the Nuggets want to do is to open either player to further injury just for an outside chance at a deep playoff run.
Nevertheless, there aren’t more talented teams than this Nuggets trio in the West when healthy. That’s the key for this team. Health. If they want to make any noise in the West, they’re going to need to be at full strength. And, at least for now, there’s an outside chance that this team will be by the end of the season.