Kiz: Does Suns guard Devin Booker miss more shots against no defense during warm-ups or against Denver’s defense during the actual game? Is Jamal Murray’s contract with Nuggets structured so he gets paid $10,000 per dribble? When’s the last time coach Michael Malone designed a play for Michael Porter Jr.? In a game of H-O-R-S-E, would Josh Kroenke or Mat Ishbia prevail? With this playoff series knotted 2-2, what’s your most pressing concern for the Nuggets?
Gabriel: In a game featuring terrific shot-making from Booker and Kevin Durant and a 53-point, 11-assist demolition from Nikola Jokic, maybe no stat jumped higher off the page than Phoenix’s 40-11 advantage in bench scoring. Plus-29! Don’t have to step too far out on the limb to say that the Nuggets cannot afford a repeat of that the rest of the series if they hope to win. But you also wouldn’t expect it back in Denver during either Game 5 or, you know, the decider. So I’m saying Booker. He’s scored nearly 30 points the past two games in transition alone and he’s knocking down the ridiculous looks, too. He could cool off considerably and still hit 60% from the floor the rest of the way.
Kiz: No critic in this dusty old cowtown has been tougher on MPJ than me. He needs to step up for Denver to survive and advance against the Suns. But the Nuggets treat him more like a role player than a max contract player. What’s the problem here? Either coach Michael Malone doesn’t create enough halfcourt sets to free Porter for his sweet jumper, or Murray is too busy dribbling away the shot clock to get him the ball. While seven rebounds per game against Phoenix is A-OK, MPJ can — and must — provide more than 12 points per game.
Gabriel: Couldn’t agree more. And the transition 3-point attempts… ouch. The one late in Game 4 got all the attention because of the time and score – Denver trailing by three and it looked like Porter had a path to the hoop – but he had a near carbon copy in Game 3 as well. And oh, by the way, he knocked in a look from the wing in which he got the ball in transition. His activity level, as you mentioned Kiz, was solid. But it needs to be elevated the next two (or three) games.
Kiz: Hey, if Booker doesn’t regress to a mean that resembles something less than the greatest jump-shooter in the history of basketball, no adjustments Denver makes will matter. But wasn’t the Nuggets’ bench supposed to be a big advantage in this series? It disappeared in Phoenix. Christian Braun looked lost and Jeff Green looked a step slow. Maybe see if Vlatko Cancar can provide a jolt of energy. Heck, I’d even be willing to give rookie Peyton Watson a three-minute shot to see if he can stay in front of Booker.
Gabriel: Suns’ coach Monty Williams had to adjust because of Chris Paul’s injury, but he found something that worked with at least some scoring threat and athleticism in T.J. Warren and Terrence Ross in addition to Landry Shamet and bumping Cam Payne into the starting lineup. Now Malone has to adjust, too. I’d be interested in seeing Watson vs. Booker for a couple of stints. Odds say Booker’s not going to keep up this pace regardless of who Denver throws at him, but after watching the last 96 minutes of hoops in the Valley, I’m not sure I want to lean too heavily on odds. All of the subplots and little adjustments make the series fascinating. Booker’s production the next two or three games, largely, is going to decide it.
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