When we last saw the Nuggets on an NBA floor nearly five months ago, they were still the walking wounded.
Despite avoiding a sweep to the eventual champion Warriors, and fighting valiantly in their Game 5 loss in San Francisco, the truth is that version of the Nuggets wasn’t close to what this version will be. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were relegated to the sidelines, leaving Nikola Jokic without two of his most effective sidekicks.
Well, the sidekicks are back. And so is a new NBA season. Denver’s media day — the unofficial start to a new season — is Monday. Training camp at UCSD begins Tuesday. But before we hear from all the players, coach Michael Malone and new general manager Calvin Booth, we wanted to establish a map for Monday and the preseason to follow. In other words, what matters, who matters and what to watch over the next few weeks before the season opens in Utah on Oct. 19.
1. Jamal Murray’s health: When the Nuggets suit up against the Jazz to tip off their season, it will be Murray’s first regular-season game since tearing his left ACL about 18 months ago. Murray flirted with a comeback last season but opted for the more cautious route instead of throwing himself into the playoff cauldron. It wasn’t the offense he was concerned about as much as the unpredictable knocks he was bound to face on defense. In scant videos shared on social media (a wholly inaccurate measure of someone’s status following ACL surgery), Murray has looked athletic and willing to attack. In our live Nuggets Ink podcast last Thursday, Bones Hyland told me, “He looks good, y’all, no worries,” after a few weeks of playing him. Will Malone limit his minutes to start the season? Will there be any lingering hesitation on Murray’s part? We’ll have a better idea very soon.
2. Michael Porter Jr.’s health: In a similar vein as Murray, there’s a ton riding on the health of Porter’s back. A third back surgery derailed his season last year, and he wisely opted for rest over an in-season return before the playoffs started. Porter will make nearly $31 million this season, marking the first year of his five-year max extension. The Nuggets have already made the financial commitment. It’s on Porter to regain his shooting clip (44.5% from 3 during the 2020-21 season). Porter, according to a league source, essentially threw out his nine games last season and watched film of his success during his last healthy season. His summer work reinforced how to get to his shooting spots, but also focused on being more than just a floor-spacer. But even more important than his on-court adjustments is his health. The source said he’s moving well and feels great. Whether that holds will go a long way towards determining the success of his season.
3. Back-to-back-to-back? Could Jokic go Larry Legend on the NBA, becoming the first player since the Celtics great to win three consecutive MVPs? On one hand, he’ll have the help he didn’t have last season. He still managed to average nearly eight assists per game last year without being flanked by two of his best shooters. Add those guys back into the mix, and Jokic’s overall numbers might diminish, but the all-important team success won’t. If the Nuggets finish as a top-two seed in the West, Jokic will have an argument. The greater question for perhaps the best player in the NBA is how can he get better? Rest will help. He finally had a true offseason even if it was cut short a bit by EuroBasket. Physically, he’ll be set. Mentally, he no longer needs to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders. Those responsibilities can and should be shared among Denver’s three max players. Despite the expectations, Jokic’s job might just get easier.
4. Is Bones ready?: When the Nuggets traded Monte Morris and Will Barton to Washington, one of the first calls Bones Hyland got was a FaceTime from Jamal Murray. The Nuggets’ incumbent guard told the budding one it was their time. As beloved as Morris was within the organization, the only reason Booth pulled the trigger on that trade was because of a belief Hyland can grow into an even more expansive role this season. Last year, Hyland buried 131 3-pointers, second to Jalen Green (157) among all rookies. Green played more than 800 minutes more than Hyland last season. Expect Hyland to take the reins of the second unit and continue to blossom as a sixth man.
5. Where’s the defense? The Nuggets were the epitome of average defensively last season, ranking 15th in the league. Any championship-caliber team needs to be inside the top 10. Opponents averaged nearly 50 points per game inside the paint against Denver, one of the worst marks in the league. To their credit, the Nuggets were 10th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. The additions of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Washington), Bruce Brown (free agency) and Christian Braun (draft) were all meant to plug defensive holes. They’ll help in their shared versatility, and they’ll help in impeding the driving lanes that often left Jokic in precarious positions. Aaron Gordon might benefit more than anyone with the added defensive presence. Once they blend, it might be enough offensive-defensive balance to help bloom into something special.
