Dec 5, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) drives past Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the second half at Amway Center. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets have been one of the best stories in the NBA at the quarter point of the season as they have set the pace in the league with a 17-7 record after a 124-118 overtime win in Orlando.
The Nuggets are as nondescript as any team in the league and that is what makes it a fun proposition to follow these guys game-by-game to see who steps up and how. No, they are not a made-for-TV soap opera like “As LeBron Turns.” These Nuggets are a legit basketball team in a league where unfortunately off-the-court nonsense takes the seat at the end of the table.
The catalyst to this team is a 1-2 guard-post tandem in point guard Jamal Murray, who was one of Coach John Calipari’s one-and-done talents at Kentucky and then 7-foot Serbian big Man Nikola Jokic, known as the “Joker” to people inside the league.
Jokic is the best passing big man in the league as he averages 7.5 assists, which is tied for seventh in the NBA. Jokic would rather dish a big time assist to Murray on the cut to the basket or on the flare on the wing for a three than score on the interior himself.
“They have a great on-court chemistry – a synergy,” said Denver coach Michael Malone. “They play off of each other very well. Always looking for each other and reading each other.”
Murray leads the Nuggets in scoring at 17.3 points per game, while Jokic checks in at 16.7 and 9.7 boards. Murray is an eclectic scorer as he creates as well off the dribble and is very good at reading the defense and reacting accordingly to get his points and lead the team.
“They are constantly talking to each other there on the bench about what they are seeing and reading each other,” said Malone. “We just kind of let those two make plays within the game.”
Murray has had a coming out party this season in how he has been able to establish himself as a leader and, along with Jokic, take such ownership of this team. Murray served notice with that 48-point outing against Boston on Nov. 5 which was the most points scored by a Nuggets player since Carmelo Anthony went for 50 in 2011.
“Jamal has a lot of confidence and poise,” commented Malone. “Jamal makes big shots and that’s what you need from your starting points guard. That’s what you need when guys are out with injury. You want guys to step up and make big shots.”
Denver is currently in the middle of a five-game road trip and could have sank into a loss in Orlando when Terrence Ross made a jumper with one second to force overtime.
“We didn’t drop our heads,” said Malone. “We still went out there in the overtime and won the game.”
Malone wants this team to be a bastion of solid defense with the consistency to stop opponents in the clutch. That has been the case throughout most of this season as the Nuggets have led the NBA in defensive three-point field goal percentage at 31 percent. That number was so much an irony in allowing the Magic 20 treys.
“We are a defensive team first and foremost,” explained Malone. “We have to understand why we won six in a row. We have held teams to 97 points, low 40s from the field and low 20s from the three and we have protected it and shared it. That’s the recipe for our success.’
Malone established the norms when he came into the Mile High City four years ago and defense headed the list. He is the son of long time NBA coach Brendan Malone, so the defensive mindset.
In fact, this year is the first time in Nuggets history that Denver has started a season 3-0 and held all three of those opponents to under 100 points. In the trio was their early 100-98 win over Golden State on Oct. 21.
“We have to defend at a high level, push, the ball, value and share the ball and when we do that we are capable of beating anybody and I think we have shown that,” Malone said.
