NBA Power Rankings: Spurs on top? Kawhi not
Denver Nuggets 32-35
Last week: 6-2
Last rank: 17th
With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray showing signs of future stardom every night, things are looking brighter in Colorado. The Nuggets didn’t make a big move at the deadline — it wasn’t for a lack of trying as they reportedly went all-in for Paul George on the day of the trade deadline — but they have decided to turn the team over to the younger players for the remainder of the season. The young guys have not let the team down so far. Denver has done just enough to keep their lead for the eighth spot out West.
The deal with Portland to bring in Mason Plumlee has opened the floor even more for Jokic and it’s blessed us, viewers, to even more of his passing and playmaking magic. Whereas Murray is doing all he can to show the world that he is definitively better than Buddy Hield. He’s played both on and off the ball for Denver and has shown that something of his hot shooting from his one year at Kentucky was no fluke. Murray’s bow-and-arrow 3-point celebration is also the best one in the league. Just for sheer entertainment, Murray should get the green light from Mike Malone to launch as many 3-pointers as he wants. Would there ever come a point where he’s too tired to pull off the bow-and-arrow celebration? Would excessive bow-and-arrow lead to a dip in shooting percentage by Murray? Would he retire it eventually if he made or missed too many threes? These are the questions that Denver should be focused on in the second half of the year.
Making the playoffs is good for business, but do you really want Jokic and Murray’s first time in the postseason ending in embarrassing sweep fashion. He already admitted he was tired heading into All-Star weekend, maybe a longer summer is better for him than selling some extra tickets and memorabilia.