Nuggets Early-Season Takeaways and Rest-of-Season Predictions
Oct 8, 2015; Boulder, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribble the ball during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Emmanuel Mudiay Soaks His Hands in Margarine Before Every Game:
I like Mudiay. Other than Towns over in Minnesota, he debatably has had the most transmittable and impactful entrance into the league. He is more athletic and stronger on defense than expected, but he has clear IQ and decision-making issues. He started the season shooting well from deep (47 percent over the first four games), but has since dropped do a poor 31 percent from downtown (4-of-26 through last six games).
His tendency to take contested jump shots is frowned upon, and he is among league leaders in the shots-getting-blocked category with 12. This statistic carries some unattractive weight, particularly because blocked attempts is a category often dominated by big guys, not guards.
His biggest faux pas is his overwhelming tendency to give the ball to the other team. His abominable 4.7 turnovers per game is third in the NBA only to ball mongers Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
The only other player averaging over four a game is John Wall. All three of these superstars have far superior usage rates to Mudiay, and their turnovers are often overlooked and deemed insignificant in comparison to their entire body of work. Not only is the 4.7 mark startling, but it also brings his assist to turnover ratio down to 1.4:1. That is bad for a point guard.
These poor statistics could be congruent to early-season rookie jitters, and can be mended. Even though it is possible he finishes the season averaging more than four turnovers a contest, he will begin to produce more in other areas. As he gets more games under his belt, he will begin to round out with more consistency.
But, for now, Mudiay’s turnover numbers will make it look like he is eating buttered popcorn before tip-off.
He needs to slow things down and stay away from forcing the ball, especially early on in the shot clock. He should let the offense run through, find the open man, use the screen and don’t force it on the roll unless the big is ready for it. These are skills that he will acquire as the season moves along, as teams rely on traits such as patience and stability rather than athleticism or talent.
Next: A Conspicuously Absent Big Man