Analysis: Nuggets’ Rookies in Vegas Summer League action

Jamal Murray: Getting Comfortable

Jamal Murray, the Nuggets’ rookie from Canada took a few games to get used to the spacing and speed of the NBA — even if it is only Summer League play — and his up-and-down play through the first two games exhibited that.

During his first official NBA action, Murray started alongside last season’s starting backcourt of Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary Harris. Murray mixed some good basketball with young mistakes and uncertain play — he is only 19 after all. Against Minnesota last Friday, it appeared that Murray was pressing a bit and forced shots early on. As the game progressed, he appeared to calm down and began to hit some shots finishing with 14 points on 5/12 shooting from the floor and 1/4 from deep. Murray also dished a pair of assists and snatched six rebounds — including three on the offensive glass.

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Murray was thrust into the primary ball-handler role ahead of the Nuggets’ second game of the summer when Mudiay and Harris were shut down. The two Nuggets’ guards will sit on the bench for the remainder of the week to rest in advance of their appearance for the USA Basketball Select Team next week, also in Vegas.

in 24 minutes against Memphis, Murray again showed his age and inexperience on the offensive end. The Grizzlies held Murray in check for the most part as he finished with just six points, six rebounds and four assists to go with five turnovers. He only shot 2/11, but he exhibited mental toughness and kept fighting despite his struggles on offense. The Nuggets blasted the Grizzlies, 106-62.

On Monday night against the Heat, Murray finally broke out for the Nuggets. He looked confident early on, penetrating and hitting a couple of nice floaters, including this one:

Murray had it all going against the Heat, as he hit a pair of threes, slashed into the paint, showed off his impressive handles in traffic, hammered home a breakaway dunk and he even appeared to trash talk an opponent during his 29-point performance. Murray’s two assists in 33 minutes don’t exactly point to a top-flight distributor, but his ability to get buckets has to please the coaching staff.

Murray’s defense — thought to be a weakness — has impressed me thus far. It may be because I wasn’t expecting much, but Murray has shown competence and effort on the defensive end.

After his breakout showing in the loss on Monday, his former college coach, John Calipari, once again declared Murray would lead all rookies in the NBA in scoring this season:

Let’s hope Coach Cal is correct and Murray can compete for NBA Rookie of the Year this season!

Grade through three games: B-

Murray gave an uneven performance through two games, then exploded for 29 in game 3. He has shown the ability to step into his jump shots, to hit floaters in the teeth of the defense and he’s exhibited his wonderful ball-handling. The Nuggets will be looking for more consistency out of Murray in tournament play.

Next: Juan Hernangomez