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Analyzing the Nuggets’ Las Vegas Summer League

By Evan Grant

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets with teammates cheer during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2017 Summer League on July 14, 2017 at Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets with teammates cheer during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2017 Summer League on July 14, 2017 at Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets didn’t fare too well in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League, but there are still some bright spots to reassure fans.

With the NBA Las Vegas Summer League coming to a close, let’s take a look back on the short season the Denver Nuggets’ young players put together during their time in Nevada.

The Nuggets didn’t do a good job of coming out on top of most of their games. However, as NBA fans always say, “it’s just summer league.” It’s just about getting young guys some minutes and evaluating players trying to make the roster.

Although it may just be summer league, it is always a reassurance to see your team succeed in it. Nevertheless, it is not time for the Nuggets fans to hang their heads just yet, especially as there have been some bright spots to come from the overall disappointment.

The first bright spot is in the games that they did win they showed good team chemistry and the Nuggets were able to see solid play from young players like Malik Beasley and first-round pick in the 2017 draft, Tyler Lydon.

Even though Lydon didn’t fill out the stat sheet a lot he looks like a player that will fit well in the Nuggets’ fluid system and can come off the bench at the four spot as he grows as an NBA player. It will be tough in Denver’s crowded power forward rotation, but he has nice offensive potential and range.

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As for Malik Beasley, he’s entering his second year in the NBA and averaged nearly 20 points per game in summer league while dishing out almost two assists and six rebounds a game.

Although the good stats Beasley put up were only in summer league, they were really good numbers. He showed a lot of aggression and his ability to shoot from distance and attack the rim. If he can translate those skills into the regular season, he will be able to add a great punch to the Nuggets’ growing offense.

Denver finished the summer league with a record of 2-4 in the Las Vegas bracket. They won two games against the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans, while falling short to the Rockets on another occasion and losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets.

Next: Breaking down Gary Harris' great cutting ability

The record at the end of it wasn’t great, but it is only summer league and there are positives that the Nuggets can take away from this early showing of the young talent. There’s more youth to build around to help Nikola Jokic, and plenty of promise going forward.

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