Nugg Love
Fansided

Nuggets vs. Clippers: Grades

By Michael Longhofer

Los Angeles Clippers v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 27: Boban Marjanovic #51 and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers talk during a timeout as the take on the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 27, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)Getty ID: 925203916
Los Angeles Clippers v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 27: Boban Marjanovic #51 and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers talk during a timeout as the take on the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 27, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)Getty ID: 925203916 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets compete in the 2018 Taco Bell Skills Challenge at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets compete in the 2018 Taco Bell Skills Challenge at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

D. . PG. Denver Nuggets. JAMAL MURRAY

Speaking of players that have seemingly regressed, Jamal Murray has put a string of bad games together that have some questioning his chops at the point.

What’s being questioned is not his heart, drive or talent.  Specifically, people are wondering if Jamal has the handles to effectively run the point.  Five awful turnovers from the young guard certainly validate the questions.  The final play, alone is cause for concern, there’s no justification for a turnover in that situation.

Jamal seems to have lost his way.  While I hesitate to fully buy into the idea that he’s being driven by ego, it’s hard to watch this talented young man make so many head-scratching plays.  He needs to remove the behind-the-back pass completely from his repertoire. His pull up from three on a fast break in the fourth was a terrible decision.

Jamal’s numbers were also solid, he shot fairly well from the floor and made all of his free throws.  Gone from his game was the 48 minutes of fire we’ve grown accustomed to.  He was buckled, repeatedly by DeAndre Jordan screens.

The Core gets a lot of the credit for the resurgence of the Nuggets franchise, they need to be held accountable for this mini-swoon as well.

Our fortunes are inextricably tied to the trio of rising stars, it is not out-of-line for there to be expectations at this point.

The book has apparently been written on this Nuggets squad and that book is titled “Pick-and-Roll”.

There are questions that need to be asked of The Core but beyond that, there are questions that need to be asked of the coaching staff.  Players like Marjanovic having career nights against this squad are all too common and it tarnishes what should be a time of acceleration for this team.

While this player review may seem harsh, considering the overall record from February, it is necessary.  The Nuggets were in a playoff fight last year and blew it down the stretch, letting Portland sneak up and grab the 8th seed.  If they are to stave off a similar fate this year, it will require the best The Core has to offer.

There is no room for games like last night.  There is no room for journeyman NBA players to light the Nuggets up night-in and night-out.

Next: Nuggets will be battle tested

There is no room for anyone to be soft on this squad.  Not if the playoffs are an expectation.

Home/Nuggets News