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Denver Nuggets: Player grades from OKC

By Michael Longhofer

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 30, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 940296864
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 30, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 940296864 /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 23: Paul Millsap
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 23: Paul Millsap /

Paul Millsap posted a season-high 36 points, added nine rebounds, two assists and had his best game as a Denver Nugget.

This is what I believe we all envisioned when the Nuggets signed Millsap.  During his 68-game recovery from wrist surgery, there were several occasions when the high-flying Nuggets were bogged down, offensively.

Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets /

Denver Nuggets

One of the knocks on the squad was that the scripted, half-court offense that is so necessary, eluded them.  Sure, they can score 130 and drain 20+ three-point shots on any given night.  What do they do when those shots aren’t falling and there’s no flow to that offense?

Generally, they lose.  Review the games against Houston this season for reference.

What Millsap brings and what has been a struggle to reintroduce is stability in the half-court.  He was 13-for-18 from the floor (2-for-3 from deep, 8-for-11 from the line). That’s good for a phenomenal 72% shooting percentage.  He cut and let Jokic find him for easy looks, he made his turnaround, fade away jump shot fall.  He was active but he was in-control.

This team needed this win.  When it came to it, they needed Millsap.

Nikola Jokic is the leader of this team.  He is the point the offense flows through.  How nice for him to have a player like Millsap in his pocket to take up the reins when that offensive flow either isn’t producing or has been disrupted?  Last night was a good example of what, if developed properly, could be a lethal two-headed offensive philosophy.

Another aspect to the value Millsap adds is toughness.  I have no doubts about the mental toughness of our squad.  Jamal Murray has been rocked this year, beat up and questioned.  Through it, he’s maintained that confidence that serves him so well.

We’ve seen Lyles and Devin Harris work through mini-slumps to be productive.  Barton is an iron-will guy, tough as it gets.

There’s a physical component though that no amount of mental toughness can compensate for.  The book on the Nuggets, according to NBA circles is to rough them up.  One look at the condition of Jokic’s arms every night confirms that teams try to be rough with Denver.

The Thunder employed that tactic to start the fourth last night and it propelled them to a 25-7 run to open the quarter.

This is where Millsap provides further value.  He is as tough, physically as they come.  Not mean, not dirty but certainly tough.  He has a great basketball IQ.  That’s a valuable thing for a team like Denver’s.  It works for the Warriors with Draymond Green.  The finesse team with the nasty guy inside.  It’s a proven dynamic and it’s what’s leftover from the old days of Pistons-style basketball.  In today’s game instead of five of those guys on the floor, teams can maintain physical toughness with just one.

Millsap is our one.  I’m glad we have him.

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