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Denver Nuggets: Millsap must prove himself defensively

By Mathew Huff

Sacramento Kings v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO - MARCH 11: Zach Randolph #50 of the Sacramento Kings handles the ball against Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets on March 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 930600668
Sacramento Kings v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO - MARCH 11: Zach Randolph #50 of the Sacramento Kings handles the ball against Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets on March 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 930600668 /
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The Denver Nuggets will get a much better sample size from Paul Millsap this coming season.

The Denver Nuggets are looking to get a bounce back year from Paul Millsap. However, it may not be in the way many people are thinking.

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The Nuggets are already one of the most potent offensive teams in the league, so the Nuggets do not need him to put up 18 points per game like he did in Atlanta. What they do need though, is some defensive intensity down low.

Millsap has always been an underrated defender. Sadly, last year was a down season for him as he was sidelined with a wrist injury. He will look to become a presence who can make an impact defensively as Jokic continues to refine his craft in this regard.

Per basketball reference, Millsap possesses a career defensive rating of 103. The potential is there, he just needs to get comfortable and accustomed to head coach, Michael Malone’s, scheme.

Anyone who wants to judge him off of last year is obviously not being patient at all. For the first time in his career, Millsap had a injury which prevented him from playing for a long period of time.

Offensively, he was rusty when he came back which was to be expected. Makes sense considering he injured his wrist and did actually rush back a little too soon. However, as alluded to earlier, Denver needs to him to be one of the reliable players on defense not offense.

With Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Nikola Jokic and now Isaiah Thomas, Millsap can now shift his focus to shoring up the interior defense and assisting Jokic on some of the more talented bigs in the league.

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It is imperative that Millsap has a bounce back year not on the offensive end, but on the defensive end of the floor instead.

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