Denver Nuggets: Starting lineup scenarios for this season

Denver Nuggets: Who will complete the starting lineup?

When Denver kicks off the season against the Clippers, the bulk of the starting lineup is obvious.

Jokic will open at center. No surprise here. Millsap will start at the four. Hopefully he’ll bounce back after last year’s injury.

Harris and Murray will also receive the nod. A rapidly-developing duo, many believe they could someday resemble Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

The fifth starter is a question mark. Most projections show Will Barton claiming the spot. This would benefit Denver for reasons we’ll examine later.

But what if Isaiah Thomas returns to his Boston form? How long can a former MVP candidate ride the bench for Denver? Meanwhile, Torrey Craig is a hellacious defender. If defense is halting Denver’s rise, when does Craig receive the starting bid?

Deciding this may not be a clear-cut science for for coach Malone. Let’s examine the scenarios.

First scenario: The glue guys

PG: Jamal Murray SG: Gary Harris SF: Will Barton PF: Paul Millsap C: Nikola Jokic

Herein lies this season’s initial starting lineup. Great….article over…right? Wrong. There’s a caveat.

Will Barton should fit great with this starting unit. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 40 starts last year (ESPN).

Barton shoots, drives and cuts proficiently. Fans often saw Will on the finishing end of a Jokic dime last year. Gelling with Nikola is required for success in the Mile High.

“Thrill” is also a fearless play-maker…something Denver needs when Jokic is smothered in the post.

But…

Depending on Denver’s positioning and player-performance, changes are possible.

Take Isaiah Thomas, for example. He was an MVP hopeful just 15 months ago. If he returns to his Celtic form, you simply cannot sit him.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets are awful defensively. If this stunts Denver’s record, look for Torrey Craig to accumulate starts.

Personally, I believe Barton will be a swell fit with the starters. If he plays well and Denver performs, there is little reason for him to come off the pine. Thrill’s starter numbers last season prove he is more than ready.

Second scenario: Undersized star power

PG: Isaiah Thomas SG: Jamal Murray SF: Gary Harris PF: Paul Millsap C: Nikola Jokic

This lineup is thrilling to Nuggets fans.

Sliding Harris into the three spot would prove feasible. Harris played 49 percent of last year’s

More from Nugg Love

minutes at the small forward position (basketball reference – courtesy Mathew Huff’s article).

This opens the two-spot for Murray. And Isaiah Thomas takes the starting point.

This won’t be the early-season lineup. But Isaiah could play his way into this role.

Thomas has a good relationship with head coach Mike Malone. Coach knows what he can do. A multi-game diet of the old IT could allow Isaiah to kindly force Malone’s hand.

The dude averaged 29 points per game just 14 months ago (ESPN). If he nears this caliber, Denver has no chance but to start him. End of discussion

Defensively, this is the worst lineup. The unit is undersized, and high-octane offenses will find holes everywhere. Denver will need every bit of its proficient offense if this group starts.

Personally, I like Barton starting and Thomas running the second unit.

Will has proven himself agreeable to Jokic’s style, and will mesh as a starter. Isaiah will receive the privilege of control in the second unit. IT’s minutes shouldn’t suffer, as he should still average 30 ticks per game.

Third scenario: Defensive prowess?

PG: Jamal Murray SG: Gary Harris SF: Torrey Craig PF: Paul Millsap C: Nikola Jokic

Starting Torrey Craig presents a lineup that bucks Denver’s poor defensive trend. Although Jokic and Murray aren’t awesome defenders, the middle three is extremely tough to topple. Gary Harris, Torrey Craig and Paul Millsap are capable defenders who put clamps on modern-day studs.

The biggest knock on Torrey Craig is his offense. He looked tentative and uncomfortable offensively in his brief stint. But don’t forget, he averaged 23 points per game in last year’s G-League play. Nuggets fans can anticipate improvement to Craig’s offensive game.

If Denver struggles defensively and Craig comes alive…Kyle Speller will announce him as starting small forward. If defense prevents Denver from success, why not give this dude a shot? Who knows, maybe he develops into a savvy two-way forward for the Nuggets.

Starting prospects aside, Craig’s job is to maintain strong defense while improving offensively. Denver cannot afford Torrey’s output of last year (4.2 ppg ESPN).

Craig scored in bunches in the Gatorade league (ridiculous name, by the way). He must quench this same offensive thirst in the NBA. Starter or not.

This lineup is situational only, in my book. Perhaps Craig starts in order to guard LeBron or KD. Correcting a defensive slump may involve starting Torrey.

Top 10 Denver Nuggets of all time. dark. Next

Otherwise, bring him off the bench until the offensive game improves.

Home/Nuggets News