Denver Nuggets: Two players that need to step up

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 04: Trey Lyles #7 of the Denver Nuggets looks to pass around Zaza Pachulia #27 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on February 04, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The first player that needs to step his game up for the Denver Nuggets is Nikola…I’m just kidding. It’s Trey Lyles.

No, I’m not referring to Jamal Murray by mentioning Canada, as he has been a great contributor for Denver in his third season as an NBA player.

Trey Lyles had a short stretch where he was playing very good basketball during the season, but overall, he’s been a forgettable player who has been overshadowed by some of his teammates. His stats don’t look too bad at first glance, around nine points per game along with four rebounds off of the bench, but that’s not a good reflection of his play (per basketball-reference).

Lyles is an incredibly streaky player, and when his shot isn’t falling, he’s not happy about it. You’re probably thinking: “Who would be happy if their shot isn’t falling?” The difference with Lyles compared to other players is that he will continue to shoot. Instead of focusing on other aspects of the game like moving the ball or defense, Lyles continues to put up bad shots in an attempt to break out of whatever funk he is in that given night.

Let’s take a look at his three-point percentage. In his first three years in the league, Lyles shot over 30 percent from beyond the arc, and in two of the years he was over 38 percent. This year, he currently sits at just 25 percent from three, and a major reason for this is because of the shot selection he shows.

There’s still time to figure it out, but he’d better get a move on.

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