2020 NBA Playoff Player Grades: How the Nuggets fared

How did the individual players fare for the Denver Nuggets in their exhilarating playoff run.

The Denver Nuggets have become a respected team in the NBA once more thanks to a magical playoff run that saw them reach the Western Conference Finals despite the odds stacked against them. With a special season from the Nuggets in the books, it’s time to grade Denver’s rotation players for their postseason performance.

There shouldn’t be any surprises here!

Jamal Murray: A+

Jamal Murray wasn’t without flaw in the postseason, as he had notable struggles scoring against the Los Angeles Clippers for a couple of games and had some costly turnovers against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Murray’s playmaking — his ability to make tough shots and eventually to set up his teammates — was phenomenal in the 2020 NBA Playoffs and the numbers serve to bear witness.

Murray averaged 26.5 points, 6.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 39.6 minutes per game in the playoffs, with .505/.453/.897 shooting splits.

Rising to star, or perhaps superstar status in the postseason, Murray proved to be the team’s emotional leader and as valuable as Nikola Jokic can be as a go-to scorer.

Nikola Jokic: A-

Nikola Jokic played at a high-level in the majority of the games he played but had serious issues guarding Rudy Gobert in the first-round (along with a game when his energy just wasn’t there) and seemed rattled by the Lakers’ antics and physicality in the Western Conference Finals. All that said, Jokic proved that he’s the best offensive center in the game with his passing, low-post play, and the sheer number of angles he can take a shot from and get it to drop.

Jokic averaged 24.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 36.5 minutes per game in the playoffs, with .519/.429/.835 shooting splits.

In the future, Joker probably has to be a bit of a better leader and a bit tougher but he showed the nation what he can do in the playoffs.

Jerami Grant: B

Jerami Grant drew a number of tough defensive assignments this postseason in Donovan Mitchell, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He definitely didn’t stop any of these exceptional players but he did a respectable job on the defensive end while playing against All-Star talents. Grant also had a couple of games when either his accuracy from deep or aggressive scoring mentality proved to be a difference-maker for the Nuggets.

Grant averaged 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.8 blocks in 34.4 minutes per game while posting shooting splits of .406/.329/.889.

For as athletic as he is, his rebounding effort needs to change and he needs to become a more accurate 3-point shooter. However, he’s valuable as an athletic combo forward that’s a jack-of-all-trades.

Michael Porter Jr.: B-

What separates Michael Porter Jr. from receiving a B- and a C+ here are the facts that he was a rookie and this was his first taste of the playoffs; his commitment to growth on both ends was easily and apparent; and his shot-making ability made the Nuggets a far more dangerous team offensively.

“MPJ giveth, MPJ taketh” seemed to be an accurate motto for Porter throughout the postseason and some atrocious defensive miscues overshadowed the signs of life he showed on that end. On offense, Porter made quite a few incredibly difficult shots but he ran hot and cold. It didn’t help that Nuggets head coach Michael Malone either wouldn’t or couldn’t capitalize on Porter’s shooting stroke more often.

Porter averaged 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.7 steals in 23.7 minutes per game, with shooting splits of .476/.382/.743.

Gary Harris: B-

Gary Harris’ return to the Nuggets during the first round of the NBA Playoffs likely kept their playoff hopes alive, as his defense on players like Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson helped cool off the Utah Jazz. Against the Los Angeles Clippers, Harris found his offense and his aggressiveness on that end helped get over the hump.

However, aside from making life difficult for Danny Green in the Western Conference Finals, Harris was a complete non-factor who blew too many shots and whose lack of rebounding wasn’t helping Denver in the slightest.

Harris averaged 7.4 and 1.1 steals in 27.1 minutes per game, posting shooting splits of .378/.365/.773.

Monte Morris: B-

Aside from a couple of uncharacteristic and untimely turnovers, Monte Morris was the steady hand that the Nuggets needed from a backup point guard offensively. He made heads-up plays, wasn’t afraid to call his own number and freed Jamal Murray up from ball pressure while making it easier to run pick-and-rolls with Nikola Jokic from either side.

However, Morris’ defense left plenty to be desired — a theme for multiple Nuggets players this postseason — and prevented him from earning a higher grade for his play.

Morris averaged 9.1 points and 2.7 assists in 21.4 minutes per game, with shooting splits of .496/.300/.824.

Paul Millsap: C

Father Time caught up to Paul Millsap. Watching him struggle to post-up and how slow he looked at times, that’s not even a question. However, Millsap played the role of the grizzled vet who wasn’t going to be pushed around and it got the Nuggets going when they needed it most.

Millsap’s defensive awareness was the biggest factor for why he remained a starter throughout the playoffs but had he played at least a little better, especially against the Lakers, life would have been easier for Denver.

In his 11th playoff run, Millsap averaged 8.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 24.2 minutes per game, posting shooting splits of .398/.341/.796. Shooting 48.4% from within three feet of the rim only illuminates the struggles he had scoring inside this postseason.

Torrey Craig: C

Carrying the title of defensive specialist throughout the season, Craig did his part in the playoffs. Although it didn’t always feel like he was doing well enough on that end, the numbers tell a different story.

According to NBA.com’s matchup data, Craig held Donovan Mitchell to 7-20 (35%); Jordan Clarkson to 5-12 (41.7%); Kawhi Leonard to 9-21 (42.9%); Paul George to 5-13 (38.5%) and LeBron James to 3-8 (37.5%) shooting from the field.

Offensively, Craig struggled (although he made some timely baskets). The soon-to-be 30-year-old averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game with shooting splits of .423/.262/..692.

Mason Plumlee: C-

Athletic and a skilled passer with 41 playoff games under his belt before this postseason, it’s fair to have expected more from Mason Plumlee. However, except for a few plays that were far in-between, Plumlee largely disappointed.

While he did make it hard for smaller players to convert shots around the rim, the litany of large and skilled post players the Nuggets faced on their playoff run seemed to be undeterred by Plumlee. Offensively, Plumlee grabbed a few offensive boards and finished off a couple of lobs but pretty much did nothing other than that.

Plumlee averaged 2.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 10.8 minutes per game, shooting 48.7% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line.

P.J. Dozier would have been honorable mention but the skinny on Dozier is he’s a pretty good defender who isn’t afraid of the moment but whose free-throw misses in Game 2 of the WCF may have come back to haunt the Nuggets.