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Denver Nuggets: How each unit of the bench mob is keeping NBA Finals hopes alive

By Alex Murray

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: PJ Dozier #35 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: PJ Dozier #35 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 01, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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Denver Nuggets, Paul Millsap, JaMychal Green
Denver Nuggets, Paul Millsap, JaMychal Green (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Denver Nuggets Bench Mob: JaMychal Green & Paul Millsap, Savvy Vets

While the most important members of the Bench Mob have graduated to the starting lineup in light of the recent injury developments for our Denver Nuggets, veteran forwards JaMychal Green and Paul Millsap remain with the second unit and will undoubtedly serve important roles down the stretch and into the playoffs. Guys with experience always do.

Some veteran players might bristle at playing second fiddle to the young guns, but Green and Millsap know what their roles are and have embraced them this season. Green explained his thought process concerning the Bench Mob after a big win over the Rockets on April 16th:

The 30-year-old Green (34 playoff games) doesn’t bring quite the level of playoff experience as the 36-year-old Millsap (120), but the offseason addition will be important to keep the bench focused and on course. Green has shown that he can contribute by scoring the ball when the team needs him to, stringing together five straight double-digit efforts when MPJ was out back in January.

Green has also hit the 10-point mark in four of his past six contests and is shooting 46 percent from the field and 43 percent from downtown with barely any turnovers to speak of over his past five outings. That’s the kind of efficiency and ball security that Denver needs from these guys.

Despite his age, Millsap could be in line for a bigger allotment of minutes once the playoffs come around considering he’s played in over 50 more playoff games than all of Denver’s five starters combined. Just like Green, Millsap has been taking advantage of every opportunity recently, shoving 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists into just 14.2 minutes per contest over his past five.

He wasn’t asked to do much in the bubble last year, what with the Blue Arrow going bonkers from deep nearly every night, but in 2019, Millsap upped his scoring from 12.6 in the regular season to 14.6 in the playoffs. The bump was even more noticeable in his last run with the Hawks in 2017, when Millsap went from 18.1 points in the regular season to 24.3 in the postseason. The grizzled vet knows what it’s like to step up in the playoffs and will need to do it again at the spry age of 36.

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