The number one thing the Denver Nuggets have to prepare for when it comes to the upcoming 2021-22 campaign—which begins in earnest on 19 Oct., back on its natural start date for the first time since 2019, is the absence of one Jamal Murray.
Murray is Denver’s second-best player by a long shot, but after suffering an ACL tear on 12 Apr. in a game against the Golden State Warriors, the Canadian is dealing with an injury that typically warrants a recovery time of about a year. That leaves the Nuggets without their starting point guard and a huge hole in their backcourt.
Last year, the lion’s share of those starts went to Facundo Campazzo, a jittery 30-year-old rookie out of Argentina. Campazzo is a fan-favorite, and for good reason, what with his against-all-odds story, but his limitations as a player became all too evident during that four-game sweep at the hands of the Phoenix Suns in the second round.
The guy that should be running the point in the Blue Arrow’s stead is instead the guy who’s had the reins of the second unit in the Rockies for some time now, fourth-year guard Monte Morris.
Morris is a great floor general, a solid passer, and, most importantly given Murray’s primary skillset, the guy can flat out hoop.
While not the same threat as Murray, Morris is a very solid scorer at all three levels, which would really help lighten the scoring load of reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
The Joker was run ragged during the 2021 playoffs as he attempted to do it all for a team lacking other credible scoring threats. Morris can be that guy—they did go 10-4 when Morris started last season—but we’d like him a lot more for that starting role if he could make three key improvements to his game.