Denver Nuggets: 3 ways Monte Morris can boost his game

Denver Nuggets’ Monte Morris Improvement #1: Strap up on defense

It’s no secret that the Denver Nuggets have had issues defending their opponents over the past few years, but they actually haven’t been as bad as you might think. They were 16th in defensive rating two seasons ago, but moved on up to 11th last season with a 111.5 defensive rating.

However, the Nuggets’ defense fell apart in the playoffs—despite the acquisition of defensive stopper Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline—with their defensive rating jumping to 122.1, worst among teams that made it out of the first round.

That had a lot to do with the presence of Campazzo and Austin Rivers in the starting backcourt rather than Murray and P.J. Dozier, who was also out with an injury. Dozier is probably Denver’s best defensive player and is definitely going to push Will Barton for the right to start at the two during this campaign.

Though Campazzo seems like a solid defender what with all of his movement and energy, his diminutive stature (5’10”) just isn’t sustainable for a starting NBA guard—with a few notable exceptions, such as Isaiah Thomas and Muggsy Bogues, among others. The size becomes an even bigger issue when you’re a less-than-gifted scorer, like Campazzo.

Morris, on the other hand, is a much lengthier 6’3″ with a wingspan a couple of inches longer. Monte has never been known as a strong defender, and while he is long, he cuts a very slender frame, which is not ideal for defending.

At the end of the day, however, Morris is built like an NBA player with the athleticism that goes along with it—it’s clear as day when the Iowa State alumnus is on the other end—which means that if he puts in more effort and plays with more determination and a bit of a chip on his shoulder on D, he should be able to go from a minus to an even on that end, maybe even a slight plus.

Morris ranked near the bottom of every hustle category for the Nuggets last season: 11th in deflections, 12th in contested shots per game, ninth in loose balls recovered per game, and ninth in charges drawn per game. He was also in the bottom half of the NBA in terms of defensive win shares.

From those numbers, it’s clear to see that if the 26-year-old can simply expend more energy on that end, he will become a much better defender.

To improve in all of those categories, Morris needs to dedicate himself to training and improving his fitness so he can work harder at strapping up, study more film to develop insight on his opponent’s tendencies, and just straight-up show a little more dog when he’s defending.

As a kid from Grand Rapids who went to school in Flint, was drafted in the second round and had to earn his NBA spot after spending time in the G-League, there’s no doubt that “Man-Man”, as his mother, Lationa, calls him, has more than enough fight in him to become a contributor on defense.