The Nuggets have been up and down to start the season’s unofficial second half of the season. They rolled into the All-Star break as the hottest team in the NBA with an eight-game winning streak, but in hindsight, that streak may have been enhanced by a lack of competition.
Now that the strength of schedule has picked up, some flaws have been exposed for Denver and this could be dubbed a cold streak as they’ve lost three of five. Every new game brings new discourse about the roster and potential playoff rotations.
There is plenty of debate around who should and shouldn’t get minutes and which players should play together. Some nights, Russell Westbrook looks like one of the most important players on the team, other times he looks unplayable. Guys like Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, and Zeke Nnaji are stuck on the fringes of the rotation, still battling for consistent minutes.
However, one thing that has become a source of consistency is Jamal Murray's play. Murray had a rough offseason and got off to a slow start in the fall. There was some talk that his body would never be fully recovered and many were wondering if the old Murray was gone forever.
Jamal Murray finding his form the best thing that could happen to Nuggets
Recently, Murray has turned a corner and rediscovered his vintage form. For the last couple of months, Jamal has turned it on, he’s more involved, he’s scoring more, he’s shooting better, he’s making plays, and he has a little extra pep in his step.
He’s consistently been putting up 25+ point games and poured in a career-high 55 in a February game. His two-man game with Nikola Jokic has been ramping up to speed and when these two share the court, Denver is starting to look like title contenders again.
Murray has historically been a playoff riser, peaking during the 2023 championship run. But this season, it looks like Murray has already taken his usual playoff leap. If there is another level for Jamal, then things could really get interesting.
The best thing the Nuggets have going for them is the Jokic/Murray two-man game. When that’s clicking, it can be one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA. The team rode it to a championship, and finding that groove is their best and most realistic chance of getting back to the promised land.
Without getting a star-level version of Murray, this Nuggets team has no real shot. Even with him, they will likely be overmatched against the league’s best teams. But when he’s performing at the peak of his powers, the Nuggets at least have a shot. Right now, we’re seeing that almost every night and we haven’t even hit the playoffs yet.