It has been 17 games since Peyton Watson last appeared for the Nuggets, but his return is right around the corner. And when the Nuggets announce Watson as back and recovered from a hamstring injury, they'll be welcoming back an "x-factor, wild card type guy."
That's what Tim Legler called P-Wat on the "All-NBA Podcast" during a segment with Adam Mares, highlighting the biggest "needle-movers" heading into the playoffs. He was on both of their lists.
Legler had a lot of praise for the leap Watson has made this season, saying, "he's a player that they did not have at the start of the year." And he said that Watson was also someone the Nuggets would be able to lean on if Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray have an off night.
"He’s another guy that’s capable of giving you 25 points in a game," Legler said. And that's the difference-making factor for the Nuggets. Watson has become another weapon at head coach David Adelman's disposal as the playoffs approach.
Watson was playing amazingly before he got hurt
Watson was averaging 21.3 points per game from the time Jokic first missed a game on Dec. 31st until Watson exited the lineup with an injury of his own on Feb. 4th., a span of 20 games.
His offensive output and defensive prowess were even enough to earn him the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week award for week 12. For the week, Watson averaged a stellar 24.5 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, and he shot 70% from three.
P-Wat's outburst was sustained, and not a fluke, and that's one reason Nuggets fans can be excited about his impending return, which is hopefully within the next couple of games.
Watson will join a healthy rotation when cleared to play
Once P-Wat's cleared to play, he'll be the last Nugget to return to the lineup after Aaron Gordon returned on March 6th against the Knicks. It will be the first time since early in November that the Nuggets have had a full squad.
Coach Adelman is going to have his hands full when Watson does return. The Nuggets are playing good basketball, and Cameron Johnson is finally playing like the Cam the Nuggets traded for. And Christian Braun has been playing better, too.
Adelman's going to have to juggle everyone around as situations dictate, but it's hard to imagine many situations that don't call for Watson's defense and offense. The wild-card could end up being exactly what the Joker needs to lead Denver to crown number two.