Why not us?
That was the question rhetorically asked by the Nuggets at Media Day as they boldly stated their ambitions to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy this season. So far, Denver has shown glimpses that validate their hopes. The team has been air-tight on defense with the NBA’s top defensive rating at 101.5. The Nuggets currently sit second in the Western Conference with a 14-5 record, including being 8-2 against teams with a .500 record or better. While the offense remains a work-in-progress, this was a strong start to the season by Denver.
Here’s what we’ve learned:
Most Valuable Player: Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap’s early-season surge from downtown, along with some telling advance metrics, give him a slight edge over Jamal Murray and Will Barton III for the first quarter MVP.
The fact Millsap is shooting 50 percent from downtown at age 34 is nothing short of remarkable. Put this in perspective: During Millsap’s first seven years in the league, he made 31-of-113 shots from 3-point range. He’s made 422 since. The power forward’s percentage from behind the arc (currently at 47.9 percent) could regress as he’s a career 34 percent shooter from deep, but Millsap deserves credit for his ability to continuously adapt to fit into the modern NBA in his 14th season.
Millsap also leads the Nuggets in true shooting percentage at 61.4 percent, Win Shares (2.2) and Net Rating (15.2). In fact, the latter stat is the highest in his career by 6.6 points.
Top Performance: Jamal Murray
Jamal Murray is the Nuggets’ leading scorer at 18.5 points per game, but it’s his development as a defender and playmaker that has stood out this season.
His showing against the Sixers on Nov. 8 exemplifies this. Facing a 21-point deficit, Murray rose to the occasion as he rallied his teammates with 22 points, 11 rebounds, six rebounds and two blocks. While Nikola Jokić deservedly received credit for his dramatic game-winner in that contest, Denver wouldn’t secure that victory without their lead guard.
“Jamal Murray, right now, is not only playing at a high level, but I just told him right now, I just love his approach—his focus, his energy, his leadership, his voice.” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said after the game.
Murray has scored more in other games but considering the situation and the opponent, his outing against the Sixers remains his best of the early season.
Surprise Development: No. 1 ranked defense
The Nuggets have been trending in the right direction on defense since Malone’s arrival in 2015, but few could have predicted just how dominant the team would be in that area this season.
Denver is holding opponents to a league-low 101.4 points per game and has been especially impressive at containing teams at the three-point line. Teams are shooting just 30.6 percent from behind the arc against Denver, which is also first in the league. Malone’s team is also fourth at opponent field-goal percentage (42.9) and seventh in rebounds (47.0). Last season, the Nuggets were 10th in defensive rating (108.1), 15th in opponent field goal percentage (45.8), first in three-point percentage (33.9) and sixth in points allowed per game (106.7).
One only needs to look at Malone’s first season to see how far this team has come. In the 2015-16 campaign, the Nuggets were 25th in defensive rating at 108.2, 27th in opponent three-point percentage (37.1) and 22nd in points allowed per game (105.0).
Area for improvement: Offense
For the first time since Malone’s inaugural season, the Nuggets sit outside of the top 10 in overall offensive rating at 107.4 (18th in the NBA). During the last three seasons, Denver hadn’t fallen past seventh in that category.
Outside of some early-season struggles from Jokić on offense, it is difficult to exactly pinpoint why the Nuggets are having difficulties in scoring as a team this season. One potential area to look at is their regression in converting on shots within 5-9 feet. Last season, Denver shot 42.4 percent on those field goals (seventh). This season, it is 21st in that category, shooting 37.6 percent.
On a positive note, the team was clicking on all cylinders against the Knicks on Thursday.
Best Win: Rockets
Houston came into the game as the league’s top-scoring team and was on an eight-game win streak, but couldn’t get past Denver’s defense in a textbook display. The Nuggets showed they stifle opponents on a championship-level in their dominant 105-95 victory.
Toughest Defeat: Kings
The Nuggets’ struggles on offense came to a head against Sacramento in a 100-97 overtime loss on Nov. 30. Denver saw a 17-point lead dwindle away and could only muster 40 points after the first half.
Quote: "This is a good team. I can’t take anything away from that...This team has a good chance at winning the championship."
- Wizards coach Scott Brooks said after his team lost to the Nuggets on Nov. 24.