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Interesting to hear that Malone just confirmed that once Monte is healthy, he will start at the point guard with MPJ at the 4 and Milsap off of the bench. This lineup clearly played much better while Milsap was out and I think moving Milsap to the backup center makes a lot of sense.

The real mystery right now is Gary Harris status. Unlike Millsap, Harris is more useful as starter, because his great defensive skills would be wasted on opponent bench players while his declined offense will stay bad. Superb winning record we have lately is not so connected with Morris replacing Harris in starting lineup but with rise of Murray shape and Porter minutes, while Barton role and playing time is finally not used against team but in proper way. 3&D is perfect role for him in Jokic-Murray-Porter system.

Harris should be starter (with limited PT) or traded, 18M bench player would be travesty.

THE J0KER wrote:The real mystery right now is Gary Harris status. Unlike Millsap, Harris is more useful as starter, because his great defensive skills would be wasted on opponent bench players while his declined offense will stay bad. Superb winning record we have lately is not so connected with Morris replacing Harris in starting lineup but with rise of Murray shape and Porter minutes, while Barton role and playing time is finally not used against team but in proper way. 3&D is perfect role for him in Jokic-Murray-Porter system.

Harris should be starter (with limited PT) or traded, 18M bench player would be travesty.

For his salary, he should be a starter. For the team, he should be coming off the bench. We need starters that can play together consistently.

Like the Nuggets, most teams pull one or two of their best players around 8-10 minutes into the 1st quarter - and they leave one in the game. Imagine bringing in Harris about that time and have him focus on that one player. That would really help our bench hold the lead - since our starters are about the best in the league in the first quarter.

Monte Morris played great the last few weeks and brought stability to the starting lineup. Therefore, it is is logical that Malone wants him back as a starter.

Just like MPJ at the 4 seems to work, Murray seems better at the 2 guard. Going forward, the Nuggets have to decide whether Morris is the point guard of the future or if he continues as the backup. Does Murray remain at shooting guard? As others have pointed out, Harris's future is in question. Will Harris recover sufficiently from his injuries and return to the starting lineup pushing Morris back to the bench? Will they trade Harris?

NuggetsWY wrote:

THE J0KER wrote:The real mystery right now is Gary Harris status. Unlike Millsap, Harris is more useful as starter, because his great defensive skills would be wasted on opponent bench players while his declined offense will stay bad. Superb winning record we have lately is not so connected with Morris replacing Harris in starting lineup but with rise of Murray shape and Porter minutes, while Barton role and playing time is finally not used against team but in proper way. 3&D is perfect role for him in Jokic-Murray-Porter system.

Harris should be starter (with limited PT) or traded, 18M bench player would be travesty.

For his salary, he should be a starter. For the team, he should be coming off the bench. We need starters that can play together consistently.

Like the Nuggets, most teams pull one or two of their best players around 8-10 minutes into the 1st quarter - and they leave one in the game. Imagine bringing in Harris about that time and have him focus on that one player. That would really help our bench hold the lead - since our starters are about the best in the league in the first quarter.

The current disbalance between Harris's defense and offense makes his case even more complicated. In the playoff, we needed him so much vs Utah deadly Mitchell-Conley-Clarkson backcourt line, but against the Lakers, Harris was useless since the start because the Lakers offense is all about forwards LeBron and Davis which Harris can't guard, so his declined offense was even more exposed. Maybe Malone should use Morris as a 2021 basic starter but starting Harris against teams with an offensively powerful backcourt line (Utah, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Dallas, GSW, Portland, Washington, Sacramento, Atlanta, Toronto, maybe some others). The other option is Barton playing SG and Porter SF as starters but Green instead Millsap as PF starter.

TunaFish wrote:Monte Morris played great the last few weeks and brought stability to the starting lineup. Therefore, it is is logical that Malone wants him back as a starter.

Just like MPJ at the 4 seems to work, Murray seems better at the 2 guard. Going forward, the Nuggets have to decide whether Morris is the point guard of the future or if he continues as the backup. Does Murray remain at shooting guard? As others have pointed out, Harris's future is in question. Will Harris recover sufficiently from his injuries and return to the starting lineup pushing Morris back to the bench? Will they trade Harris?

You're right and it's worse than just Murray-Harris-Morris; don't forget about Dozier & Hampton and of course playing Barton at SG - and then there's Campazzo and maybe Howard.

Too many guards means? Front office needs to make some trades to get some forwards. Then again, let's restrict that to SFs - since it looks like Porter is going to be a PF and Nnaji looks like a PF - but then again, maybe they play together and ... and Malone's got some juggling to do. Yup, at the start of the year, I wasn't at all concerned about SF and now it looks like our biggest need.

The Rebel wrote:

Read on Twitter

Wish we had him and his team-oriented attitude 10yrs ago

skywalker33 wrote:

The Rebel wrote:

Read on Twitter

Wish we had him and his team-oriented attitude 10yrs ago

We need his attitude now with everybody thinking they are **** starters these days.

NuggetsWY wrote:

TunaFish wrote:Monte Morris played great the last few weeks and brought stability to the starting lineup. Therefore, it is is logical that Malone wants him back as a starter.

Just like MPJ at the 4 seems to work, Murray seems better at the 2 guard. Going forward, the Nuggets have to decide whether Morris is the point guard of the future or if he continues as the backup. Does Murray remain at shooting guard? As others have pointed out, Harris's future is in question. Will Harris recover sufficiently from his injuries and return to the starting lineup pushing Morris back to the bench? Will they trade Harris?

You're right and it's worse than just Murray-Harris-Morris; don't forget about Dozier & Hampton and of course playing Barton at SG - and then there's Campazzo and maybe Howard.

Too many guards means? Front office needs to make some trades to get some forwards. Then again, let's restrict that to SFs - since it looks like Porter is going to be a PF and Nnaji looks like a PF - but then again, maybe they play together and ... and Malone's got some juggling to do. Yup, at the start of the year, I wasn't at all concerned about SF and now it looks like our biggest need.

The way they are ignoring Harris during broadcasts and in radio interviews I wonder if he is done. Personally I think we need a bigger defender to pair with Dozier at SF, a guy that can guard the bigger and some of the better scoring SGs.

Dozier to me is a SF, he has seemed to play his best there and while his official height is 6'6", he measured over 6'7" at the draft combine. He has good handles for a SF, but they are average at best for a PG.

Hampton should be in the G league right now, he needs to practice his in game shooting since he has worked all last summer and this year on it. He will not get enough shots in game to work on it with the team.

Howard has been terrible when he has gotten minutes

Cancar has been good in his limited minutes at SF, but with MPJ being a PF we really have a large hole at backup SG/SF right now. Right now we have Murray/ Morris totaling about 62 mpg, with Campazzo only being effective in some matchups limiting him to 18-20 mpg and Barton and Dozier splitting time at SF and 14-16 mpg at backup SG.

Malone doesn't seem like he wants to play Cancar too much at backup SF but we really need someone to take 10 minutes at backup SG/SF.

The issue is if you move either Barton or Dozier, than you have to replace their minutes as well, but if you keep both of them and Murray/MOrris/Campazzo than you are looking for a 10 mpg guy.

Starting MPJ at PF moves Millsap to backup C and Green backup PF, I am okay with both of those right now. I would like to see Barton upgraded at starting SF, but who do you trade?

Right now seems we repeated with Gary Harris the same mistake we do with Nurkic, Faried, and Mudiay when we did not trade them on time with the first serious signs and concerns that their future with the team is questionable when the market and their trade-value was much better. In the best case, we will make Harris deal similar to Will Chandler deal, trading him "for nothing", but I'm afraid that the full price of this mistake and needed cap clearing will be that we are going to lose our 2021 FRP or one of our 2020 FRPs (RJ/Nnaji), or maybe Bol Bol. Sad but true.

Will Barton suddenly recovered his trade value and becomes an asset once again, playing the best month of his life. Of course that March out of the blue 3p% 52% and TS%65% will drop very soon, but playing 3&D type of game without messing with Jokic playmaking, Murray shooting, and Porter (last season Grant) playing time makes him a useful member of starting lineup on the SF spot which we lack the most when his numbers drop to more realistic but still very good 3p% 41% and TS%58%. Focussed on playing without the ball (on defense, and permanently moving in offense trying to get from Jokic/Murray/Morris open 3pt or cut) Will will be an integral part of Denver's Jokic-Murray offense, not a harmony breaker. If Malone and Barton can control themselves and continue with this game style, our trade priority is not Barton+Harris anymore, but just Harris.

Pj dozier should be given a look as starter #5 with now 4 plus offensive players he could give the team max defensive flexibility to go with The offensive flexibility.


Both Monte Morris and will Barton could be maximized and better used in roles off the bench.

Coeur wrote:Pj dozier should be given a look as starter #5 with now 4 plus offensive players he could give the team max defensive flexibility to go with The offensive flexibility.

Both Monte Morris and will Barton could be maximized and better used in roles off the bench.

I totally agree with you, but I doubt Malone will agree with us.

Jokic - Porter - Gordon - Barton - Murray seems the likely starting lineup after Gordon has a few games to adjust.

Malone's been playing just nine guys lately. So who comes off the bench?

McGee? Millsap? Green? --- 1 big or 2 bigs?
Who does Malone use as a backup SF? Does he use his PFs? Probably Barton?
Is Dozier the backup SG? Or Murray playing next to Morris and/or Campazzo?

It ought to be interesting and without a doubt, our regular posters will be able to complain about the rotations some more.

NuggetsWY wrote:

Coeur wrote:Pj dozier should be given a look as starter #5 with now 4 plus offensive players he could give the team max defensive flexibility to go with The offensive flexibility.

Both Monte Morris and will Barton could be maximized and better used in roles off the bench.

I totally agree with you, but I doubt Malone will agree with us.

Jokic - Porter - Gordon - Barton - Murray seems the likely starting lineup after Gordon has a few games to adjust.

Malone's been playing just nine guys lately. So who comes off the bench?

McGee? Millsap? Green? --- 1 big or 2 bigs?
Who does Malone use as a backup SF? Does he use his PFs? Probably Barton?
Is Dozier the backup SG? Or Murray playing next to Morris and/or Campazzo?

It ought to be interesting and without a doubt, our regular posters will be able to complain about the rotations some more.

Agree with the Jokic - Porter - Gordon - Barton - Murray lineup. Imagine Jokic with the ball and those four guys as his options.

However, what happens to Morris when he is ready to play (or rather who is benched). Didn't I hear Malone say Morris was the starting point guard on return?

NuggetsWY wrote:

Coeur wrote:Pj dozier should be given a look as starter #5 with now 4 plus offensive players he could give the team max defensive flexibility to go with The offensive flexibility.

Both Monte Morris and will Barton could be maximized and better used in roles off the bench.

I totally agree with you, but I doubt Malone will agree with us.

Jokic - Porter - Gordon - Barton - Murray seems the likely starting lineup after Gordon has a few games to adjust.

Malone's been playing just nine guys lately. So who comes off the bench?

McGee? Millsap? Green? --- 1 big or 2 bigs?
Who does Malone use as a backup SF? Does he use his PFs? Probably Barton?
Is Dozier the backup SG? Or Murray playing next to Morris and/or Campazzo?

It ought to be interesting and without a doubt, our regular posters will be able to complain about the rotations some more.

Jokic, MpJ, AG, Murray, Dozier
6-7 : Monte Morris and Barton
8-9 : _________ & Javale
10-12 : Facu &____&_______

Against teams with superb backcourt line (Nets, Suns, Blazers, Jazz, Wizards...):
Murray(20) Morris(13) Campazzo(15)
Barton(20) Murray(15) Morris(5) Dozier(8)
Porter(20) Gordon(10) Barton(10) Dozier(8)
Gordon(20) Porter(10) Millsap(8) Green(10)
Jokic(35), McGee(10) Millsap(3)

against rest of the league:
Murray(20) Morris(13) Campazzo(15)
Morris(15) Murray(15) Barton (10) Dozier(8)
Porter(20) Gordon(10) Barton(10) Dozier(8)
Gordon(20) Porter(10) Millsap(8) Green(10)
Jokic(35), McGee(10) Millsap(3)

THE J0KER wrote:Against teams with superb backcourt line (Nets, Suns, Blazers, Jazz, Wizards...):
Murray(20) Morris(13) Campazzo(15)
Barton(20) Murray(15) Morris(5) Dozier(8)
Porter(20) Gordon(10) Barton(10) Dozier(8)
Gordon(20) Porter(10) Millsap(8) Green(10)
Jokic(35), McGee(10) Millsap(3)

against rest of the league:
Murray(20) Morris(13) Campazzo(15)
Morris(20) Murray(15) Barton (5) Dozier(8)
Porter(20) Gordon(10) Barton(10) Dozier(8)
Gordon(20) Porter(10) Millsap(8) Green(10)
Jokic(35), McGee(10) Millsap(3)

From the beginning, Malone said he wouldn't adjust to other team's lineups - and he has stuck to that.

THE J0KER wrote:Against teams with superb backcourt line (Nets, Suns, Blazers, Jazz, Wizards...):
Murray(20) Morris(13) Campazzo(15)
Barton(20) Murray(15) Morris(5) Dozier(8)
Porter(20) Gordon(10) Barton(10) Dozier(8)
Gordon(20) Porter(10) Millsap(8) Green(10)
Jokic(35), McGee(10) Millsap(3)

against rest of the league:
Murray(20) Morris(13) Campazzo(15)
Morris(15) Murray(15) Barton (10) Dozier(8)
Porter(20) Gordon(10) Barton(10) Dozier(8)
Gordon(20) Porter(10) Millsap(8) Green(10)
Jokic(35), McGee(10) Millsap(3)

Is this what you think Malone will do or what he should do?

I don’t believe campazzo needs as big a role as you see. And Nnaji should be inserted into the rotation.

I hope we have a lineup of
Morris (28 mpg)/Murray(8 MPG)/ Campazzo (12 MPG)
Murray (22)/ Barton (26)
Gordon (30)/ Dozier (18)
MPJ (30)/ Green (18)
Jokic (32)/ McGee (12)/ Millsap (4)

Against teams that don't have a true big man you play Millsap at Center the other nights it is McGee and Green off the bench.

We desperately need Barton's scoring off the bench. Give him the option to come off the bench and lose the attitude or go home, I am sure he will come off the bench.

The Rebel wrote:I hope we have a lineup of
Morris (28 mpg)/Murray(8 MPG)/ Campazzo (12 MPG)
Murray (22)/ Barton (26)
Gordon (30)/ Dozier (18)
MPJ (30)/ Green (18)
Jokic (32)/ McGee (12)/ Millsap (4)

Against teams that don't have a true big man you play Millsap at Center the other nights it is McGee and Green off the bench.

We desperately need Barton's scoring off the bench. Give him the option to come off the bench and lose the attitude or go home, I am sure he will come off the bench.

We are not there yet, Morris is still out. Based on the first game (after Gordon), Barton is the 2. It appears that lineup, sans Morris, will be starting the Sixers game, as well.

If there were any doubt about whether MPJ can play with Gordon, I think the first game with Gordon should end that discussion. These are two combo forwards that can play either forward position and they complement each other well.

So the point is the center, the swing is the two and the point guard is the primary shooter. Makes perfect sense.