What in the Hell Can the Nuggets Do?

[Decipher]

MPJ will probably be moved but the problem going forward is Murray’s contract

It’s looking truly awful atm

[Lalouie]

get rid of mpj while he still has value. he's the softest player in the nba

He got very little run late in the game tonight.

Looking like a goner.

sometimes he just disappears. for me, too often. he's supposed to be in his prime

[Ryoga Hibiki]

I don't think the talent is missing. What the team is lacking is cohesion and consistency, that's why they can have great or awful quarters, against literally anyone.

[cgf]

How about something around Lavine, Porter, and Zion?

- Bulls take a swing on the kind of talent that ownership won't let them tank for and shift some talent from the backcourt to the frontcourt.
- Pels pull the plug on the zion era, snagging yet another injury prone wing as they continue to tank this season.
- Denver tries to spice up its offense and bolster the non-Jokic minutes by staggering Lavine/Murray so that one of them is on the court at all times.

[BelgradeNugget]

For all the people who want to trade MPJ because of some bad games he had recently, here are some games Cam "Superstar" Johnson had in the last 10.

12/7/3 shooting 36/33/67
11/8/6 shooting 27/14/100
5/2/2 shooting 66/100/0 in 14 minutes

Dennis Schröder had netrtg of 0.4. Cam Johnson has netrtg of -4.1

So how many first round picks Denver has to add?

Some people think Nuggets unsolvable problem going forward is Murray’s contract. Well, Murray played in 21 of Nuggets 26 games this season. In the last 8 (easy to filter) he is averaging

21.3/3.6/6.4 with 2.1 steals shooting 47/36/89 and +4.4. He also hit some big shots lately

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612743/players-traditional?LastNGames=10&dir=D&sort=PTS

So, it doesn't look like they are doomed as some think.

If other vets join Russ, DJ, and kids, and start to play like they do GAF they will be fine.

[mirmil]

For all the people who want to trade MPJ because of some bad games he had recently, here are some games Cam "Superstar" Johnson had in the last 10.

12/7/3 shooting 36/33/67
11/8/6 shooting 27/14/100
5/2/2 shooting 66/100/0 in 14 minutes

Dennis Schröder had netrtg of 0.4. Cam Johnson has netrtg of -4.1

So how many first round picks Denver has to add?

Some people think Nuggets unsolvable problem going forward is Murray’s contract. Well, Murray played in 21 of Nuggets 26 games this season. In the last 8 (easy to filter) he is averaging

21.3/3.6/6.4 with 2.1 steals shooting 47/36/89 and +4.4. He also hit some big shots lately

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612743/players-traditional?LastNGames=10&dir=D&sort=PTS

So, it doesn't look like they are doomed as some think.

If other vets join Russ, DJ, and kids, and start to play like they do GAF they will be fine.

Yeh but Cam Johnson also had 30+ pts games on a bad team, plays a way better defence than MPJ, has much more friendly salary than MPJ and if they can get both him and DFS with MPJ and a 1st I'd say go for it

[_NoMas]

For all the people who want to trade MPJ because of some bad games he had recently, here are some games Cam "Superstar" Johnson had in the last 10.

12/7/3 shooting 36/33/67
11/8/6 shooting 27/14/100
5/2/2 shooting 66/100/0 in 14 minutes

Dennis Schröder had netrtg of 0.4. Cam Johnson has netrtg of -4.1

So how many first round picks Denver has to add?

Some people think Nuggets unsolvable problem going forward is Murray’s contract. Well, Murray played in 21 of Nuggets 26 games this season. In the last 8 (easy to filter) he is averaging

21.3/3.6/6.4 with 2.1 steals shooting 47/36/89 and +4.4. He also hit some big shots lately

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612743/players-traditional?LastNGames=10&dir=D&sort=PTS

So, it doesn't look like they are doomed as some think.

If other vets join Russ, DJ, and kids, and start to play like they do GAF they will be fine.

Who’s saying he’s a superstar? And why are we looking at the last 10 games? He earns 12 mil less a year, and this year has scored more points on much better efficiency than MPJ, and a better defender. If you could get him and DFS, it’s a no brainer. Unless you value MPJs ability to win uncontested rebounds that highly

[7seventynine9]

For all the people who want to trade MPJ because of some bad games he had recently, here are some games Cam "Superstar" Johnson had in the last 10.

12/7/3 shooting 36/33/67
11/8/6 shooting 27/14/100
5/2/2 shooting 66/100/0 in 14 minutes

Dennis Schröder had netrtg of 0.4. Cam Johnson has netrtg of -4.1

So how many first round picks Denver has to add?

Some people think Nuggets unsolvable problem going forward is Murray’s contract. Well, Murray played in 21 of Nuggets 26 games this season. In the last 8 (easy to filter) he is averaging

21.3/3.6/6.4 with 2.1 steals shooting 47/36/89 and +4.4. He also hit some big shots lately

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612743/players-traditional?LastNGames=10&dir=D&sort=PTS

So, it doesn't look like they are doomed as some think.

If other vets join Russ, DJ, and kids, and start to play like they do GAF they will be fine.

Murray has been better of late so maybe he's returning to form which would be huge. Still, Cam Johnson would be a pretty big improvement over MPJ. With that said, you are right. Denver would have to add some picks to the deal. I think the Nets could get a better deal for Cam elsewhere without having to take on MPJ and his contract.

[badpotato]

Yeh but Cam Johnson also had 30+ pts games on a bad team, plays a way better defence than MPJ, has much more friendly salary than MPJ and if they can get both him and DFS with MPJ and a 1st I'd say go for it

I agree with you and not even because it's a great idea - it's simply one of few doable ideas that are around. Nuggets have exactly one non stepien-tied first rounder to play with and one tradable player not named Jokic or Gordon that they can reasonably part with. This keeps options very limited. Other then that, maybe a team will choose to dump a salary into Nuggets that can be absorbed by Reggie trade exception. Getting Cam to replace MJP production and DFS to shoere up bench unit has definitve merit to it and that's asssuming BKN would want to do it for 2031 first.

[nomansland]

Last night was a terrible game, but at least they won. Nobody's going to remember how terrible it was at the end of the season. But they guy who was terrible until the 4th quarter was Jokic. He looked uninterested and careless until it was time to win and he's been "bad" for 3 games. I wonder what's bothering him.

I fear the that trade talks are getting into Porter's head. He was worse than usual on defense and afraid to shoot.

The bright spot the last 4 or so games has been Murray. He's looking better and better each game. The contract was still a bad decision, but maybe it's not the albatross team-killer that some people think.

Russ & Braun are fine. Gordon's fine.

Strawther and Watson are still inconsistent but showing promise. Maybe there's a trade out there involving one of them.

Overall I don't like what I'm seeing but I'm not giving up on them yet. As long as they make the playoffs you never know what can happen.

[scrabbarista]

Wellsbrook has gotta go. You ain't winning nothing with that guy.

[1993Playoffs]

I don’t care that they won they are not a championship contender. Besides Jokic they don’t have enough anymore.

They are not close to Boston. I don’t care if Jokic is the best player or that murray can sometimes turn it up in the playoffs. It’s still not enough

[BelgradeNugget]

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 for season

Nikola Jokić 9.7
Christian Braun 8.7
Aaron Gordon 8.2
Jamal Murray 6.6
Michael Porter Jr. 4.6
Peyton Watson -0.1
Russell Westbrook -4.8
DeAndre Jordan -6.4
Julian Strawther -11.1

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 in the last 10 games

Christian Braun 10.5
Nikola Jokić 8.3
Aaron Gordon 6.4
Michael Porter Jr. 4.3
Jamal Murray 4.1
Russell Westbrook 1.7
Peyton Watson 0.4
DeAndre Jordan -1.8
Julian Strawther -3.0

things are moving in the right direction

Even Malone is improving.

In a game against Portland for last defensive posession Malone went with this defensive lineup
Murray-Westbrook-MPJ-AG-Jokic with Braun and Watson on the bench. Genious

In Pelicans game it was Westbrook-Braun-Watson-AG-Jokic. I was afraid he will never get who his best defenders are.

[scrabbarista]

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 for season

Nikola Jokić 9.7
Christian Braun 8.7
Aaron Gordon 8.2
Jamal Murray 6.6
Michael Porter Jr. 4.6
Peyton Watson -0.1
Russell Westbrook -4.8
DeAndre Jordan -6.4
Julian Strawther -11.1

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 in the last 10 games

Christian Braun 10.5
Nikola Jokić 8.3
Aaron Gordon 6.4
Michael Porter Jr. 4.3
Jamal Murray 4.1
Russell Westbrook 1.7
Peyton Watson 0.4
DeAndre Jordan -1.8
Julian Strawther -3.0

things are moving in the right direction

Even Malone is improving.

In a game against Portland for last defensive posession Malone went with this defensive lineup
Murray-Westbrook-MPJ-AG-Jokic with Braun and Watson on the bench. Genious

In Pelicans game it was Westbrook-Braun-Watson-AG-Jokic. I was afraid he will never get who his best defenders are.

Westbrook made the right move leaving a killer shooter wide open in the corner on the last possession, if only because McCollum is a horse with blinders on.

Unfortunately, I'd bet WB makes the same move on a much smarter player than McCollum, and the Nuggets probably lose that game.

[nomansland]

Wellsbrook has gotta go. You ain't winning nothing with that guy.

You having been watching him lately, I gather. He's been very good, especially for a guy on a vet minimum contract.

He's somehow reined in most of those crazy out of control tendencies and focuses on defense, passing, and getting to the rim to create opportunities for others. It's been a massive positive surprise.

[Sharkboy242]

I don't think the talent is missing. What the team is lacking is cohesion and consistency, that's why they can have great or awful quarters, against literally anyone.

The Nuggets are playing below the sum of their parts at the moment. Some of the blame has to lay on the coaches

[scrabbarista]

Wellsbrook has gotta go. You ain't winning nothing with that guy.

You having been watching him lately, I gather. He's been very good, especially for a guy on a vet minimum contract.

He's somehow reined in most of those crazy out of control tendencies and focuses on defense, passing, and getting to the rim to create opportunities for others. It's been a massive positive surprise.

He sorry, imo.

[BelgradeNugget]

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 for season

Nikola Jokić 9.7
Christian Braun 8.7
Aaron Gordon 8.2
Jamal Murray 6.6
Michael Porter Jr. 4.6
Peyton Watson -0.1
Russell Westbrook -4.8
DeAndre Jordan -6.4
Julian Strawther -11.1

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 in the last 10 games

Christian Braun 10.5
Nikola Jokić 8.3
Aaron Gordon 6.4
Michael Porter Jr. 4.3
Jamal Murray 4.1
Russell Westbrook 1.7
Peyton Watson 0.4
DeAndre Jordan -1.8
Julian Strawther -3.0

things are moving in the right direction

Even Malone is improving.

In a game against Portland for last defensive posession Malone went with this defensive lineup
Murray-Westbrook-MPJ-AG-Jokic with Braun and Watson on the bench. Genious

In Pelicans game it was Westbrook-Braun-Watson-AG-Jokic. I was afraid he will never get who his best defenders are.

Westbrook made the right move leaving a killer shooter wide open in the corner on the last possession, if only because McCollum is a horse with blinders on.

Unfortunately, I'd bet WB makes the same move on a much smarter player than McCollum, and the Nuggets probably lose that game.

Good point. Also there was miscommunication between Braun and Watson on swich. Players can make mistakes in the speed of the game. With Westbrook it can be hit or miss. He made mistake going for steal in Portland game. But if you are a coach and you put Murray-MPJ for last defensive possesion instead of Braun-Watson it is like drawing a play for DJ for last second 3

[scrabbarista]

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 for season

Nikola Jokić 9.7
Christian Braun 8.7
Aaron Gordon 8.2
Jamal Murray 6.6
Michael Porter Jr. 4.6
Peyton Watson -0.1
Russell Westbrook -4.8
DeAndre Jordan -6.4
Julian Strawther -11.1

Netrtg of Nuggets top 9 in the last 10 games

Christian Braun 10.5
Nikola Jokić 8.3
Aaron Gordon 6.4
Michael Porter Jr. 4.3
Jamal Murray 4.1
Russell Westbrook 1.7
Peyton Watson 0.4
DeAndre Jordan -1.8
Julian Strawther -3.0

things are moving in the right direction

Even Malone is improving.

In a game against Portland for last defensive posession Malone went with this defensive lineup
Murray-Westbrook-MPJ-AG-Jokic with Braun and Watson on the bench. Genious

In Pelicans game it was Westbrook-Braun-Watson-AG-Jokic. I was afraid he will never get who his best defenders are.

Westbrook made the right move leaving a killer shooter wide open in the corner on the last possession, if only because McCollum is a horse with blinders on.

Unfortunately, I'd bet WB makes the same move on a much smarter player than McCollum, and the Nuggets probably lose that game.

Good point. Also there was miscommunication between Braun and Watson on swich. Players can make mistakes in the speed of the game. With Westbrook it can be hit or miss. He made mistake going for steal in Portland game. But if you are a coach and you put Murray-MPJ for last defensive possesion instead of Braun-Watson it is like drawing a play for DJ for last second 3

Jokic, Gordon, and Braun should be on in any defensive situation. Watson may not be trustworthy, but I'd put him out there for the reps so that he's trustworthy when you need him.

They don't really have a fifth guy with KCP gone. I guess you could defend any of MPJ, Westbrook, or Murray, depending on matchups, clock, score, etc.. But I definitely do not trust WB to think straight.

[TheFire]

I still don’t like closing with AG and WB for the Nuggets, and jury is still out on whether Braun is a good shooter. That spacing becomes really bad with WB on the floor, and when they double Jokic, too often WB is the one that takes a 3 pt shot.