Jamal Murray making the Nuggets and other players better.

[The Rebel]

Nice detailed article on how Jamal is helping his teammates better.

http://bsndenver.com/nuggets-film-room-jamal-murray-is-elevating-others-with-his-playmaking/

[skywalker33]

Kind of an unexpected benefit, didn't see that from him much at Kentucky. Dude is SPECIAL !!

[NuggetsWY]

On the Canadian national team - this was all evident. I think Kentucky was a poor fit for him just because Ulis was too good to keep off the floor. But playing on a Kentucky team is always good prep for the NBA, so it worked out OK.

[skywalker33]

Gives me a bit more confidence to look for a trade for Nelson when Harris gets back. "Combo" guard is evident but I would like to see him play opposite Mudiay a bit more as well.

[NuggetsWY]

If the Nuggets get more combo-guards/point forwards; it makes them that much harder to defend against. Of course that's every team's dream. But I think Mudiay & Murray can both qualify as combo guards - in different ways.

[RRFB]

Nice read. Murray's point guard skills are clearly better than his scouting report claimed. Not only his playmaking ability, but just his presence as a shooter makes everyone else's job easier. I'm expecting big things from this kid.

[The Rebel]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/244165/Jamal-Murray-Joel-Embiid-Named-Rookies-Of-The-Month

Jamal is also rookie of the month.

[The Rebel]

A nice article with more high praise for Murray.

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/12/14/jamal-murray-denver-nuggets-rookie-kentucky-mike-malone

Say what you will, but I am starting to see 2 all star or better players in Jokic and Murray, and they seem to work very well together.

[The Rebel]

After watching the way that Murray plays when he gets touches, I think he is the starting PG of the future. Mudiay may be a good backup long term, but I think he still has plenty of potential as well and will not be happy losing his starting job. I think the Nuggets could easily get a PG like Brandon Knight or Darren Collison to be a place holder, while Murray develops which I think will really only take the rest of this season. then he can take his job over the summer and in training camp.

[skywalker33]

He and Jokic are going to be a heckuva tandem, both have that same quality in making others around them better. Batman and Robin anyone ?? Or is it The Joker and Robin, there is a bit of irony there IMO....

[NuggetsWY]

Read both of these articles together and one thing stands out in my mind - the Nuggets still don't use Murray correctly.

http://bsndenver.com/nuggets-film-room-jamal-murray-is-elevating-others-with-his-playmaking/

Connelly said “We have Jamal as primarily on the ball,” General Manager Tim Connelly said of Murray. “I think his experience with the Canadian national team you saw him play quite a bit on the ball but he is the definition of a combo guard.”

Which was blatantly false. Murray is primarily used off the ball and the second article points that out.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/244165/Jamal-Murray-Joel-Embiid-Named-Rookies-Of-The-Month

"he’s often left a spectator while a point guard or Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler dance to create their best look."

Throughout this season, when Mudiay is healthy, Murray typically plays most of his minutes with Nelson, who is playing PG while Murray stands in the corner or a high wing slot. Now, with Mudiay out, Barton often plays the PG position. With the Nuggets, the offense typically starts at the top of the key and Murray usually only gets the ball there when he rebounds and races the ball up the court. If he is to be a PG in the future, he needs to get more minutes at PG now. He is getting plenty of SG minutes, even for a combo-guard.

[The Rebel]

Read both of these articles together and one thing stands out in my mind - the Nuggets still don't use Murray correctly.

http://bsndenver.com/nuggets-film-room-jamal-murray-is-elevating-others-with-his-playmaking/

Connelly said “We have Jamal as primarily on the ball,” General Manager Tim Connelly said of Murray. “I think his experience with the Canadian national team you saw him play quite a bit on the ball but he is the definition of a combo guard.”

Which was blatantly false. Murray is primarily used off the ball and the second article points that out.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/244165/Jamal-Murray-Joel-Embiid-Named-Rookies-Of-The-Month

"he’s often left a spectator while a point guard or Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler dance to create their best look."

Throughout this season, when Mudiay is healthy, Murray typically plays most of his minutes with Nelson, who is playing PG while Murray stands in the corner or a high wing slot. Now, with Mudiay out, Barton often plays the PG position. With the Nuggets, the offense typically starts at the top of the key and Murray usually only gets the ball there when he rebounds and races the ball up the court. If he is to be a PG in the future, he needs to get more minutes at PG now. He is getting plenty of SG minutes, even for a combo-guard.

I agree with you, and it is yet another coaching issue, and hell it is also a roster issue.

I can easily see Murray being an all star caliber scoring PG, and we know from earlier in the season he plays really well off of Jokic, so the only solution is to clear room on the roster so that Malone is left with no choice but to play him as a PG.

[Mac1958]

That's a very hopeful sign, since there's a possibility that Mudiay will be a washout.