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I have been using Sports Illustrated as Nuggets' personal blog for almost a year now. Before this season, I had chosen Denver as a surprise team in the West, predicting a place for the Conference finals. (I then doubled and selected them to participate in the finals.) I also predicted that Jamal Murray would win the most improved player title – indicating that the Nugs could have the third best back-track of the conference by the end of the season. I feel much better with all these absurd predictions after Monday, when Murray scored 48 points in a thrilling 115-107 win for #NuggetsHive on the Celtics.
The match could be a bit of an arrival for Murray – the Canadian everyone wanted Andrew Wiggins – whose game was a bit high and low to start the season. By entering Monday, Murray had scored at least 20 points in just three games, and 10 points or less in three more. This is not necessarily a complete indictment against Murray, who, although he often has the ball in his hands, can sometimes play third violin against Gary Harris and Nikola Jokic. The explosion against the Celtics showed how a Murray in action could raise the Denver ceiling.
The attack has never been a problem for the Nuggets, but their attack is almost always more egalitarian than focused on the stars. It starts with Jokic, who really seems to prefer shooting. It's a bit of a cliché that you need a top scorer at the end of the game … but it's really helpful to have a player like Murray, who combines scoring ability with unrelenting fearlessness. Murray faced Kyrie Irving on Monday and Boston could do nothing to stop him, though it was obvious he was looking for shots. Jokic's post-ups do not always offer the clearest offensive when the matches are tight. If Murray's confidence grew after his 48-point push, it could certainly pay off. If teams park their best perimeter defender on Harris, then Murray must go to work (and vice versa).
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Of course, you can also choose not to read too much in Murray's incredible game. You can also enjoy it for what it was: an exciting young player engaging in a team in the making. There is joy in Murray's game. He plays with a feeling of exasperation: his sweater keeps shaking, his energy is always exhausted and he rarely slows down. His talent for drama (which can be both good and bad) is an important part of what makes the Nuggets so incredibly entertaining, and he gives you a reason to give you almost every night.
Here's something you can definitely take away from Monday's game, whether you're a Murray believer or not: the Nuggets are going to be tough for all teams this season. Denver is 9-1, with victories over warriors, Celtics and jazz in the books. The way Murray played Monday was a moment of crystallization for fans of the team and the front office of Denver. Nuggets must not only be fun; they can also be a team led by stars that can compete with the best in the league. Of course, they can also be fun and super, and we see this version of Nugs more often than ever at the beginning of this year. If you are not ready to take the train, that's what you miss.
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