-- Neither has any other team in the past half-decade. Where’s the concern for Milwaukee?
-- They did have a better record last year but then ran out of gas.
-- Remember Jamal had 35 in Game 7. Jokic had 34, but the other players missed their chance to step up. Hoping the team continues to build trust and delivers more cohesive play.
-- Nuggets lost the free throw disparity 30-16 in Game 7, when they lose by 8.
-- Bruce and Uncle Jeff left and haven’t been the same players. KCP could follow a similar path without playing next to Jokic—good luck in Orlando. Look at Gary Harris, who’s in the same spot as KCP.
-- KCP’s Klutch agency, after their top client has been consistently embarrassed by the Nuggets, might have had reasons the deal didn’t work out from their side.
-- Do the Nuggets have enough to win it again? I think so, but a small deal could push them over since they’re still under the apron.
-- Jokic is our Duncan; Jamal is our Ginobili (who didn’t rack up All-Star games but delivered in big moments), and AG and Porter are excellent role players. Let’s see what Braun, Strawther, and Watson can do.
-- Imagine Jokic getting Westbrook a title when Durant, Harden, LeBron, and AD couldn’t.
-- The Kroenkes have won titles in the NBA, NHL, and NFL, and Arsenal could be next.
Jamal’s a hero worthy of mythology—enjoy the show.
-- Name 20 better playoff performers than Jamal over the past five years -- even with him missing two years. Dude is easily worth the max.
The Nuggets have put all of their faith into Jamal Murray, and it’s time for him to take the next step to consistency and continually play up to his contract. Letting KCP go was just cheap behavior by the FO and ownership, and that just sucks.
The important thing to remember about Murray, Gordon, and Porter is that they are absolutely perfect fits with the Serbian Force Multiplier, Nikola Jokic. That's what determines their value, not comparisons to other players or awards. Booth can still grab some affordable contributors (if Lonnie Walker doesn't make the Celtics or Javonte Green doesn't sign anywhere) that can contribute to the KCP Replacement Committee. Jamal may not be an 82 game All NBA player but he is a proven 16 game beast. I like the Nuggets chances better than the Clippers, Suns, and OKC in the West. The only team in the East that can take Denver in the Finals is the Celtics (sit down Embiid, and don't even log on).
Jamal is a frustrating player, never as consistent as he should be, but his peaks are incredible. Nuggets had to pay him. The offseason moves can be seen as concerning, but there is nothing dumber than media narratives in basketball, the recency bias is jaw dropping. We’ll see what happens, I think Calvin Booth is an A plus talent evaluator and the young guys are very good, but who knows if they perform as needed this year. The west is stacked again. I’m very confident the nuggets will be in position to make a deep run this year, but it is always a roll of the dice and all you can do is to give your team a good enough roster for as many years as possible in your window and hope it breaks your way. Was pretty friggin close last year to going our way again. When you have the best player in the world, the odds are better than most. Much harder to repeat in this era imo, too much talent and competition across the board. Celtics have a good as shot as anyone has in a while, but the odds of them repeating are still very very low.
I was such a Westbrook hater but the redemption arch is going to be an incredible ride if it happens. Him and Saric improve the bench greatly this year and it will be a fun story. Start your drafts suckas.
Jamal didn't look 100% in either the playoffs or Olympics, i hope that he can get back to borderline allstar form, but maybe this is the new normal.
Also being a Raptors fan having Canada as their whole region, I feel lucky that all the regular season games are split between the 2 national sports networks that both come with my basic cable package
The concerning indicator for the Nuggets to me is the Saric contract - it’s not a killer by any means but it doesn’t give me faith in their process that they gave him a slight overpay instead of the vet min AND a player option on the second year. (It also concerns me that Denver seems to think he’s still viable as a forward instead of a center.) Just doesn’t feel like the kind of move a team trying to make every dollar count should be making!
All very fair points regarding Murray. Still, if this doesn't pan out, I feel like the blame will be placed more on Murray for failing to develop rather than on the Nuggets for giving him a max deal.
So, the Nuggets didn’t repeat:
-- Neither has any other team in the past half-decade. Where’s the concern for Milwaukee?
-- They did have a better record last year but then ran out of gas.
-- Remember Jamal had 35 in Game 7. Jokic had 34, but the other players missed their chance to step up. Hoping the team continues to build trust and delivers more cohesive play.
-- Nuggets lost the free throw disparity 30-16 in Game 7, when they lose by 8.
-- Bruce and Uncle Jeff left and haven’t been the same players. KCP could follow a similar path without playing next to Jokic—good luck in Orlando. Look at Gary Harris, who’s in the same spot as KCP.
-- KCP’s Klutch agency, after their top client has been consistently embarrassed by the Nuggets, might have had reasons the deal didn’t work out from their side.
-- Do the Nuggets have enough to win it again? I think so, but a small deal could push them over since they’re still under the apron.
-- Jokic is our Duncan; Jamal is our Ginobili (who didn’t rack up All-Star games but delivered in big moments), and AG and Porter are excellent role players. Let’s see what Braun, Strawther, and Watson can do.
-- Imagine Jokic getting Westbrook a title when Durant, Harden, LeBron, and AD couldn’t.
-- The Kroenkes have won titles in the NBA, NHL, and NFL, and Arsenal could be next.
Jamal’s a hero worthy of mythology—enjoy the show.
-- Name 20 better playoff performers than Jamal over the past five years -- even with him missing two years. Dude is easily worth the max.
👏👏👏all good points. I also like the klutch conspiracy theory 👍😂
The Nuggets have put all of their faith into Jamal Murray, and it’s time for him to take the next step to consistency and continually play up to his contract. Letting KCP go was just cheap behavior by the FO and ownership, and that just sucks.
The important thing to remember about Murray, Gordon, and Porter is that they are absolutely perfect fits with the Serbian Force Multiplier, Nikola Jokic. That's what determines their value, not comparisons to other players or awards. Booth can still grab some affordable contributors (if Lonnie Walker doesn't make the Celtics or Javonte Green doesn't sign anywhere) that can contribute to the KCP Replacement Committee. Jamal may not be an 82 game All NBA player but he is a proven 16 game beast. I like the Nuggets chances better than the Clippers, Suns, and OKC in the West. The only team in the East that can take Denver in the Finals is the Celtics (sit down Embiid, and don't even log on).
Jamal is a frustrating player, never as consistent as he should be, but his peaks are incredible. Nuggets had to pay him. The offseason moves can be seen as concerning, but there is nothing dumber than media narratives in basketball, the recency bias is jaw dropping. We’ll see what happens, I think Calvin Booth is an A plus talent evaluator and the young guys are very good, but who knows if they perform as needed this year. The west is stacked again. I’m very confident the nuggets will be in position to make a deep run this year, but it is always a roll of the dice and all you can do is to give your team a good enough roster for as many years as possible in your window and hope it breaks your way. Was pretty friggin close last year to going our way again. When you have the best player in the world, the odds are better than most. Much harder to repeat in this era imo, too much talent and competition across the board. Celtics have a good as shot as anyone has in a while, but the odds of them repeating are still very very low.
I was such a Westbrook hater but the redemption arch is going to be an incredible ride if it happens. Him and Saric improve the bench greatly this year and it will be a fun story. Start your drafts suckas.
Jamal didn't look 100% in either the playoffs or Olympics, i hope that he can get back to borderline allstar form, but maybe this is the new normal.
Also being a Raptors fan having Canada as their whole region, I feel lucky that all the regular season games are split between the 2 national sports networks that both come with my basic cable package
i simply don't believe in the Nuggets. very little esprit de corps.
The concerning indicator for the Nuggets to me is the Saric contract - it’s not a killer by any means but it doesn’t give me faith in their process that they gave him a slight overpay instead of the vet min AND a player option on the second year. (It also concerns me that Denver seems to think he’s still viable as a forward instead of a center.) Just doesn’t feel like the kind of move a team trying to make every dollar count should be making!
Cuban's role with the Mavs very quietly shrank to almost nothing over the summer. i don't think the new bosses are consulting with him anymore.
All very fair points regarding Murray. Still, if this doesn't pan out, I feel like the blame will be placed more on Murray for failing to develop rather than on the Nuggets for giving him a max deal.
If there's one thing I know, it's that there will be more than enough blame to drown all involved.