The Denver Nuggets had an applaudable regular season, garnering a 47-25 record to finish in the third spot of the Western Conference despite Jamal Murray's torn ACL. Nikola Jokic earned MVP honors for his efforts and then carried the Nuggets past the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the Serbian's individual showing wasn't enough to tow the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals, as they got swept by the Phoenix Suns in their second-round matchup. Despite falling short of their title aspirations, the Nuggets still have a lot to look forward to, especially with the amount of talent that they have at their disposal moving forward.
Here are two reasons why the Nuggets should give their core under Michael Malone another shot at a playoff run next season.
1. Jamal Murray didn't get to suit up in the postseason
A key reason why Denver failed to make a stronger playoff campaign was due to Jamal Murray's absence on the floor. The Kentucky product didn't get to see action in the latter stages of the regular season and the playoffs due to a season-ending torn ACL injury suffered in mid-April.
Before he went down, Murray was averaging career-best numbers of 21.2 points per game on 47.7% from the field and 40.8% from 3-point range to go along with 4.8 assists per contest. He also notched a career-high 1.3 steals per game.
Murray's contributions on both ends of the floor were certainly missed by the Nuggets throughout the playoffs. Murray's presence could've made a huge difference in the team's postseason bid, especially as they went up against the Suns' deadly backcourt duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Absorbing a series sweep from Phoenix ultimately showed Murray's value to the team, and the team will definitely need him if they want a better shot at the title next season.
2. Solid core players on the roster
Apart from Jokic and Murray, the Nuggets also have a solid core on their roster that is capable of supporting the team's two main stars moving forward. The 2020-21 season saw Michael Porter Jr. starting to hit his potential as a future star.
Porter averaged 19.0 points on 54.2% shooting from the field and 44.5% shooting from 3 to go with 7.3 rebounds per game. He also managed to stay mostly healthy, appearing in 61 games as a regular starter for Denver. While he had his struggles against the Suns, including with a back injury, the way he played for much of the season showed he can be a legitimate No. 3 option alongside Jokic and Murray.
Another key piece for the team is Aaron Gordon after his acquisition from the Orlando Magic right before the trade deadline. The Nuggets were on fire right after the trade and before Murray tore his ACL, and they looked like title contenders with Gordon settling nicely into his role, even if his numbers dipped a bit.
With Murray out, Gordon did have nights where he struggled on the floor during the postseason. In Game 3 against the Suns, he was limited to four points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field along with four rebounds. He didn't reach double digits in scoring in any of the final three games.
Despite his woes on the offensive end, Gordon still made up for it by playing with physicality and showing hustle on the floor. He's an excellent Swiss Army knife type of player when the roster is fully healthy, so slotting in as that No. 4 guy in the starting lineup is a perfect role for him.
The Nuggets' other playmakers in Will Barton and Monte Morris both made significant contributions to the team, especially in terms of scoring and setting up plays for their teammates. Meanwhile, Facundo Campazzo and Austin Rivers also managed to make an impact whenever they came off the bench.
Denver will likely make some changes around the edges, with veterans such as Barton and Paul Millsap potentially going elsewhere. But the Nuggets already have their core pieces in place with an MVP-caliber player in Nikola Jokic leading the way. The level of success that the team can achieve ultimately lies in their ability to stay healthy throughout the season and complement each other better on the floor.
This sweep shouldn't be a reason for the Nuggets to blow up their lineup. The amount of talent they have when healthy is enough for them to have a stronger playoff run next season.
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