Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray found his name trending on social media on early Sunday morning. However, it wasn't for the most desirable of reasons. Nonetheless, whatever hot water situation the 6-foot-4 guard finds himself in right now amidst the sudden suspension of the 2019-20 season due to COVID-19, he is still Denver's most critical piece for their first NBA championship in franchise history.
Of course, we all know that Nikola Jokic is the superstar of the team. The entire offense and their system basically goes through the Serbian big man. However, Jokic wouldn't be his best self if he doesn't have the right pieces around him. Luckily for the Nuggets, they seem to have the perfect dance partner for Jokic in Jamal Murray.
Murray's offensive skill set complements The Joker's game so well. The 23-year old's ability to play off the ball and shoot from anywhere on the floor are some of the reasons why they have played so well together. Jokic and Murray have established tremendous chemistry as Denver's top one-two punch, and it's only going to get better with more reps. Whether it be with screen-and-roll actions or dribble hand-offs at the top of the key, the Nuggets star duo has mastered their two-man game to the core.
For what it's worth, this appears to be a proven formula for the regular season. Denver has found itself in the upper echelon of the Western Conference standings for to consecutive seasons now. However, the real test will be in the postseason, where it matters most.
This is where Murray's will be most critical.
Of course, as mentioned, Jokic is going to put up his numbers and play at an elite level on a nightly basis. In just his first playoff appearance last year, the Serbian proved that he isn't bothered by the bright lights. In 14 playoff games, he averaged a near triple-double with 25.1 points, 13.o rebounds, and 8.4 assists to go along 51-39-85 shooting splits.
Murray, meanwhile, needs to raise his level of play and be more consistent. By no means did the Kentucky product have a bad playoff debut last year. In fact, he had a remarkably solid playoff run for the most part. But as mentioned, Murray being more consistent with his play would likely put them in the shortlist of the true elite contenders in this league.
In the 2019 playoffs, Murray increased his scoring to 21.3 points compared to 18.2 points during the 2018-19 regular season. However, his efficiency dropped with the increased playing time and volume of shots.
While Murray had a solid postseason overall, he did not close his first playoffs on the right foot. The Canadian turned in a sour shooting night in Denver's do-or-die Game 7 showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers for the right to book a ticket to the Western Conference Finals.
In the loss, Murray shot just 4-of-18 from the field and failed to connect on any of his four triple attempts. Had he shot just a little better, the Nuggets would have found themselves in their first Western Conference Finals appearance in nearly a decade. Games like he had in Game 7 should no longer appear on Murray's playoff box score moving forward as they cannot afford any room for error, given the strength of the other contenders in the West.
Jamal Murray is an elite offensive talent no doubt. While his defense needs some improvement, Denver's ticket to the promised land, however, relies on Murray's offensive consistency, especially in the playoffs. Without question, The Joker will perform and show up. The Nuggets will need that from the Blue Arrow as well.
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