Subscribe
Follow Us
The Denver Nuggets have not had quite the start to the season they were expecting as they’re just 3-3 through six games. However, their struggles haven’t been because of Will Barton. The sixth-year swingman has been one of the Nuggets’ best players during the early going, averaging 14 points and 2.8 assists off the bench, while shooting 44 percent from the floor and 39 percent from the three-point line.
According to Chris Dempsey of NBA.com, Barton had a certain mindset going into the season, which was to attack and be much more aggressive.
“You knew my mindset was going to be,” said Barton. “Attack, attack, attack.”
Barton has been staying true to form and attacking much more frequently, at least during the early part of the season. Dempsey notes that nearly two-thirds of Barton's shot attempts are coming within five feet or closer and is shooting 67 percent on those shots.
More than Barton’s aggressiveness to score himself, though, his improvement in terms of playmaking and making better decisions with the ball in his hands has perhaps been the bigger development to his game.
per Dempsey:
His assist percentage has gone from 14.7 in the 2015-16 season to 18.7 in the early going this season. And as the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations, Barton has become as reliable a player as there is on the team. The percentage of pick-and-roll possessions in which he’s the ball handler that end in turnovers has gone from 16.1 percent last season all the way down to 4.3 percent so far this season. It’s a dramatic shift in taking care of the ball and making the right play, and it’s a huge reason Barton’s usage rate is significantly up this season over last.
Barton’s bump in play has coincided with a contract year. He will become an unrestricted free agent next summer and is likely auditioning for his next deal. Whatever the reason for Barton’s improvement, though, the Nuggets will likely need him to keep it going all year long given the team's lack of wing depth this season.
