Denver's backcourt struggles could cost them as the playoffs continue

[HotRocks34]

The Nuggets are probably set against the Lakers (up 3-0). But their backcourt isn't playing well and that's a warning sign as a showdown with the Timberwolves looms, among other potential matchups.

Jamal Murray was great in the 4th quarter of Game 2, but he's not playing great overall or at the level he was at last postseason.

Reggie Jackson has been awful and KCP has seen a dip in his play.

Christian Braun, the backup SG, is not really a guy who can handle the ball or make plays.

Now more than ever Bruce Brown is missed. Murray doesn't have to be great but he needs someone to help carry the scoring/playmaking load and Jackson (now injured) isn't doing it, Braun isn't really built for it and KCP is more a defender than ballhandler or scorer.

It's early, and this may work itself out, but if Denver has a weakness that could end the repeat hopes it looks like the backcourt is it.


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[Statlanta]

For me they've been fooling around with homecourt in the Miami series and in this series.

One team will take them seriously and steal that game where they play lazy and keep HCA.

[HotRocks34]

KCP was better in Game 4 against LA but they got nothing from Braun or Jackson and Murray took 23 shots to get 22 points and had a 5/4 assist to turnover ratio.

This team is not as good as last year's team, at least not so far in the postseason.

They are missing Brown badly and Murray has to pick it up.

Murray isn't an All Star because trying hard for 1/4 quarters isn't enough.

[jkvonny]

Watch out for Minnesota!

Thats if the Lake Show doesn't come back down from 0-3.

[Cubbies2120]

KCP was better in Game 4 against LA but they got nothing from Braun or Jackson and Murray took 23 shots to get 22 points and had a 5/4 assist to turnover ratio.

This team is not as good as last year's team, at least not so far in the postseason.

They are missing Brown badly and Murray has to pick it up.

Murray isn't an All Star because trying hard for 1/4 quarters isn't enough.

This was clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda of trying to prop up Jokic's teammates in order to deflate Jokic's greatness.

Last year was a title won in fashion similar to the 03 Spurs, 11 Mavs, and 95 Rockets. It was a one man show who shouldered the burden of overcoming legend after legend.

What he can't do is win with teammates that play like absolute bums. None of them are great players, but they're at least average at their position. When they play way below average (i.e. Murray) we get results like tonight's game where a 33/14/14 effort is wasted due to boneheaded plays by the supposed "second star".

[Chuck Everett]

Did you watch Bruce Brown this year in Indiana or Toronto? Because if you did, you wouldn't be saying this. They do miss Jeff Green though, he would have been a good stabilizer with the bench.

[Ridicululz]

The Wolves could really give them a run for their money.

[Jasen777]

Playoff Murray has to show up.

[HotRocks34]

This was clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda of trying to prop up Jokic's teammates in order to deflate Jokic's greatness.

Last year was a title won in fashion similar to the 03 Spurs, 11 Mavs, and 95 Rockets. It was a one man show who shouldered the burden of overcoming legend after legend.

What he can't do is win with teammates that play like absolute bums. None of them are great players, but they're at least average at their position. When they play way below average (i.e. Murray) we get results like tonight's game where a 33/14/14 effort is wasted due to boneheaded plays by the supposed "second star".

Murray can be good and he can be bad, as you know. He's been mostly bad this series.

Brown was key in the Lakers series last year and they definitely could use him right now. He fit perfectly with this squad.

If Jackson had anything, Murray's struggles would matter less.

Booth has done an excellent job overall IMO but there are holes on this roster.

[baldur]

wolves could have stood a much better chance if they had the home court advantage. but I see it is going to the game 7.

[JDR720]

The Nuggets bench in general is bad. Braun is their best 2-way player, and he's probably average at best.

This season, it probably won't cost them as long as Murray shows up against Minnesota/Boston. But it definitely could and likely will if he doesn't get going.

[AleksandarN]

The Nuggets bench in general is bad. Braun is their best 2-way player, and he's probably average at best.

This season, it probably won't cost them as long as Murray shows up against Minnesota/Boston. But it definitely could and likely will if he doesn't get going.

You underrating Peyton Watson’s potential the kid is what 20 years old. That guy has all nba defense potential. He is going to be special. I am very high on him

[HotRocks34]

The Nuggets bench in general is bad. Braun is their best 2-way player, and he's probably average at best.

This season, it probably won't cost them as long as Murray shows up against Minnesota/Boston. But it definitely could and likely will if he doesn't get going.

I like Watson and Braun but they aren't skilled in terms of dribbling or passing. They're tall defenders and athletes.

The team needs more ballhandlers, playmakers and drivers. Brown was all of those things, and he had swag and he could defend.

They have work to do this offseason, repeat or not.

[JDR720]

The Nuggets bench in general is bad. Braun is their best 2-way player, and he's probably average at best.

This season, it probably won't cost them as long as Murray shows up against Minnesota/Boston. But it definitely could and likely will if he doesn't get going.

You underrating Peyton Watson’s potential the kid is what 20 years old. That guy has all nba defense potential. He is going to be special. I am very high on him

Potential yes, but right now he's raw on offense and not a good shooter.

The Nuggets bench next season should be much better. But this year, they have the worst bench of all the contenders. Maybe even of all the playoff teams.

[BigGargamel]

No point in talking about Brown. There was zero way they could resign him.

Denver has the best and most cohesive and experienced starting five in the NBA. It costs money to keep them together. They had no money left over to sign veterans for the bench. That's the downside of having such a great starting lineup. Drafting Braun and Watson in the 20's was a godsend. Unfortunately they did not get much out of their three draft picks last year. Would have been nice to get a Trayce Jackson-Davis with one of those picks but whatever.

I expect continued development from Braun and especially Watson, who hardly played in college and his rookie year. It's almost like he took two years off and had to be rebuilt from scratch. He's going to be big time next year. If Strawther can become a consistent knock down shooter they'll be fine. I'm not worried.

[LaLover11]

There's just nothing Denver can do to stop DLo and Dinwiddie. They should trade Murray for Booker

[HotRocks34]

No point in talking about Brown. There was zero way they could resign him.

Denver has the best and most cohesive and experienced starting five in the NBA. It costs money to keep them together. They had no money left over to sign veterans for the bench. That's the downside of having such a great starting lineup. Drafting Braun and Watson in the 20's was a godsend. Unfortunately they did not get much out of their three draft picks last year. Would have been nice to get a Trayce Jackson-Davis with one of those picks but whatever.

I expect continued development from Braun and especially Watson, who hardly played in college and his rookie year. It's almost like he took two years off and had to be rebuilt from scratch. He's going to be big time next year. If Strawther can become a consistent knock down shooter they'll be fine. I'm not worried.

Gotta talk about Brown because there's a hole where he was. Brown doesn't have to be the person to fill it, but the problem is no one is filling it and Murray is slumping. Jackson was a big miss to this point. You didn't have to keep Brown, you just needed to replace Jackson.

Strawther is a stud. If he hadn't got hurt he'd probably be in the mix now.

The future is bright IMO. But the future isn't today.

The team is in a strong position repeat or not. But the current holes are showing.

[guynumber45]

This was clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda of trying to prop up Jokic's teammates in order to deflate Jokic's greatness.

Last year was a title won in fashion similar to the 03 Spurs, 11 Mavs, and 95 Rockets. It was a one man show who shouldered the burden of overcoming legend after legend.

What he can't do is win with teammates that play like absolute bums. None of them are great players, but they're at least average at their position. When they play way below average (i.e. Murray) we get results like tonight's game where a 33/14/14 effort is wasted due to boneheaded plays by the supposed "second star".

Murray can be good and he can be bad, as you know. He's been mostly bad this series.

Brown was key in the Lakers series last year and they definitely could use him right now. He fit perfectly with this squad.

If Jackson had anything, Murray's struggles would matter less.

Booth has done an excellent job overall IMO but there are holes on this roster.

I agree, they are really missing Bruce Brown. These are the kind of games Bruce Brown thrives in. When the team is lacking energy and focus, it was usually Bruce that came in and was that spark plug, energy guy that kept the game close until the starters locked back in

[Special_Puppy]

KCP was better in Game 4 against LA but they got nothing from Braun or Jackson and Murray took 23 shots to get 22 points and had a 5/4 assist to turnover ratio.

This team is not as good as last year's team, at least not so far in the postseason.

They are missing Brown badly and Murray has to pick it up.

Murray isn't an All Star because trying hard for 1/4 quarters isn't enough.

This was clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda of trying to prop up Jokic's teammates in order to deflate Jokic's greatness.

Last year was a title won in fashion similar to the 03 Spurs, 11 Mavs, and 95 Rockets. It was a one man show who shouldered the burden of overcoming legend after legend.

What he can't do is win with teammates that play like absolute bums. None of them are great players, but they're at least average at their position. When they play way below average (i.e. Murray) we get results like tonight's game where a 33/14/14 effort is wasted due to boneheaded plays by the supposed "second star".

I wouldn't say that Jokic's run was on the level of Duncan's insane 03 run, but the Nuggets had the worst supporting cast out of any champion going at least back 10 years and I don't think it's very close.

[Lala870]

KCP was better in Game 4 against LA but they got nothing from Braun or Jackson and Murray took 23 shots to get 22 points and had a 5/4 assist to turnover ratio.

This team is not as good as last year's team, at least not so far in the postseason.

They are missing Brown badly and Murray has to pick it up.

Murray isn't an All Star because trying hard for 1/4 quarters isn't enough.

This was clear to anyone who doesn't have an agenda of trying to prop up Jokic's teammates in order to deflate Jokic's greatness.

Last year was a title won in fashion similar to the 03 Spurs, 11 Mavs, and 95 Rockets. It was a one man show who shouldered the burden of overcoming legend after legend.

What he can't do is win with teammates that play like absolute bums. None of them are great players, but they're at least average at their position. When they play way below average (i.e. Murray) we get results like tonight's game where a 33/14/14 effort is wasted due to boneheaded plays by the supposed "second star".

I wouldn't say that Jokic's run was on the level of Duncan's insane 03 run, but the Nuggets had the worst supporting cast out of any champion going at least back 10 years and I don't think it's very close.

The Nuggets faithful should be content with last years ring. One of the worst rosters in the league without Jokic. Murray and MPJ on those deals is a horrible GM move

I really thought they were gonna blow it up leading up to the bubble. They couldnt even close out an overrated Portland in 2019 I think it was. The Spurs should have closed them out that year too...one of the worst series ive ever seen Denver play