Denver Stiffs - Denver Nuggets Season in Review series

Nuggets season in review: Nikola Jokic

2022-05-12T09:02:19-06:00

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

MVP, MVP, MVP!!!

Nikola Jokic 2021-22 Per Game Stats

It was another historical season for Nikola Jokic, who averaged a career-high 27.1 points and 13.8 rebounds per game in 74 regular season games. Jokic averaged just under his career-high 8.3 assists per game as he averaged 7.9 dimes per game, which is still pretty remarkable. Not only did he score the ball at will, but he did so with ease as Jokic shot 58.3 percent from the field, 33.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 81 percent from the free-throw line.

Jokic not only set career highs with his offensive stats, but defensively he averaged a career-high 0.9 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. Fast forwarding to the playoffs, in the Nuggets five playoff games, Jokic averaged 31 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. In the playoffs, Jokic shot 57.5 percent from three, 27.8 percent from the three-point line, and 84.8 percent from the free-throw line.

The story of the regular season

It was a regular season for the history books for Jokic as he followed his MVP season with an even better year, which earned him a second consecutive MVP trophy. Jokic joined some elite company as he is just the 13th player in NBA history to win MVP in back-to-back seasons. The rest of that list includes: Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Steph Curry, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Some pretty elite company for Jokic, who also became the first person in NBA history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. Jokic single-handedly carried the Nuggets to a playoff berth and even though they lost in five games to the Golden State Warriors it was still pretty special what the Nuggets big man was able to accomplish with a depleted roster.

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Time after time, the Nuggets relied on Jokic to deliver and most of the time that is exactly what he did. As other MVP candidates did less with more talent around them, the Nuggets and Jokic continued to make it work no matter who was in the lineup.

Did it translate to the playoffs?

Absolutely it did, Jokic was the reason Denver made it to the postseason and he was the reason why they won at least one game against Golden State. The Nuggets as a team did not play great in the playoffs and although Jokic struggled in the first couple of games, he eventually returned to form and figured out Draymond Green, who gave him fits early in the series.

Jokic’s 57 percent shooting percentage in the playoffs was a career-high and the fact he was able to score 31 points per game so efficiently speaks to his overall greatness as a player. There weren’t a ton of things Denver could always count on this season, but in the regular season and postseason one constant stayed the same and that was the play from Jokic.

Best Moment — 49 point triple-double in Denver’s comeback victory against the Clippers

There is obviously a ton of moments to choose from, but for me it was Jokic’s 49-point triple-double in the Nuggets overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. It was just something about that game that showcased how special and dominant Jokic truly is as a player. In his 41 minutes, Jokic scored 49 points on 16-of-25 shooting from the field, 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and a whopping 14-of-16 from the free-throw line.

Jokic also hauled in 14 rebounds and dished out 10 assists in the mist of another impressive triple-double. The most impressive play in this game from Jokic actually came on his 10th assist of the night as he threw this remarkable pass to Aaron Gordon, who drained the game winning jumper:

AARON GORDON GIVES THE @nuggets THE WIN

Nikola Jokic picks up the triple-double on the cross-court pass to give Denver the OT win! pic.twitter.com/AHJIMHKWbc
— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2022

It was a special night for Jokic and the Nuggets as they overcame a 15-point second half deficit and found a way to win. Jokic was absolutely dominant and single-handily — like he did most of the season — willed the Nuggets to victory.

Season Grade — A+

It’s hard to not give the player who captured a second consecutive MVP award anything less than an A+. It was a special year for Jokic and it deserves the best grade from anyone on the Nuggets this season. Jokic dominated the competition night in and night out and will continue to do so for many years to come.

What does the future hold for Nikola Jokic?

Jokic is now in line for a super-max contract this offseason, which is something I expect he and the Nuggets to get done to keep him in Denver for a very long time. As the cornerstone of the franchise, the Nuggets will be in good hands not only next year, but for many years to come as long as #15 stays in the Mile High City.

One parting note is how cool it was to see Jokic accept his MVP trophy last night in Serbia. Jokic did his TNT interview in front of his horse staple, which of course consisted of plenty of hilarious moments that we have grown accustomed to seeing once Jokic’s gets a mic in his hands.

The Nuggets also tweeted out this awesome video of Jokic being surprised by a large contingent of Denver’s front office and coaching staff as they broke the news of him winning MVP once again.

Surprise in Sombor✈️ We flew to Serbia to surprise the BACK-TO-BACK MVP! And, wow, this moment was special. pic.twitter.com/aFvIEDgnSj
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 11, 2022

It’s rare we get to see Jokic that emotional, which made it a pretty special moment. Of course we would all love for the Nuggets to still be in the playoffs, but the fact we were able to see Jokic receive his MVP trophy at home in Serbia was something pretty special.

Nuggets season in review: Jamal Murray

2022-05-11T10:23:45-06:00

Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Nothing but good things are in store for the Denver Nuggets and their star point guard.

The story of the regular season

There is not much to say about Jamal Murray’s 2021-22 season because their simply isn’t much to discuss. Murray missed the entire season recovering from ACL surgery and most of his year was talked about whether or not he was going to return to play. Internet video after internet video surfaced daily of Murray working out, which constantly gave Nuggets fans hope that he would be able to make a return before the season came to a close.

Even though it felt like time after time Murray would return to play and help the Nuggets push for that elusive title, the games went by and the Blue Arrow’s availability remained “out.” Reports then surfaced before the playoffs that Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were unlikely to play in the postseason, which took some wind out of the Nuggets sails before they ultimately lost in five games to the Golden State Warriors.

Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Murray said during his end of the season press conference a couple weeks ago that he’s not sure if he’s even 85 percent right now, which really puts into perspective how far away he was from playing this season. All in all, it’s not a bad thing that Murray did not rush to play this season because even with him on the roster it’s hard to envision the Nuggets getting past Golden State even with Murray on the floor.

The road ahead

This season review is taking a different approach than the other ones and rightfully so because Murray’s situation is a unique one. Murray goes into the offseason with a chance to hopefully get back into the form we saw from him two years ago, which was that of a dominant point guard.

It’s not going to be perfect right away and there are certainly going to be bumps in the road, but the hope has to be that Murray looks similar to his old self next season. With another full offseason, training camp, and preseason under his belt, hopefully that is all it takes for Murray to be ready once the regular season begins.

It will be two full years since Murray has gone through a training camp, which could definitely bring up some soreness in his knee that may force him to skip a couple practices or games here and there. That is what the offseason and preseason has to be about for Murray though is getting back out there and fighting through that pain with the hope it will not linger as the season progresses.

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Do I expect Murray to be the Murray of old when the season begins? Absolutely not, but is he more than capable of doing that? 100 percent. With a fully healthy roster that features a big three of Nikola Jokic, Porter Jr., and Murray, the Nuggets will finally be able to make a push for a championship.

The key word there is healthy, which just hasn’t been the case for Denver each of the past two seasons and Murray’s injury is a big reason why. We saw what happened in the bubble as Murray has the ability to not just take over games, but playoff series as well. Murray willed the Nuggets to come from behind and beat the Utah Jazz after being down 3-1 and passed the baton to Jokic who did the same thing to get Denver to the Western Conference Finals.

It’s crazy to think that Jokic has won back-to-back MVP’s and Murray was only apart of half of one of those seasons. Just imagine how much better Jokic, the Nuggets, and Murray are going to be with a full season under their belt. With a couple roster tweaks here and there Denver has the chance to do something special this season and Murray is going to play a massive role in how far they will go.

Even though this season may have felt like a waste for Murray, it could definitely be in the Nuggets best interest long-term. No matter who the Nuggets add to their roster this offseason no addition will be greater than Murray — and Porter — and if he can return to the player we saw growing into a superstar a couple years ago.

Nuggets season in review: JaMychal Green

2022-05-11T08:00:00-06:00

Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images

Reviewing the 2021-22 season of Nuggets big man JaMychal Green

JaMychal Green 2021-22 per game stats

Part of year	Games	Minutes	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals + Blocks	FG%	3P%	TS%
Regular Season	67	16.2	6.4	4.2	0.9	1.0	48.6	26.6	58.7
Playoffs	5	13.8	4.0	2.4	0.4	0.2	37.5	20.2	52.4

The story of the regular season

During the 2020-21 season, JaMychal Green was one of the most important reserves on the Denver Nuggets. He quickly cemented himself as the third big man in the rotation behind Nikola Jokić and Paul Millsap, and he retained that spot even after the Nuggets added Aaron Gordon to the mix. The Nuggets gave Green a raise in the 2021 off-season, and more of the same was expected from Green this year.

The Nuggets also decided to change course on the backup center position entirely, which had a strong effect on Green. Rather than bring back JaVale McGee, the Nuggets decided to go small in their second unit, penciling in Green as the second unit center instead. The plan did not work. At all. The Nuggets struggled with JaMychal as the long pick and pop option on Denver’s second unit, and though not having Michael Porter Jr. healthy changed Denver’s course of action offensively, the issues also occurred on the defensive end without a big rim protector serving as a back line defender.

It may not have been Green’s fault entirely given other weaknesses on the roster, but he certainly didn’t prove to be the solution. The Nuggets pivoted in a different direction in January, signing DeMarcus Cousins to a 10-day contract and then converting him to a guaranteed roster spot. Initially, Green was out of the rotation entirely with Zeke Nnaji playing well in a reserve role, but Zeke’s knee injury offered Green a chance to slot in as the backup power forward. The Nuggets were successful in this configuration, with Cousins and JaMychal becoming ‘The Bash Bros’ and outmuscling several backup frontcourts on their way to stabilizing Denver’s second unit.

Was it perfect? No. Did JaMychal’s three-pointer ever return? Not really. But the team figured it out, and JaMychal was a part of that group throughout the year.

Did it translate to the playoffs?

The Nuggets of course lost in five games to the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs, but the bench unit wasn’t really the target of a ton of criticism. Bones Hyland performed reasonably well in his first go-round, DeMarcus Cousins took advantage of an easy matchup, and Austin Rivers proved to be Denver’s most important bench piece with his capable perimeter defense. JaMychal Green wasn’t really a part of that, and the Nuggets traditional five-man bench unit mostly struggled with Green out there. The minutes were generally better when Aaron Gordon and Will Barton replaced Green and Bryn Forbes respectively.

Was Green bad? Not significantly, but he did shoot 20% from three-point range, and the Nuggets struggled to defend the perimeter while both he and Cousins were on the floor together. Had the Warriors invested more resources in attacking that unit, the numbers would most certainly look far worse. They didn’t need to in the end.

Best Moment - A Scott Hastings gem

There weren’t a ton of massive highlight games for JaMychal this season, but one that certainly made the rounds was this clip of Scott Hastings and Katy Winge. Katy asked about JaMychal’s injury status on the Altitude broadcast and whether Scott knew if JaMychal would be available. In a way only Scott Hastings could pull off, he turned around and asked JaMychal right behind him, who was warming up on the court. JaMychal shook his head on camera for all to see, drawing laughs from all around the NBA world.

Get your news directly from the source, kids.

Season Grade - D+

The expectations were much higher for Green this year than what ultimately occurred. Put in a difficult position and asked to play the center position, JaMychal really struggled, especially on the offensive end, to find his role for much of the year. When he slid over to power forward, things got better, but not so much that it put to rest any questions the Nuggets may have about his future in Denver. Zeke Nnaji outplayed him for much of the season, and had he been healthy post All-Star break, it’s possible JaMychal doesn’t play at all down the stretch.

What does the future hold for JaMychal Green?

JaMychal has a player option worth north of $8 million for the 2022-23 season. If he declines it, he will most likely not be back with the Nuggets next year as Nnaji continues to grow into a role and Michael Porter Jr. hopefully returns from injury. Jeff Green also has a player option of his own and may be in the team’s plans instead. Denver’s financial situation also contributes to a potential change in direction as the Nuggets are expected to be well into the luxury tax next season.

If JaMychal exercises the player option, he will most likely be back in Denver, though he’s a prime trade candidate if that happens due to his very movable salary and Denver’s weaknesses at other positions. There’s a world where JaMychal returns and Nnaji is moved instead as a more valuable young player, but the Nuggets appear committed to Zeke as a younger (and cheaper) member of the rotation going forward.

JaMychal Green has brought a certain grit and grind to the Nuggets rotation that has been greatly appreciated, especially in his first season with the team. At this stage though, Denver’s roster has changed, and their needs have changed too. Whether Green will be part of the future remains to be seen, but his toughness will certainly be missed if he does go.

Nuggets season in review: Bones Hyland

2022-05-10T09:30:43-06:00

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Denver’s newest fan favorite

The story of the regular season

With the 26th overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets selected VCU guard Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland to bolster their roster. He burst onto the scene as an immediate fan favorite due to his contagious smile and jubilant spirit, but when it comes to the hardwood, he is as competitive as it gets. To begin the season, Bones was trying to find his role in a team with championship expectations. Michael Malone positioned him as a backup guard who played off the ball, but when they finally put him at the backup point guard spot he flourished.

Bones started to earn Malone’s trust in December when his minutes per game jumped from 12.3 to 18.4. He averaged 9.2 PPG during that month, and although he was yet to find his three-point stroke, he would display his many talents throughout the end of the season. In March, he averaged his highest-scoring month at 14.3 PPG and 4.3 assists on 47.6% shooting from three. Overall, Bones demonstrated the potential to be an above-average passer with great vision and creativity paired with great marksmanship from three-point range.

Did it translate to the playoffs?

Although Bones showed his many talents throughout the regular season, his issues related to consistency and that is what translated to the playoffs. It is difficult to expect a rookie to consistently produce in an environment he has never been in, plus the fact he faced a dynasty in the Golden State Warriors. His playoff game-high was 15 points in the Game 4 win. He shot 5-10 from the field and 3-6 from three along with 7 assists and was tied for the game-high plus/minus at +13.

In the blowout losses in the first two games of the series, Bones did eclipse double-digit scoring, but he did not shoot efficiently from the field. In the final game of the season, Bones scored 4 points on 0-6 shooting and 0-4 from behind the arc. Could he have played better? Sure he could have, but the education he gained in this series will initiate his success in future series.

Best Moment - 21 point game versus the 76ers

The Nuggets faced off with the 76ers in a nationally televised game on March 14. At that point in the season, it could have been characterized as Denver’s most important game. It was a clash of two MVP candidates, and the Nuggets had to win this game to stamp their relevancy on the rest of the league in the national spotlight. Of course, Jokic did Jokic things, but Bones Hyland was the star of the show. He dropped 21 points on 4-9 shooting from three. All of his threes came in the fourth quarter and many of them were from several feet beyond the arc. In one of the biggest games of the season, on the road, against a tough Philly team, Bones put his name on the map.

Season Grade - B

As the 26th overall pick, there was not much expected of Bones this season. Many were not sure how he would ingratiate himself with Denver’s crowded guard room, but he grew his standing in the depth chart quickly. Since Monte was trusted into the starting lineup, the Nuggets desperately searched for scoring from their bench and Bones was their best shot. Not only was he their best shot, but he proved to be Denver’s most trusted bench scorer during the regular season. Bones did struggle with shooting consistency, turnovers, and on the defensive end. Those weaknesses were evident during the postseason, but in my opinion, Bones over-achieved during the regular season. There were 25 picks before his name was called, and he finished the season as the 8th-ranked rookie in scoring.

What does the future hold for Bones Hyland?

The future is bright with this one. He is an electric, microwave scorer who has the ability to record 5-7 assists if he gets the requisite minutes. Unfortunately for his sake, Jamal Murray is expected to make his return early next season, which will likely force Monte Morris back into the backup point guard role. If Bones continues to improve, that might push the Nuggets to trade Monte because they will have multiple options at the reserve point guard spot, or they can move Bones back to off-ball duties. Bones proved he belongs in the league with his production this year, so he will likely have a future with this team for the next three years.

Nuggets season in review: DeMarcus Cousins

2022-05-10T08:16:37-06:00

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Reviewing the 2021-22 season of Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins, AKA Boogie.

The Story of the Regular Season:

After a brief stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Denver later on in the season. He signed his first 10-day contract with the Nuggets on January 21st and didn’t become a full contract player until February 25th. Boogie proved to still be an impactful player in Denver, the idea that teams considered him a lost cause and that he was waived in the beginning of the season is ridiculous to me. Denver was getting killed anytime Jokić was out of the game, once Boogie got there it was significantly more manageable. While he still would occasionally get a bad whistle and had an extremely short leash with the refs, he gave the Nuggets a solid backbone for the bench unit.

Boogie plays the same way that the reigning two-time MVP, Nikola Jokić, does. Obviously not on the same level but the base of their games are very similar, so when the Joker checks out Denver does not need to change up their offensive game plan and strategy too much. Boogie played a vital role to end this season, without him the Nuggets would have been much worse. He made it so Jokić was ever able to get any rest during a game without blowing the entire lead in the process. Boogie’s season numbers may not jump off the page at you, but his contributions to the Nuggets this year were invaluable.

Best Moment- March 4th vs the Rockets

DeMarcus Cousins had quite a few good moments from the season, but few can compare to his night versus the Houston Rockets on March 4th. This was one of the 2 games he started in place of Nikola Jokić this season. He put up a season-high 31 points with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and shot 3/4 on three-pointers all in only 23 minutes. This was Boogie’s first 30-point game since January 2018, he scored 44 points in that game shortly before his Achilles injury. This game proved that if he is given the opportunity he can still be a productive NBA player after all these years and injuries.

However in his only other start of the season in a Nuggets uniform, versus the Los Angeles Lakers, came my other favorite moment of the season. After getting a steal and running the break, Boogie gets fouled at the other end by Stanley Johnson. He appears to go down hard after some potential contact to the head, his sole purpose in doing this was to sell the call and get the refs to turn it into a flagrant foul. It worked and we got an amazing video from it.

Boogie with an all-time Wounded Duck sell job. pic.twitter.com/bHOhAnNE3b
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 11, 2022

Season Grade- A-

Compared to what the expectations were for Cousins, I decided to give him a A- for this season. His numbers aren’t crazy and he ultimately didn’t play a ton of minutes or close games, but he filled his role to perfection. Yeah, he might’ve gotten a few technical fouls that he shouldn’t have but it’s all part of the fun of the game. I would give him an A+ on role filling, but because he could’ve shot the ball a little better and put up better stats overall I have to give him a A-. Still an amazing bounce-back season from Boogie, you can’t really ask for a much better backup center.

What Does the Future Hold for DeMarcus Cousins?

As of now, it is pretty uncertain. Cousins’ deal expired at the end of the season so if Denver wants him around next year they will have to negotiate a new contract. It is my belief that Denver wants Boogie back, the only way I can see Boogie not being on the roster next year is if some other team is willing to give him a bigger role. There’s just only so much you can do when you’re sitting behind the reigning back-to-back MVP.

I personally really hope that Boogie is back next season. He gave Denver his all and the fans really gravitated to him. His rapport with Bones Hyland, Michael Malone, and others on the roster is very fun to watch. Only time will tell what the future holds for him, but I will always appreciate what Boogie gave to Denver this last season.

Nuggets season in review: Bryn Forbes

2022-05-10T08:00:00-06:00

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Reviewing the season of Bryn Forbes, one of Denver’s mid-season additions to shore up their bench unit

Bryn Forbes 2021-22 Nuggets per game stats

Part of year	Games	Minutes	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals + Blocks	FG%	3P%	TS%
Regular Season	35	17.4	8.6	0.9	1.0	0.3	42.4	41.0	57.8
Playoffs	5	15.2	4.0	0.6	1.4	0.2	40.0	36.4	58.1

The story of the regular season

On January 19th, 2022, the Denver Nuggets acquired Bryn Forbes from the San Antonio Spurs that sent PJ Dozier and Bol Bol to the Boston Celtics, along with a future second round pick to San Antonio. It was a bittersweet moment for Nuggets fans to see Dozier go after tearing his ACL in late November, but the Nuggets desperately needed help with their bench unit, and Forbes represented one of several steps the Nuggets took to improve the minutes without Nikola Jokić.

Forbes, a six-year veteran, has found a niche in the NBA as a floor spacing guard. Shooting is one of the most coveted skills in the NBA, and Forbes is one of the NBA’s most lethal shooters. Among the 70 players in the NBA since 2016-17 (Forbes’ rookie season) to attempt at least as many three-pointers as Forbes has in his NBA career, the bench sharpshooter ranks fifth in three-point percentage at 41.3%, right ahead of Stephen Curry at 41.2%.

So, the Nuggets knew what they were getting when they acquired Forbes, and he didn’t disappoint. Forbes shot 41.0% from three-point range, basically his career average, while coming off the bench for the Nuggets. Though there were other weaknesses in his game, the Nuggets finally found their floor spacing off the bench by playing Bones Hyland at point guard and Forbes at shooting guard. Those two were a strong outside shooting duo throughout the second half of the season, and they combined to have some important games in stabilizing Denver’s bench unit. After adding DeMarcus Cousins as a bench center, the Nuggets could finally look upon their bench as at least a net neutral for awhile, and compared to where they started, that means something.

Did it translate to the playoffs?

Forbes scored just 20 points across five playoff games for Denver against Golden State, and though his shooting efficiency was perfectly reasonable, it wasn’t the scoring that held him back. The Warriors focused in on Denver’s weaknesses during the postseason, and Forbes’ biggest weakness was synonymous with Denver biggest issue: perimeter defense. The Nuggets couldn’t stop the Warriors, and Forbes didn’t have the requisite size or athleticism necessary to keep up with the Warriors on the perimeter. Forbes averaged just over 13 minutes per game in the non-blowout games as the Nuggets needed as many defensive options as they could muster.

Was that fair to Forbes? Probably not. In previous stops with the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks, those teams had personnel capable of insulating Forbes’ biggest weaknesses. The Nuggets simply didn’t, and though that’s a Forbes issue, it’s also a Nuggets issue in the present and future.

Best Moment - Comeback win against Golden State

The Nuggets had brought in Forbes the month prior to be a bench shooting and scoring threat, and he certainly had some good moments during that span. The most important moment though came in the final game before the All-Star break against the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry and co. were blitzing Denver’s starters, and it took strong bench performances from Bryn Forbes and Austin Rivers to keep Denver in the game. The Nuggets could have rolled over on the road in that circumstance and nobody would have bat an eye. Instead, they persevered, leaning on Forbes’ scoring and Rivers’ defense to keep the close all the way until the end of the game when the Nuggets stole it right from under the Warriors on a Monte Morris buzzer beater.

Season Grade - B

The Nuggets brought in Forbes to be a shooter, to space the floor for the bench unit and provide occasional spacing for the starters too. That’s exactly what he did, and it earns him a ‘B’ grade right off the bat. The reason it can’t go any higher is because that was what Forbes was expected to do, and there were too few games by the end of the regular season and playoffs where Forbes truly exceeded expectations. His flaws were difficult to overcome, and they actually helped contribute to Denver’s biggest weakness in the playoffs.

What does the future hold for Bryn Forbes?

An unrestricted free agent heading into the off-season, Forbes has the right to pick and choose where he wants to go. Teams can always use shooting, and it’s likely that some team that needs to fill out the back end of a rotation with three-point marksmanship will go after Forbes.

The Nuggets could always use more shooting too, but they also have other priorities. Perimeter defense and wing size are the two most important areas of growth, and while Forbes has skills of his own, his weaknesses directly conflict with where the Nuggets have to improve.

Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will be back next season, and assuming they step back into their starting roles without incident, that means Denver’s two most important shooters will be heavy contributors. More shooting around them would be nice, but it might be overkill. In addition, Monte Morris, Bones Hyland, and Will Barton remain under contract for Denver, meaning there’s enough shooting for Denver to be just fine going forward without Forbes.

Could Forbes be back? Absolutely. Will Forbes be back? It seems unlikely. Barring a significant change to Denver’s current roster, expect the Nuggets to let Forbes walk in search of a new deal with a playoff team while Denver attempts to patch a new hole in their bench rotation with a stronger wing defender.

Nuggets season in review: Michael Porter Jr.

2022-05-09T06:00:00-06:00

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Reviewing the 2021-22 season of Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr, such as it was

The story of the regular season

After the Denver Nuggets gave him a 5 year, $172 million extension in the offseason, Michael Porter Jr. had his season dismantled before it ever really began. Sometime in training camp or the preseason he had another issue with his back crop up, as evidenced by the cliff his numbers fell off from before the Nuggets pulled the plug just 9 games into the year. He was clearly hurting, as shown by the below clip, and then a few weeks later he got an opinion that another surgery was definitely required.

Ummm…
Lot to unpack here MPJ pic.twitter.com/Rr8I4slOW0
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) November 6, 2021

He just never looked like the player he was in 2020-21 when he put up one of the most efficient high-scoring seasons in NBA history to earn that max deal. His efficiency went in the trash as he obviously tried to play around his compromised body and it just didn’t work. Porter has now missed two full seasons in his career, and despite a valiant attempt to make it back before Denver’s playoff run he will have to go into next year without the extra experience and growth he would have had as Nikola Jokic’s main running mate the whole season. The expectations were high for him this year, and he didn’t fail them - he didn’t get a chance to succeed. Now the Nuggets are left hoping this surgery is the last one he needs and they can get the healthy version of MPJ as the max contract kicks in next year.

Best Moment - Post-season press conference

Sadly the best thing Nuggets fans got from Porter might have been his post-season interview. He seemed very positive and cognizant of what he needs to do: be healthy, be a contributor, work on staying locked in during off-games - all the things players learn as they become real pros. Porter wants to be great, and wants to bring a championship to Denver. Making those things happen is not the product developed for this year, but hopefully it will eventually be the outcome as both Murray and Porter return to full health for the future.

MPJ on having both him and Jamal be healthy: we can be a championship team. #Nuggets #MileHighBasketball @CBSDenver pic.twitter.com/nHpjNAHquB
— Michael Spencer (@MichaelCBS4) April 29, 2022

I asked MPJ about the Warriors and what he learned. He immediately went to the mental side of things and how even if they don’t make shots, they stay locked in defensively. Used Klay as an example. Said that was something he’s struggled with and wants to get better at.
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) April 29, 2022

Season Grade - Incomplete

There’s simply no way to evaluate Porter based on this season. He looked like a shadow of himself in the few games he did play, and with good reason. He can’t be evaluated on the court, and off the court he did the right things to rehab from injury and was a good and positive teammate despite those health concerns.

Wednesday vibes. Also, someone just give me MPJ back will ya? He's RIGHT there and if you can celebrate, you can play right? pic.twitter.com/YHsOz11OuY
— Gordon Gross (@GMoneyNuggs) February 17, 2022

MPJ’s heart is in the right place as a teammate. His offensive skills are absolutely unquestionable. But these are not gradable things when he’s in street clothes. Until he gets back on the court, no grade for Porter.

What does the future hold for Michael Porter Jr?

As he said in the press conference, Porter wants address the core of the issues he’s faced and not the symptoms. He (and coach Michael Malone) will have to prioritize his health to make sure he’s there to provide that deadly shooting and aggressive rebounding approach in the playoffs for years to come. Whether that means “load management” and not playing on back-to-backs this first year back, or setting minutes restrictions, some things will have to be settled on for his health - and Denver’s success. Nikola Jokic keeps playing every game he’s available, and Denver can’t run its Big 3 into the ground like that going forward, especially not with both Jamal Murray and MPJ coming back from these kinds of serious injury.

After his last back surgery he was healthy for 2 full years, and showed all the promise that had him slated for an early selection in a draft that had Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Deandre Ayton in the the top-5. MPJ’s talent is not in question, it’s simply a matter of whether his body will allow him to do the amazing things he is capable of, or whether his career will go the way of Brandon Roy and other talented players betrayed by injury. With what we know about his injuries and surgeries, there’s still no guarantee of future health or injury. He looked fine 3 years ago after his surgery, and from all accounts he looks good now. Denver needs to maximize not just Jokic’s seasons with Denver but also MPJ’s healthy ones. A championship is always long odds on a roulette table, but the Nuggets still have the chips to win the ultimate reward.

Porter has said he wants to work on the mental aspect of the game, to focus on being a better defender. Those things are easier when you can trust your body and your offensive game is back to being the finely-honed weapon it has been your entire life. There’s a lot of growth for Porter still to get to, but none of that happens without health. Without a crystal ball there’s no way to see if he’ll be granted that in the future, but if he is I can safely predict this: the rest will work itself out. Porter’s problem has never been with his talent, and that talent can still help Denver climb the mountains that have stalled them to this point.

Nuggets season in review: Davon Reed

2022-05-06T08:00:00-06:00

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Reviewing the 2021-22 season of Nuggets wing Davon Reed

The Story of the Regular Season:

Davon Reed was not a part of the opening day roster, he joined the Denver Nuggets for his first game of the season on December 4th versus the New York Knicks. Reed continued to surprise many, he ended up playing on 3 separate 10-day contracts this season. On January 9th, Reed was signed to a two-way contract for his contributions to the Nuggets. Davon Reed was not expected to be an impactful player but quickly proved to be a Coach Malone guy and was promptly rewarded with anywhere from DNP’s to 30 minutes played in a single night. Reed’s defense and hustle really stood out from any other Nugget player at times.

Reed came into the season playing for his 3rd team in 3 years. He was not expected to be a contributor to this Nuggets team when the season started but, with the team dealing with injuries and health & safety protocols he worked his way into being a standout rotation player. Reed makes his presence felt on defense all the time and when he is hitting his catch and shoot threes he is a near-perfect 3 and D player.

Did it Translate to the Playoffs?

No, Davon Reed was still signed to a two-way deal when the playoffs started. Not being on a full contract made it so Reed was not eligible to play in the playoffs. While the Nuggets could've used his defensive prowess versus the Golden State Warriors, Reed isn’t a series-changing player. Denver could’ve probably kept it closer with Reed on the court, but they elected to keep Facu Campazzo and Vlatko Cancar over Reed.

Best Moment- Jan 15th versus the Los Angeles Lakers:

Davon Reed had quite a few positive moments to choose from, he might’ve never taken over the game like a star but he always made winning plays. But nothing can top what he did against LeBron James and the Lakers in my opinion. While Reed only tallied 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and one steal, while shooting 57% FG and 75% 3P% he was one of the main reasons Denver won this game. Reed also finished with the second-highest +/- on the team with a + 33.

But, the best moment from this game is on the defensive side of the ball. Reed drew the LeBron matchup on a few separate occasions this game, they all ended badly for James. Bron finished with 25 points on 9/23 shooting, mostly guarded by Davon who also played the 4th most minutes by a Nuggets player. Nothing exemplifies what Davon does better than this clip below, never backing down, showing a fearless side on defense, and best of all hustling.

DAV N doesn't back down pic.twitter.com/FDmIJptsCC
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 16, 2022

Season Grade - B+

Reed gets a B+ for the expectations coming into the season compared to what we actually got from him. While Reed wasn't some super impactful player for Denver who played significant minutes every night, he still brought some valuable toughness and grittiness to Denver. Reed scored a career-high 17 points this season, he broke a career-high in every stat possible except steals during his 2022 campaign in Denver. Reed still has a long way to go if he wants to be a starter or big-time minutes guy in this league but, he is on the right track.

What does the future hold for Davon Reed?

Reed will need a new contract this offseason since his aforementioned two-way deal expires before the beginning of next season. I personally would love to see Reed back in Denver next year, I think he showed a lot of promise offensively and defensively and he would fill a hole Denver needs filled. There could also be a few other teams interested in Reed as 3 and D wings have become a premium in the current NBA. I doubt Reed will take another two-way contract as it is obvious he can provide valuable minutes to an NBA team, but it is not impossible that if he can't get a full contract somewhere he’ll return to hopefully play himself into a full-time contract. Reed proved last season that he can hang in this league and his talents can definitely be used somewhere if Denver isn't the place. I do firmly hope that Denver IS the place though.