Starting 5: PG Jamal Murray, SG Christian Braun, SF Cameron Johnson, PF Aaron Gordon, C Nikola Jokić
Net Rating/Record: plus-11.0 (92 total possessions), 1-2 overall
The record doesn’t necessarily show it, although the Denver Nuggets still have one of the best starting fives in all of basketball. Unfortunately, a questionable bench has helped contribute to a modest 3-3 record to begin the year.
Murray, not Jokić, has led the offensive charge for Denver, averaging a career-high 27.3 points to go along with 5.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals and a sparkling 51.9 percent mark from outside the arc. His workload will need to be monitored, however, as Murray’s 38.3 minutes per game lead the NBA.
Christian Braun is enjoying a bounce-back season (15.2 points, 2.3 steals, 40.6 percent from three) and Jokić is still arguably the NBA’s best player, even if his raw numbers are down.