Michael Malone started to dream big once the calendar flipped to April.<\/p>\n
The Nuggets were 2-0 since acquiring Aaron Gordon at the March 25 trade deadline. Denver blew out the Atlanta Hawks at home, and then two nights later took care of the Joel Embiid-less 76ers thanks to 30 points from Jamal Murray and a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double from Michael Porter Jr.<\/p>\n
The new-look Nuggets\u2019 first big test came on April 1 in Los Angeles against the Clippers, who suited up both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. In a 101-94 Nuggets win, Nikola Jokic had just 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, but all five Denver starters scored in double-figures. Murray tallied 23 points. Porter went for 20. Will Barton chipped in 19 points. In his third game in a Nuggets uniform, Aaron Gordon had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. His defense, specifically on Leonard, was superb.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that point in time, I really felt we had a chance to win it all this year,\u201d Malone said following the Nuggets\u2019 Game 4 loss to the Suns and around 20 minutes after Denver\u2019s season officially ended. \u201cI really did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malone\u2019s thought was the same one that permeated throughout Denver after that win over the Clippers. It was so obvious what the Nuggets had.<\/p>\n
Denver boasted the MVP of the league. At point guard they had a proven playoff star who was playing his best basketball of the season. Tim Connelly had made the all-in trade for the perfect two-way piece that could defend the high-scoring wings that were going to dot Denver\u2019s upcoming playoff path.<\/p>\n
All the pieces were in place. Everything fit.<\/p>\n
After returning from Los Angeles, the Nuggets rattled off seven straight wins, four of which came by double-figures. It was a special two weeks. If you lived it, you know. The Nuggets had the look, the feel, the aura of a championship team.<\/p>\n
But Denver\u2019s season came crashing down two games later. With 50.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets\u2019 April 12 loss to the Warriors, Murray tore his ACL and was lost for the season.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s amazing how fast things can change in the NBA. How in one split-second your championship foundation can crumble with one wrong step. There\u2019s no way to plan for it. There\u2019s no way to soften the blow. All of a sudden, it doesn\u2019t matter that Gordon fit as well on the court alongside Denver\u2019s Big 3 as he did on paper.<\/p>\n
You knew these Nuggets would continue to fight because that\u2019s just what they\u2019ve always done. Denver doesn\u2019t know any better. The Nuggets won nine of their next 10 as injuries to Denver\u2019s backcourt continued to shake up a rotation that was already in flux. They battled. They scrapped. They clawed. They inspired, until they just ran out of gas.<\/p>\n
In the end, the Suns were just too good, too talented, too well-coached, and too smart to not overwhelm Denver and take advantage of how shorthanded the Nuggets were. For the Nuggets to beat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games and closeout Damian Lillard on his home floor without their starting backcourt was nothing short of extraordinary. Nothing will ever be able to take that away from these Nuggets and this MVP.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s difficult to draw sweeping conclusions from this year based on the fact that so much went out the window after Murray was lost.<\/p>\n
It was an ultimate \u201cWhat if?\u201d season.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2013 Jokic was incredible. He was the best player in the NBA this season. You unsurprisingly saw signs of fatigue \u2014 both physical and mental \u2014 creep in at the tail end of Denver\u2019s run after Jokic played 109 of the last 109 games for the Nuggets since Aug. 1 of 2020. Jokic was third in the NBA in total minutes this season and was one of just 11 players to play in all 72 regular-season games.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2013 Gordon was everything the Nuggets envisioned him being (when Denver\u2019s roster was fully healthy). The Murray-Barton-Porter-Gordon-Jokic lineup appeared in only five games this season and played a total of 110 minutes. The Nuggets outscored their opponent by 43 points (281-238) when that group was on the floor. That lineup recorded a pristine 127.1 Offensive Rating, 108.7 Defensive Rating, and an 18.5 Net Rating. Gordon was just what the Nuggets needed.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2013 I can\u2019t see Denver being too perturbed by how Gordon finished the playoffs when thinking about his fit next season (he\u2019s under contract for the 2021-22 season) and potentially beyond. The Suns series wasn\u2019t pretty for him. Gordon converted just 41% of his field goals against Phoenix, shot 0-8 from three, and was just 5-18 from the field across Games 3 and 4. But when Denver \u2014 and I\u2019m really talking about just Murray here \u2014 was healthy, Gordon was great as the 4th or 5th scoring option. He was miscast as a second or third option in the playoffs. Then again, Murray\u2019s expected to miss much of next season and Gordon\u2019s offensive role could continue to be heightened, but I\u2019ve got more confidence in him scoring effectively in a regular-season environment than in the playoffs. He showed he could do that somewhat efficiently in April and May. Gordon was also great defensively in the playoffs. He was every bit as advertised on that end.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2013 Porter\u2019s season ended on a frustrating note as he wasn\u2019t able to carry the confidence and stability that he found late in the series against Portland over to the second round. He was up and down as a shooter throughout the postseason (41.5% vs. the Blazers and 37.5% vs. the Suns from three) and defensively needed to be better. It was yet another reminder of how different regular season and playoff defense can be. Porter made defensive strides throughout the 72-game season, but those went out the window at times in a playoff environment. Still, Porter\u2019s just 22-years-old and this was second NBA second season. He didn\u2019t miss a game this year due to injury and looked like a star in the regular season. If I\u2019m Denver, I\u2019m giving Porter a max rookie extension this offseason and not thinking too hard about it. He\u2019d still be tradeable on that contract too if the Nuggets wanted to move him down the line (I don\u2019t think the Nuggets have any desire to move him right now.) Porter said after Game 4 that one of his top offseason priorities is ball-handling, which he thinks can take his game to the next level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really admire some of the bigger wings who just are really really good ball handlers,\u201d he said. \u201cLike KD, or Paul Geoge, Kawhi, Jayson Tatum.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2013 You\u2019ve got to feel for Will Barton. What an unlucky turn. He has another really good regular season, is on track to be healthy in the playoffs for the first time since Denver has made the postseason, and gets injured again late in the year. Barton fought with the Nuggets\u2019 medical staff to increase his minute restriction ahead of Game 3 and then pleaded with Malone to let him play more. The result: Barton played 28 minutes in Game 3 and 39 minutes in Game 4. He was Denver\u2019s second-best player after coming back and led the Nuggets in scoring in Game 4.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2013 It\u2019s not a given that Barton will be back in Denver next season. He has a $14.6 million player option for next year that he has to decide on by July 31. After Game 4, Barton reaffirmed that he wants to be a starter when asked and said the talent and championship potential that the Nuggets have will play a role in his decision on whether or not he returns. My feeling is that Barton will pick up the option if he can\u2019t negotiate a long-term deal with Denver. Barton also explained what he wants in the next steps of his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust to be appreciated. Being in a winning environment, a chance to win,\u201d he said. \u201cJust to be myself, to play my game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2013 Monte Morris had a great playoff run and really stepped up as a playmaker and scorer when the Nuggets needed him to. I have to believe that what he was able to do in the postseason made some lasting impressions both in Denver and around the league. Facu Campazzo\u2019s rookie year was a success. PJ Dozier was very good this season and I think he\u2019s due for a bigger role next year. Paul Millsap\u2019s play really fell off in the playoffs and Denver can\u2019t count on him to be a 20+ minute per game rotation player next season. JaMychal Green has a $7.6 million player option for the 2021-22 season that I\u2019d be surprised if he turned down. JaVale McGee? He played four total minutes in the playoffs. I\u2019d welcome him back in a reserve role, but McGee could seek out more money and playing time elsewhere. The same goes for Austin Rivers.<\/p>\n
Real quick, back to that championship thought that crept into Malone\u2019s head at the beginning of April. It was also top of mind for Nuggets executives, staffers, and Denver\u2019s roster. There was a real, genuine, and honest line of thinking that ran through Ball Arena just over two months ago that this could be the year. The West was there for the taking and the Nuggets rightfully thought they had the pieces to emerge on top.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. Yes,\u201d Jokic said when I asked him after Game 4 if he shared Malone\u2019s sentiment back in April that the Nuggets could win the championship this season with a healthy Murray.<\/p>\n