There’s one way the Nuggets can survive the loss of Jamal Murray
Apr 14, 2021, 5:03 PM
In the days since Jamal Murray suffered a season-ending knee injury, the reactions from Nuggets Nation have fallen into one of two categories, both of which reside on the extreme ends of the spectrum. On one side, there’s the woe-is-us crowd, a group that laments the fact that the franchise has once again been beset by a bad break. On the other is the next-man-up brigade, a contingent that acts as though the highest-paid player on a roster can be replaced by Austin Rivers, Jeremy Lin or someone currently riding the pine.
There’s some merit to both arguments. Denver has been the victim of a lot of ill-timed injuries, misfortune that seems to strike just when the organization is on the cusp of making a championship run. And there is something to be said for turning the page, as no one else is going to feel sorry for a team just because one of their two best players has been placed on the shelf for the rest of the season.
As with most things, the best answer lies somewhere in the middle. It’s okay to be ticked off, as that can motivate people to find a solution. And it’s good to have some positivity, as that can also inspire problem solving. Finding the right mix of each is the key.
What’s that sweet spot for the Nuggets current situation? Where can they find a Ted Lasso-like approach to a difficult predicament?
Well, they can look at history. Throughout time, there have been plenty of examples of something that seemed like the worst thing at the moment turning into the best thing that ever happened in the long run.
Sometimes, it even comes in the form of an injury. Yes, one man’s pain can ultimate turn into another’s opportunity.
Heading into the 1996-97 season, the Spurs were coming off of back-to-back Midwest Division champs. They’d won 62 and 59 games, respectively, in the previous years, making them a prime contender in the Western Conference.
Then, David Robinson injured his back. He’d miss most of the season, only playing in six games before being sidelined again by a broken foot.
Without their big man, San Antonio struggled. They plummeted in the standings, finishing 20-62.
As a result, they had a few extra ping pong balls in the NBA Draft Lottery, a fact that proved fruitful. The Spurs landed the No. 1 overall pick, drafted Tim Duncan and would go on to win five NBA titles with the Wake Forest big man in their lineup.
Of course, the Nuggets aren’t in that kind of a position. They’re current the No. 4 seed in the West. They aren’t going to end up in the lottery. And even if they did, Duncan isn’t waiting there for them to pick.
Perhaps a better example is the 2001 Patriots. They started the season 0-2, on the heels of a 5-11 campaign, and things were looking bleak. Not only were they off to a bad start in the standings, but their franchise quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, had been knocked out of the previous game.
That moment, while not a good one for the QB, turned out to be a franchise-changing incident for the Patriots. When Mo Lewis knocked Bledsoe out for a few weeks with a concussion and internal bleeding, it forced New England to go with an unknown QB – Tom Brady.
The second-year quarterback would go on to lead New England to the Super Bowl that season, the first of nine he’d reach with the franchise. He’d help the Patriots win their first championship, one of six Lombardi Trophies he’d hoist as their quarterback.
Perhaps that type of history will be written by the Nuggets. Maybe, just maybe, everyone will look back at this moment in 10 years and see it as a pivotal point in the history of the franchise.
How can that happen? If Michael Porter Jr. becomes a star.
All season long, people have been talking about how the 22-year-old forward has to develop into Denver’s third option. For the team to take the next step, MPJ needed to become a consistent third option behind Nikola Jokic and Murray.
For the most part, he’s done just that, averaging 17.3 points and 7.8 rebounds for the season. And since March 1, he’s been even better, pitching in 20.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per night.
Now, he has to do even more. He’s no longer the team’s third option. Porter is now No. 2.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on a young player, but the Nuggets don’t have much of a choice. And MPJ certainly has the talent to live up to those types of expectations.
On the offensive end of the court, he can be impossible to guard. He’s 6-foot-10, making him too long for small forwards to defend. But his quickness to the basket and off the dribble make him tough for a power forward to check.
Defensively, his size also makes him a potential force. He can cause smaller players fits, cut off passing lanes with his wingspan and help protect the rim with his shot-blocking ability.
There’s a reason why people have compared Porter to Kevin Durant. At their size, with their shooting ability, they can’t be guarded in traditional ways.
Those are lofty expectations, as Durant is an MVP-caliber player who is headed to the Hall of Fame when his career ends. But the talent is certainly there; MPJ could reach that level.
Now, it just has to happen soon. The development curve has to be steeper. There’s no more time to defer to Jokic and Murray.
Batman needs a new Robin. Fortunately for the Nuggets, they have a player ready to fill that role, and perhaps more, on their roster.
If he does, maybe April 12, 2021 won’t go down as a dark day in franchise history after all. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll be the day the team was forced to reach new heights.
