Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray is on a markedly improving trajectory this season, and his strong ... [+] performances are correlating highly with team wins.
Denver Post via Getty ImagesIn the Denver Nuggets’ win last Monday over the injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers, starting point guard Jamal Murray netted a season-high 34 points to lead all scorers in the game.
His performance showcased perhaps the strongest evidence so far that he’s closer than ever to regaining his previous form since recovering from the ACL injury he incurred on April 12, 2021, which sidelined him for well over a season and two Nuggets playoff runs.
Murray, Denver’s starting point guard and longtime co-pilot to back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic, had in fact not scored as many points in nearly two years, with his most recent 34-point (on the nose) performance dating back to less than a month before his injury.
The Blue Arrow’s big game against Los Angeles is not only a legitimate milestone in his rehabilitation process, but is also surely both another confidence-booster as he regains trust in his body and conditioning, and also a reorientation for the Nuggets that they have not only one superstar in Jokic (who carried the team with Herculean heroics in Murray’s absence), but arguably the NBA’s most lethal offensive duo in the form of their nearly unstoppable two-man game.
Jamal Murray Is Trending Up Bigtime
Murray’s fairly shaky and uneven start to the season was only to be expected after such a long absence from playing real live NBA basketball on the court. While there were flashes early in the season of “bubble Jamal” (a term which has now become shorthand for what is widely regarded as the thus-far career pinnacle of his performance in the 2020 playoffs), there were also stretches which appeared to be one step forward and two steps back.
That equation has clearly flipped in recent weeks, with Murray more and more consistently not only rediscovering his shooting rhythm, but also playmaking and defending at levels as good as, if not better than he’s seen in his overall career.
And it’s not only the “eye test,”, the numbers clearly back up Murray’s marked improvement over the course of this season.
Jamal Murray 2022-23 Statistics In His First 14 Games vs. His Next 20 Games
Data via NBA.comIn addition to overall counting stat production in points, rebounds and assists, Murray’s shooting and playmaking efficiency have seen an uptick across the board, with both his scoring and shooting percentages on the rise, as well as his assists.
The steady and steep upward trend this season in Murray’s cumulative true shooting percentage, which accounts for the added value of both three-pointers and free throws, is particularly noteworthy.
Jamal Murray 2022-23 Cumulative True Shooting Percentage
Data via Basketball-ReferenceAll of these advancements will inevitably plateau out at some point, of course, but considering the pace of Murray’s still-improving trajectory and his still-young age at 25 years old, the Nuggets should have a high degree of confidence that by the end of the regular season and the playoffs, their star point guard will not only have fully regained his previous form but stands a good chance of being even better.
When Murray Has Played Better, The Nuggets Have Won More
Denver is currently on an extended tear, having won 18 of their last 24 games (or 75%), and during that span putting in an NBA third-best net rating of plus-6.6 points per possessions, the overall league-leading offensive rating of 119.7, and a 12th-best defensive rating 113.1 – which, while obviously still not cracking the top ten, is a massive improvement over being 24th in defense up to that point, per NBA.com.
And while the eternal caveat of correlation not necessarily equaling causation should be kept in mind, the data does indeed show a very strong correlation this season between strong single-game Jamal Murray performances and Denver Nuggets wins, as the chart below shows.
Comparting Jamal Murray Game Scores and the Denver Nuggets' Point Differentials this season shows a ... [+] high correlation between Murray playing well and the Nuggets winning games.
Data via Basketball-ReferencePlotted here are the results of Basketball Reference’s “game score” metric, which they describe as “a rough measure of a player's productivity for a single game,” for each of his games, in comparison with the point differential in Nuggets game outcomes (wins in the plus, losses in the minus), The yellow horizontal line represents Murray’s average game score this season of 13.9. The number of each point on the chart is Denver’s game number this season, with games Murray did not play excluded.
When Murray has had a game score above his season average, the Nuggets have won 15 games and lost only three, for an absolutely dominant win percentage of .833.
Also worth noting is that the preponderance of Murray’s games above his personal average show a game number of 20 or higher, another clear indicator that his performance really cranked up in the second quarter of the season as opposed to the first.
On the aforementioned correlation versus causation caveat, it needs to be pointed out that the Nuggets’ recent surge also coincides with the return of forward Michael Porter Jr., who has played in Denver’s last 11 games since returning on December 23rd from an injury absence of about a month. Clearly, his re-addition has also given the Nuggets a boost, as has head coach Michael Malone figuring out a bench rotation which has stopped hemorrhaging points at its woeful early season rates when Nikola Jokic is resting.
But the link between Murray playing great and the Nuggets winning is strong, at least to this point in the season, and that is fantastic news for Denver, who desperately missed his contributions in their last two playoff runs.
The Nuggets have unambiguous championship aspirations this season, and a healthy, recovered, fully armed and operational Jamal Murray is proving to make those hopes all the more realistic.
Joel Rush, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joelrush/2023/01/13/as-jamal-murray-gets-his-groove-back-the-denver-nuggets-are-surging/
By: Joel Rush, Contributor
Title: As Jamal Murray Gets His Groove Back, The Denver Nuggets Are Surging
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/joelrush/2023/01/13/as-jamal-murray-gets-his-groove-back-the-denver-nuggets-are-surging/
Published Date: 01-14-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the first basket in the NBA?
Ossie Schectman, an American professional basketball player, scored the first basket in the Basketball Association of America. This was later to become the National Basketball Association. On November 1, 1946, the Toronto Huskies defeated the New York Knickerbockers to score the basket. Schectman's historic inaugural basket opened up the BAA’s inaugural season.
How long can a player stay on waivers for?
If an NBA player is let go by their team during the season, they are on the waiver. Waived athletes have 48 hours to claim another team. If the player is claimed by more than one team, priority will be given to the team with a poor record.
What is a buyout?
In the NBA, a buyout is a contract between a team or player. This agreement allows the team to pay the remainder of the contract amount the player was entitled. The agreement allows players to become free agent and sign with any team in league after their buyout is over. It also allows teams to shed salaries or change their roster composition during the season if they need to adjust.
Who is the NBA's best defender ever?
If you are familiar with basketball, it is not surprising to see "The Dream", at number one on this list. Hakeem Olajuwon was a 18-year veteran of the NBA and blocked 3,830 shots. That's more than any other player. He was also an All Defensive player 9 times and 2 times DPOY. His team won two NBA Championships. He was a formidable defender. His quickness, timing, athleticism and footwork allowed him to be an exceptional shot blocker, rebounder, and runner. He was a nightmare to opposing players because he could guard any position on court. He was also one the most offensive players. He was quick, agile, and had a wide range of spin moves that allowed him to score at the post. His versatility made him a great player and defender. There is no doubt that Hakeem Olajuwon deserves to be at the top of this list.
Bill Russell barely makes #2 on this list due to his average of 15.1 ppg, but he was the best defender during his era and gave opposing teams nightmares. Bill Russell is a legend, having won 11 NBA Championships during his career. He was a key component of the Boston Celtics' fantastic success, as his defensive prowess and rebounding ability were essential to their championship wins. His ability to anticipate plays and understand opponents' strategies made him an intimidating presence on the court, which is why he is considered by many as the most decorated defender in NBA history.
This is the third place list, with Dennis Rodman. He was one the most important players in NBA history. His contributions were always significant. Rodman's tough defense, rebounding skills, and ability to score without the ball allowed him to be a consistent winner for his team. Dennis Rodman was a seven time Rebounding Champ and an eight-time All Defensive Player. He was also a 2-time DPOY and a five-time NBA Champion. His defensive end skills were among the most impressive, with his determination and ability to stay in the right position at the correct time. He was also a skilled rebounder. He would often out-jump taller players, and take their boards away.
Statistics
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
External Links
sbnation.com
nba.com
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
si.com
- NBA Free Agency Preview. Biggest Rumors and Questions
- The NBA Bubble Is a Unique Experience
How To
Is there a better way to be drafted into the NBA than the traditional route?
The two options for becoming an NBA player include high school or college.
NCAA schools such as Duke University and North Carolina State University offer college-level educations. These schools offer four-years of education and training. This period teaches players how to handle the ball, shoot, and rebound. They learn how to run an offense and defense. They learn mental skills that are essential for professional athletes.
Prep schools are located outside the states where high school players live. These schools give athletes individual attention and develop talent. They teach players academics, character building, and sportsmanship.
Both types players must pass the identical physical tests to be eligible for the draft. The test includes running 40 yards, jumping above a 5'6" box and standing on one leg while throwing a football through the tire.
Players who pass these tests are then invited to participate in workouts at different NBA teams. Teams evaluate them based on their height, weight, wingspan, and speed.
Teams also consider their past experiences. For instance, if a player has played AAU basketball, he will likely receive preferential treatment.
Sometimes players considered too small or incompetent to play professionally can be called "one-and gotten" prospects. These players are usually chosen by the second round.
Some players skip college to join the NBA. These players are known as "prospects." Prospects don’t have to wait until the last year to declare their eligibility for the draft.
They can ask for an exemption to allow them to participate in the draft early. Prospects can apply for an exemption to be allowed to enter the draft early.
Prospects can improve their chances of getting selected by participating in summer leagues. Summer league games take place in July and August.
Scouts can see players live without having to worry about injuries.
The NBA Draft is held in June. The draft is where all the top prospects are evaluated by the NBA teams. Each team has a specific number of picks for each round.
The 15th overall selection is, for example, the pick 1 in the first round. The 60th pick in the third round is the 20th selection.
Teams make trades after the draft to complete their rosters. Some teams even hold mini-camp tryouts inviting potential draftees to train with them.
It is an exciting day on draft day! What happens next
Once the draft starts, you don't have to wait for your name in the call. Each NBA team selects players from the pool.
Once a team selects players, it sends them a contract which outlines their salary, playing times, and benefits. He is made a part of the organization.
He also gets a jersey with the name of his choice on the back, and a new uniform with his nickname.
Finally, he signs that contract. He officially joins NBA.
