Sports Illustrated - 21.10.2019

(Brent) #1
* NEW ACQUISITION

They didn’t make a
lot of moves in the
offseason—they have
their hand and they’re
just gonna play it. If
PAUL MILLSAP is healthy
and with NIKOLA JOKIĆ
being who he is, I
imagine them being
right there at the top

again.... I do like the
pickup of JERAMI GRANT,
who gives them some
interesting versatility
up front.... It wouldn’t
shock me if Jokić won
MVP. He’s gonna put up
numbers, and it doesn’t
many any sense how
he does it. He is such a
unique talent that he’ll
be fine even though
he can’t guard on the
perimeter.... They’ve

taken big swings in the
draft with guys people
have almost forgotten
about and don’t realize
how talented they are.
If MICHAEL PORTER is back
to who he was [after
missing last season
with a back injury], he’s
a starter. I’ve seen him
do some stuff when
he’s locked in. He was
my No. 1 [pick] at one
point; he’s that good.

Very good rebounder,
can shoot it and
handle it.... They’re
the perfect regular-
season team, but in
the playoffs you need a
perimeter guy you know
can go get a bucket,
bail you out and make
plays. JAMAL MURRAY
has the potential. GARY
HARRIS is a very good
player, but he’s not
that guy.... I like MASON

PLUMLEE. He passes it
well and, man, if he
could just shoot, he’d
be at a whole different
level. He’s a versatile
center, athletic, just
doesn’t make a ton of
noise scoringwise....
They can play a lot of
ways. I wouldn’t be
surprised if they’re a
top-two seed, but they
still have to make that
championship leap.

Projected Lineup
Bench

As they comfortably rode Nikola
Jokić (then 23) and Jamal Murray (21)
to 54 wins and the conference semis,
it was easy to forget that the Nuggets
were the youngest team in the
playoffs, with an AVERAGE AGE OF 24.9 and only
one regular, Paul Millsap, over 30. In the offseason
Denver added versatile forward Jerami Grant (a
relatively ancient 25) and will most likely introduce
6' 10" redshirt rookie Michael Porter (21).
The scary part is that the Nuggets need not
hurry; they’re impeccably positioned to have years
of success. The 7-foot Jokić, who finished fourth in
the MVP voting, is unquestionably the NBA’s best-
passing center and may be its best playmaker, full
stop. Murray is a burgeoning star, wholly unafraid
of big moments. Both are signed to long-term
deals. It will be expensive to keep the rest of the
roster together, and the Nuggets might still be too
young to win it all, but it’s intoxicating to consider
how good they could become. —Jeremy Woo

24.9


TELLING NUMBER


ENEMY LINES
A rival scout weighs in

PF
JERAMI
GRANT*
13.6 PPG; 5.2 RPG;
49.7 FG%; 39.2 3FG%

SG
MALIK
BEASLEY
11.3 PPG; 2.5 RPG;
47.4 FG%; 40.2 3FG%

C
NIKOLA
JOKIĆ
20.1 PPG; 10.8 RPG;


  1. 3 APG; 51.1 FG%


PAUL
MILLSAP
12.6 PPG; 7. 2 RPG;
2.0 APG; 48.4 FG%

PF

Starters
SF
TORREY
CRAIG
5.7 PPG; 3.5 RPG;
1.0 APG; 44.2 FG%

GARY
HARRIS
12.9 PPG; 2.8 RPG;
42.4 FG%; 33.9 3FG%

PG
JAMAL
MURRAY
18.2 PPG; 4.8 APG;
43.7 FG%; 36.7 3FG%

SG

89

JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (JOKIC); JAMIE SCHWABEROW (HARRIS)


DENVER
2018 – 19 RECORD 54– 28 1st in Northwest
Nuggets COACH MIKE MALONE 5th season with Nuggets

∂57 wins ∂Lose conference finals ∂Nikola Jokić will lead the league in triple doubles.

THE
WEST

Crystal Ball:

Free download pdf