Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets: NBA Insider Players will be returning to Denver in the next week ahead of a short training camp before the team’s trip to Abu Dhabi in early October signals the unofficial start of the season. Here are three players who will make or break the Nuggets’ bid for a second title in the last three seasons. Jamal Murray There is arguably no player who’s more important for his team’s outlook than Denver’s starting point guard.
If the Nuggets get Bubble Murray or Champ Murray, there’s reason to believe Denver has as good a shot as any team to host another parade next summer. If injuries continue to be an issue and inconsistency becomes the norm, it’s going to be nearly impossible to maximize the remainder of Nikola Jokic’s prime given Murray’s recent contract extension. Murray’s been the perfect complement to the three-time Most Valuable Player when healthy.
The pressure is squarely on Murray to start the season. Fortunately for the Nuggets Murray has a way of rising to the moment more often than not. Russell Westbrook Even if Murray’s at his best, the Nuggets are going to need a solid option off the bench.
That’s been almost as big of an issue as back-up center the last few seasons. Denver doesn’t have the luxury of sliding another starter to the one-guard postion when Murray sits like it can use Aaron Gordon in the non-Jokic minutes, especially in the playoffs. That .