Plumlee steps up for Nuggets
Big man gets rhythm on court covering for injured starters
PORTLAND, ORE.» Mason Plumlee is not afraid to raise his voice. He knows he needs to play traffic cop in the middle, barking commands to teammates as the last line of the Denver Nuggets’ defense.
The best part of that task for Plumlee? Teammates are responding, a sign of their growing comfort and chemistry with the big man who has filled in admirably as a spot starter with the recent injuries to Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic.
“It’s rhythm,” Plumlee said. “There’s something (with) playing that you can’t really get in practice or anywhere else. You just get on the floor with your teammates and you figure it out.”
When the Nuggets last visited Portland — where Plumlee played for parts of two seasons — he openly acknowledged he was still awaiting an increased opportunity in Denver. He had been traded from the Trail Blazers to the Nuggets at last season’s deadline and signed a lucrative contract extension in the offseason.
But his minutes during the season’s first month were inconsistent, as Denver coach Michael Malone attempted to sort through a big-man logjam that also included Kenneth Faried and Trey Lyles. Plumlee did not score or play beyond the first quarter against his former team on Nov. 13. Malone publicly floated the idea that he might still need to cut his post rotation by one more player.
Two games later, Millsap tore a
ligament in his left wrist that required surgery. Less than two weeks after that, Jokic sprained his ankle and missed seven contests. Enter Plumlee, who in his past 15 games entering Friday’s rematch with the Trail Blazers had averaged 23 minutes — more than seven minutes above his season average — while emerging as a staple in a fluid starting lineup.
Plumlee finished in double figures in three of his past five games entering Friday and compiled his second doubledouble of the season (13 points, 10 rebounds) Wednesday against Minnesota. He also had six assists, giving him three or more assists five times during the 15game span, a product of teammates knowing when and how to cut to the basket to receive one of his passes.
But Plumlee has been praised most for his “outstanding” interior defense. He has brought physicality to stay in position against stars such as DeMarcus Cousins, the versatility to come up to the high post and the athleticism to make plays as a rim protector. Malone, though, most lauds Plumlee’s effort on that end of the floor.
“That gets lost a lot,” Malone said. “Defensively, it’s: How committed are you to running and defending and executing?”
Even when Jokic returned to Denver’s starting lineup Wednesday against the Timberwolves, Plumlee remained part of that group to match up against the size of Karl-Anthony Towns and Taj Gibson. Friday against Portland, he was set to guard Jusuf Nurkic, the player he was swapped for last season.
And he’s ready to play more traffic cop, especially now that his teammates are responding to his commands in the middle.
“I’ve always felt comfortable,” Plumlee said. “I think it’s more just guys comfortable playing with me.”
Footnote. Nuggets starting shooting guard Gary Harris, who missed Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota with an elbow contusion, returned Friday at Portland. Backup point guard Emmanuel Mudiay missed his third consecutive game with a sprained ankle but went through contact portions of Friday’s shootaround. Coach Michael Malone expressed optimism that Mudiay could play against the Warriors.