Murray ‘not stressing’ following 1-3 road trip
Star guard says Nuggets focused on getting healthy
Worried? Jamal Murray wouldn’t even entertain the thought.
In the wake of Wednesday’s demoralizing loss to the lowly
Wizards, Murray erupted for a career-high 50 points against Cleveland on Friday night.
On Sunday night, the Nuggets (16-14) suffered another perplexing loss at Atlanta, which included allowing 37 points in the second quarter. If there is a silver-lining to the Covid-crunched schedule, it’s that the unrelenting games haven’t allowed time to dwell.
And rather than belabor the defensive lapses — and there were many, as the Nuggets allowed Trae Young to get loose for 35 points and 15 assists — Murray took the big-picture approach while jousting with reporters over Zoom after the game.
“Some days you lose, some days you win,” Murray began. “Some days you miss shots, some days you make every shot. Some days one team plays better than you when you know you’re a better team. Some days it’s the other way around. … It’s a long season. We’re not stressing.
“You guys know we can beat the teams we need to beat. You guys know we’ll be in the playoffs. Doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’ll give it our best shot. The mood is just to get healthy.”
On Sunday, the Nuggets were without Gary Harris (adductor), Jamychal Green (shoulder), Paul Millsap (knee) and PJ Dozier (hamstring).
That thrust rookie Zeke Nnaji into a starting role against the Hawks’ bouncy frontcour t.
When Michael Por ter Jr. got in early foul trouble, Nuggets coach Michael Malone resorted to Bol Bol, who hadn’t played meaningful minutes in weeks.
The second unit so far has been a rotating cast of characters, most of whom weren’t even on the Nuggets last season.
“We got a lot of bodies out,” Murray said. “You guys don’t take that into consideration sometimes. We got a lot of guys out. We have Thrill (Barton) playing the four. Bol hasn’t played all season, getting in there and doing a great job. Sometimes it’s a chemistr y thing.”
Murray’s point was valid. There can’t be the same expectations cast upon Nnaji and Bol as there are upon Green and Millsap, two playof f-tested veterans.
And Murray was right in another regard, too.
When the Nuggets falter against teams with worse records — Washington, Sacramento (twice) — it’s almost always because their defense betrays them.
“I never think it’s our offense,” Murray said. “… Make other teams have to think about the shots they’re taking. … We gotta worry about our defense and let that fuel our of fense.”
The Hawks converted 13 turnovers into 20 points on Sunday night.
In the three games (1-2) leading into the Atlanta game, opponents were averaging 23.3 points off Denver turnovers — the fifth-worst rate in the NBA.
So while Denver’s offense is always potent, it’s also their carelessness with the ball that’s yielded easy scoring chances.
It was on that last point that Murray chose to banter with The Denver Post.
“What you think, Mike?” Murray asked. “You’re writing the stories. I’m just asking a simple question.”
After suggesting that the team has a tendency to beat themselves, Murray agreed.
“Everything you said is right, man,” he said. “… We beat ourselves. We give ourselves a chance until we don’t give ourselves a chance. … We’ve got a young team tr ying to step into a big role.”
But then, as is customary, Murray relayed a confidence that’s never wavered.
“We’ll be all right, man,” he said. “I love our squad.”