Offense turning stagnant without Harris
OKLAHOMA CITY» Nikola Jokic dropped a game-high 29 points on Toronto’s stingy defense Tuesday, using a blend of high-arching jumpers and finishes inside while also pulling down 16 rebounds (six offensive) and dishing out eight assists. But coach Michael Malone believes the Nuggets’ standout big man should have had an even better game, had the ball not gotten so “stuck” on the offensive end.
As they continue to grasp at their slim playoff hopes with seven games to play, the Nuggets are searching to revitalize their usually potent offense that has turned stagnant without injured leading scorer Gary Harris over the past two games of this seven-game road trip that concludes Friday in Oklahoma City.
“(We need to) just get back focused, get back to having fun, get back to moving the ball and sharing it,” Jamal Murray said. “We’re not trusting each other with the ball. We’ve got to keep that thing flying and make the extra pass.”
Denver’s offense that ranked second in the NBA in February in efficiency (116.8 points per 100 possessions) has dipped slightly to sixth in the league over the past six games (112.9 points per 100 possessions). But with a poor defense — which has particularly struggled guarding the 3point line — allowing 113.6 points per 100 possessions over the same stretch, Denver has a negative net rating of minus-0.7 on this trip. That’s been most evident in the second half, when the Nuggets have been outscored 128-7 over those consecutive losses to the Raptors and Philadelphia.
Missing Harris — who is averaging 17.7 points per game and has fantastic cutting synergy with Jokic — for the duration of this road trip is certainly at the root of Denver’s struggles. But Malone has cited recent examples of when a system that typically thrives on free-flowing ball movement has force-fed Jokic or Paul Millsap in the post. Or resulted in guards such as Murray and Will Barton — who were a combined 10-of-33 from the floor against Toronto — pulling up for a quick 3 in transition. Or in a player taking on a crowd in the lane late
“(We need to) just get back focused, get back to having fun. … We’re not trusting each other with the ball. We’ve got to keep that thing flying and make the extra pass.”
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray
in the shot clock, such as when Wilson Chandler forced a 13-foot pull-up with Denver down seven and 4:14 remaining Tuesday.
“If you dribble three times, you’re wrong,” Malone said.
Added Murray: “Whoever had the ball first (in Toronto), we were standing there watching.”
Since being benched for the fourth quarter of a March 6 loss at Dallas, Jokic has averaged 23.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists over 11 games. After a clunky initial reintegration process, Millsap has shown flashes, with efficient outings at Toronto (20 points, 9-of-12 shooting) and Chicago (22 points, 8-of-9 shooting). But the backcourt tandem of Murray and Barton has been inconsistent without Harris. Malone believes the sporadic offensive stretches have led to letdowns on the defensive end.
With Harris still out Friday in Oklahoma City, the Nuggets’ continued search to revitalize their offense at the most crucial point of the season will continue without their leading scorer.
“These guys are playing with tremendous freedom,” Malone said. “We just have to do a better job of playing the right way within that freedom.”