“With our success comes the responsibility to go out on the field and perform to a standard of excellence…”
-Michael Malone
Before the Denver Nuggets hung the banner, Michael Malone issued a new challenge to the defending champions. “With our success comes the responsibility to go out on the field and perform to a standard of excellence,” Malone told a packed press room. A ceremony was in place to honor the Denver Nuggets, but their leader was already focused on moving forward. He called on them to honor themselves and their fans by living up to the standards they set in June. There’s no better way to describe how the Nuggets approached their first win of the new campaign.
Nikola Jokic – A+
Vlatko Cancar once explained why Jokić is much more competitive than people think. Years ago, in the Nuggets locker room, he tried to paint a picture of me that everyone sees now. Jokić hates losing. He hates to fail. And even though he will never recognize the weight of a star-versus-star matchup, always redirecting the conversation to that of the basketball team, he feels a responsibility to his teammates. It’s his job to outperform the best players in the world.
It’s something Jokić does regularly now, and he did it again during a night in the ring with Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers in town. The match was perfect for the stage. The WCF sweep is the glaring backdrop, but there’s so much more when these teams face off. Davis is arguably the best defender in the league, and there was a time early in Jokić’s career when he hadn’t yet figured out Davis. I think that bothered Jokić, and I think we got a rare glimpse of personal basketball starting at 3 p.m. on opening night.
He would never have explicitly stated it, but Jokić seemed determined to dominate every second he shared the floor with Davis. He even looked at open shooters to score. He was merciless. Jokić had an easy triple-double as the starters showed once again why they are on a different level.
Jamal Murray-A+
Murray was called up on opening night. He reached new heights as a cerebral player, and it showed again when he and Jokić dissected the Lakers. He prioritizes his playmaking abilities on the ball and staying ready to shoot off the ball. He is unwavering in his scoring opportunities and generous in the way he manipulates defensive attention. He even took command of the revamped second unit Tuesday evening. This unit is a work in progress, but there is hope — especially if Murray can draw attention and draw fouls like he did from the Lakers. He and Jokić played excellent matches from start to finish, and they were almost perfect in the most important moments. The league’s best two-person match picked up right where they left off.
PCC – A+
KCP is now a two-time NBA champion and a certified Denver Nuggets legend. Once a vital contributor to the Los Angeles Lakers, he is now a real thorn in their side. He gave up 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting Tuesday night. This is money found from a player acquired to improve the perimeter defense. While we’re on the subject, Pope also won the first DPOG channel of the season. He’s a rare player in the modern NBA – a veteran who still makes a living on his motor. Few players work harder over 82 games.
Aaron Gordon – A+
Speaking of engines, AG left his mark on the entire victory. He offered a delicious mix of bully bull, ball forward and high-intensity defense. Gordon has long been an overlooked point guard, and he is improving with time spent with Jokić. Even though he has honed his game to one that is primarily responsible, we still see flashes of ingenuity with the ball in his hands. It simply removes wasted property by chasing its shot. Gordon improves by getting smarter, just like he promised.
Michael Porter Jr. – B+
After returning from a sprained ankle and missing the preseason, Porter looked rusty. He struggled from deep, shooting just 2 of 9 from the floor despite his first attempt of the game. But Porter knows what to do in this situation. He rebounded, defended and ultimately closed the game for Malone and the Nuggets. He finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and zero turnovers. After the match, Malone expressed his pride in Porter’s performance:
“We don’t recruit specialists here. Michael is a complete basketball player.
Reggie Jackson-B–
The Denver Nuggets are arguably the most organized group in the NBA. And then there’s Reggie Jackson. Reggie is an agent of chaos. Chaos worked in Denver’s favor on ring night. He made enough tough shots, and while the Lakers hounded him on defense, he was at least competitive on that end. Still, his minutes on the court with Murray will likely be a rollercoaster this season.
Christian Braun – B-
Braun returned to the lineup and into his promised spot in the rotation. He’s brimming with confidence these days, as anyone would be if they were stacking titles like he is. That confidence was visible when he blocked LeBron James and flexed a little for the crowd. The box score only sometimes reflects its usefulness, but it’s essential to the second unit’s identity: defending, rebounding and running like there’s no tomorrow. Braun was born for this.
Peyton Watson-C
Opening night went well for the youngest player on the team. After receiving his ring, he spoke as part of the rotation. That’s a big step for a young player, and while his scoring was relatively barren, he showcased his defensive potential with an A+ block. It’s only one play, but it was the exclamation point on a nice defensive possession for the second unit. This is a perfect example of what he can offer.
Zeké Nnaji – C
Fresh off his new expansion, it would be an exaggeration to say that Nnaji played well. But it would be a mistake to pretend he didn’t look the part. Nnaji’s switchability is a crucial element in the second unit’s plan. They have to defend themselves and ruin everything. They’re not going to cruise there. Nnaji can help them do this.
