Five Takeaways from Denver’s final seeding game against the Toronto Raptors

• Starters have trouble defending the perimeter again

• Jamal Murray gets some threes to go down

• PJ Dozier shows a litany of skill

• Mason Plumlee is hosting a block party

• Bol Bol shows incredible flashes but has a long way to go

Here are my five (short) takeaways from a glorious check against the Toronto Raptors:

Perimeter defense is not much and far between

In their last playoff game for the 2020 bubble playoffs, the Denver Nuggets allowed another team to shoot a high three-point percentage, which was head coach Michael Malone over the post-game. The Raptors shot 51.4% of three as a team, hitting 18-of-35 from the perimeter on some contested, some undisputed shots.

I tend to think some of Denver’s lower three defensive possessions from Denver will be eliminated in the playoffs. The Nuggets will be playing their beginners heavier minutes, and we’ve seen Denver included in the most important regions of the season. In addition, Denver has been at the receiving end of some unlucky hot shots by the opposition this season, so it should at least regress a bit.

Malone seems to care, but the Nuggets starters are also right in that they know how to include themselves. Whoever finishes with MORE right will determine the playoff future of Denver.

Jamal Murray finally got some threes to fall

Before today, Murray shot 23.5% on threes in the bubble in his first three games. A quick 3/3 burst in his 11 minutes today brought that initial percentage up almost 35%. Murray’s shot looks good, and after missing something bad against the Jazz and Lakers, he seems to form a bit with his jumper.

The Nuggets will need the best version of Murray they can get if they want to have a chance in bubble play. Michael Porter Jr. has stolen a bit of the spotlight, but before coronavirus expelled the NBA, Murray averaged nearly 22 points and six assists per game on efficient three-point shooting in the 15 games that led to the hiatus. If he also returns to that level with Porter on the floor, the Nuggets are dangerous.

Photo by Garrett Ellwood / NBAE via Getty Images

PJ Dozier shows up in an excellent playoff audition

The only player for the Nuggets who was consistently good through this game was Dozier. The three-year-old combo guard had 20 points and eight assists from the bank on 6-of-9 from the field, 5-of-6 from three, and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. He was efficient with basketball and had only one turnover per day. At the end of the match, it was clear that Dozier did not hear on the floor during the garbage time, as he was seen as the best player on the floor for several minutes in a row.

With Gary Harris and Will Barton potentially out ahead, the Nuggets need to find players who can step up and offer consistent minutes in their place. Porter was the most striking player, but Dozier also took advantage of his opportunities. In the bubble, Dozier averaged 10.3 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 47.6% from three-point range. The plus-minus is not good, but the production is excellent, and it is clear that the Nuggets have a potential participant in the playoffs in Dozier.

Mason Plumlee was the replacement

It hasn’t been a big bubble for Mason Plumlee. The Nuggets have been fighting with him on the floor instead of Jokic, which is understandable considering Jokic’s skill set and importance. The Nuggets need great things from Plumlee these moments because he has a lot of pressure on him.

Today he delivered on the defensive end. He hustled around the perimeter as much as anyone who tried to run offensive players off the three-point line, and when he challenged shots to the edge, he did so well. Plumlee finished with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, and four blocks on the day, which underscores just how much he ran and did what he could to give the Nuggets a boost.

Like I said above, the Nuggets Plumlee will need to be at their best in the playoffs. If he is not, it changes everything the Nuggets have built their bench offense and overall rotation. I hope they don’t have to change things so drastically, but I think they will.

Photo by Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

Bol Bol is so talented and so unrefined

It’s really crazy that Bol fell to the 44th choice in the draft of 2019. Despite injuries red flags as worries about effort, the talent level is unbelievably high. He continues to make impressive plays at both ends of the floor in these checks that indicate that his ceiling is something we have not seen before. The shooting approach, the shot blocks at the edge and on the perimeter, and even the skills of the open court are special.

The passing acumen was something I did not expect. Being 7’2 with arms the length of a four-door sedan certainly helps, but his vision, intuition and natural ability to execute passes is what the Nuggets need to cultivate going forward. Denver has always officially fought without Jokic on the floor, but give Bol some play and responsibility on the floor on center and center and I think Denver’s offense will flourish as a rule.

The defense generally remains a concern, and its lack of strength stood out today against some strong guards and attackers on the bench of Toronto when Bol shot at both ends. Still, it was pretty encouraging to see Bol continue to do so. He finished with eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and three blocks in 15 consecutive minutes from the bench to end the game.

If this is the last time we see Bol for next season, it will have been a pleasant run. The rookie was extremely fun, and Denver’s ceiling is limitless as he carpeted his potential.