[ad_1]
Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell continue to amaze
The best and most competitive series of this first round of NBA playoff action has been between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray have been performing absolute offensive masterpieces for the first six games.
Mitchell and Murray have made NBA history by becoming the first opposing player duo to score at least 50 points twice in the same series. This series has been full of ups and downs proving that each game is its own unique entity. However, with the Nuggets winning the previous two games, they may have the momentum for the crucial Game 7 on Tuesday.
Jamal Murray has really grown in these playoffs from a decent offensive point guard to an elite point guard capable of taking over games, especially when it matters most in the fourth quarter. Looking at Murray’s scoring in the fourth quarter in the Nuggets’ three wins, the talented guard has added 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 1, 16 in the fourth quarter of Game 5 and 21 points in the fourth quarter. to crown. of an epic 50-point performance in Game 6.
Murray is clearly playing for more than himself, as he was overwhelmed by emotions during the post-game interview with footage of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in their basketball shoes. After the brief boycott of the NBA in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, the NBA continues to shed light on the continuing racial injustice and police brutality plaguing America.
These games allow fans to appreciate these athletes for their skills on the court and for their powerful voices off the court.
The Nuggets still run many of their offensive sets through Nikola Jokic, but Murray has become their favorite scorer and has developed great on-court chemistry with Jokic, allowing him to become a great engine off the ball and he is very adept at creating his own. Shooting. Mitchell has been equally brilliant with the ability to pull up 3 and get into lane to foul at will.
Both Mitchell and Murray have gifted fans with incredible offensive games and have even come up short despite their heroic efforts with Mitchell scoring 57 in a Game 1 loss, 44 in a Game 6 loss and Murray scoring 50 in a loss. Game 4.
Murray has clearly improved his game during the break and seems to have developed the killer instinct that all great scorers have. Murray is excellent at crossing his defender in order to free himself for a 3-point attempt. Murray may not be the fastest, but he’s cunning and cunning enough to create the space he needs to shoot. Mitchell is a more forceful player who uses explosive movements and a tall vertical to get to his places.
Mitchell continues to flourish into a three-level scorer who can take over games with his powerful attacks to the basket or stretch the defense with his accurate three-point shots. Both Murray and Mitchell have proven to be more than capable of taking a 3-step back and can jump in for points at any time.
While Mitchell doesn’t have the supporting cast that Murray does, Mike Conley’s return from paternity leave, Joe Ingles’s two-way game, and Rudy Gobert’s rim protection have helped the Jazz to three wins against more talented Nuggets. . equipment. The Nuggets have done a great job taking Gobert out of the paint with Jokic playing a lot on the perimeter, whether it’s shooting 3s or starting the offense.
The x factor for the Nuggets is still Michael Porter Jr. Porter Jr. is clearly a talented young player, but he has yet to contribute at a consistent level. During bubble play, Porter Jr. has shown the ability to be a great cutter off the ball that is aided by Jokic’s skilled passing. Porter Jr. has also shown that he can be a three-level scorer and could end up being his most talented player in a few years.
However, with Murray and Jokic leading the way, Porter Jr. is not trusted to be a 20-point-per-game scorer. While Murray was injured, Porter Jr. really showed his entire offensive arsenal and reminds me of a taller Devin Booker. During the regular season bubble game, Porter Jr. had 4 consecutive games of 37, 30, 27 and 23 points and the team was 3-1 in those games.
But, when Murray returned, Porter Jr. sat in the background and watched his score drop. His best playoff game was during a blowout loss in Game 2, 124-105 when Porter Jr. walked away by 28 points.
If the Nuggets want to become an elite team, Porter Jr., Murray and Jokic are most likely averaging 20-25 points per game. Add Bol Bol to the mix and the future of this Nuggets team is even more intriguing. His present has also been the bubble’s most entertaining first-round series against a worthy opponent in the Utah Jazz.
[ad_2]
