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Chapter 1: How are the Nuggets performing without Nikola Jokic?
Nikola Jokic has been injured for a little bit now, and the Nuggets are surviving, though.
They're 3-2 without him, just finished the seven-game road trip. We were preparing for the worst. There have been some bad moments, but I mean, three and two and five games without Jokic is three and two and five games. They've been okay. They've survived. In your opinion, what's the biggest reason why that's happened?
Yeah, well, first of all, you take three and two every time. Really, all things considered. And you almost are looking back to that Cleveland game thinking they should have gotten four. That's a good point. They should be four and one. Probably should be four and one. I think there are two first layers to this.
And the first is, you know, Jamal Murray has shown this season that he's a true second star alongside Jokic. Yep. He's actually shown that he's a star right now, even without Jokic. I think no matter what, as long as one of those two guys are out there, the Nuggets have a star on the floor. And when you have a star on the floor, you have a chance.
The second layer to me, brother, is the ascension of Peyton Watson.
Mm-hmm. P. Watt, he's been kind of a revelation. Five straight games of 20-plus points coming without Jokic. He's shooting the ball from three. He's leveling up on offense. And he's doing this all without the best offensive player of all time. You know, the guy who gets him so many of those easy buckets. So I agree. P. Watt, he's been a huge reason why. And you can count on him at this moment.
That has never been the case, and that's a big reason why his offensive game has taken a leap. You know, in the past, he's had moments. Looking back to last season, he'd have games here or there. Maybe he's shooting the ball well one game. Maybe, you know, he's just finding he's the offense in another. 20 points in five straight games without Jokic is real. He's getting good shots.
He just is so settled as an offensive player. The game has really slowed down for him. I agree it's a huge reason why. Another huge reason why is how Jamal Murray has been playing this season, but also how his game has changed with Yoke out of the lineup. Obviously, no Yoke itch. Your mindset changes as a defense. Now you go, okay, who's the guy we have to stop?
Who's number one on our scouting report? Now it's Jamal Murray. He's getting double teamed, triple teamed, trapped all over the court, getting full court press for most of the game in some of these matchups. But he's altered his mindset in a brilliant way because now he's become mini-Yoke in a way. He's become the facilitator. Sets a career high in assists against the 76ers.
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Chapter 2: What impact has Jamal Murray had during Jokic's absence?
He has to stay aggressive enough to keep defenses honest, but then he also has to read what they're giving him and trust his teammates, and he's done that. And behind that, Peyton Watson being a willing second option. There are a couple of other names, though, Harrison. Two names in particular that I think are a huge factor here.
in these last five, Jalen Pickett and Zeke Najee, who have come in, and obviously the Philly game is the biggest example where they were without all their guys, and those two stepped up. Even in that Boston game as well, Zeke Najee was tremendous defensively, tremendous. This has been a wild development, man.
It's remarkable, brother. We thought he was done. I mean, and look, you're really never done in the NBA, especially when you're on that type of contract, because you're going to be on a roster. And if the two starting centers in front of you go out, you're going to have to play. But nobody saw this coming. I mean, even from the little spot minutes he's gotten this season, it hasn't been good.
But now he knows he's got a runway. Now he knows he's got... the trust of the coaching staff, at least to a level where he's going to be out there for 20 minutes because they need him. And the results are there. A hundred percent.
He's been really good defensively.
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Chapter 3: How has Peyton Watson emerged as a key player for the Nuggets?
His three point shots looking a little better. He had some stuff going at the rim down the stretch against Boston, which is like the Dr. J reverse in Philly, Philly.
Paying homage to Dr. J with that up and under was, I mean, I know Joel Embiid had no idea what just happened.
I mean, we didn't know. I didn't know he could do that. And then last night, dude, he had a dunk against Boston in the fourth. That was probably the most confident thing he's done in five years. I know. It was unbelievable. And then Jalen Pickett, man. It's just, look, the Nuggets have needed more ball handling off the bench or behind Jamal Murray.
He's kind of emerging as a guy who you can put some responsibility on his shoulders. The way he emerged in that Philly game, a completely different player. He just looked so different, so bouncy and saucy off the dribble. I didn't know Jalen Pickett could do that right now.
You didn't know he could go eye-to-eye with Joel Embiid and almost make a former MVP fall? Fall. I think three, maybe four times in that game.
A couple threes in his face. Dragged him out on an island. And so that's like the Philly game, yes. But then both of those guys contributed the Boston win as well.
They're really stepping up. It's amazing just what confidence can do for you. Yes. I mean, Jalen Pickett found confidence early in that game against the 76ers, and that's carried over for the last three days into the Boston game. Same with Zeke Nagy. They know they're going to play. They know David Adelman has trust in them. It's just pretty amazing what that can do for you.
The other thing for me is just kind of the edge the Nuggets are playing with right now. And I've gone back to this a lot, but that Peyton Watson quote from the Raptors win where he pretty much just said, nobody thinks we're any good without Jokic. People think we're a lottery team. People are just going to say this is one lucky win.
And look, based on the history, that is what people would say, and they'd be right to say that. We've said that many times. The Nuggets are a terrible team without Nikola Jokic in the lineup. Guys know that. Guys know the narrative. Guys know people say that. And I love how he came out and said that publicly and pretty much just said, look, man, we hear the noise.
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