Denver Nuggets: 3 goals for Jamal Murray in 2018-19

2. Improve defensively

Young guards are very rarely positive defenders in the NBA. As a result of the physicality, increased schemes and overall inexperience, it usually takes guards multiple years to become solid defenders in the league.

So far, that has been the story with Murray, who has the size and athletic ability to be an adequate defensive player in his career.

However, as a result of inexperience and lapses of focus, Murray was a detriment to Denver’s defense last season.

The 21-year-old guard posted a -2.0 defensive box plus-minus and a -2.33 defensive real-plus minus, good for 84th among point guards. Additionally, Denver’s defense was 1.6 points per 100 possessions worse when Murray was on the floor, highlight his inability to be a positively impactful defensive player.

At times, Murray can showcase solid defensive play, as he has the size at 6-4 to bother smaller guards on the perimeter and get around screens. What has been Murray’s downfall is inconsistent effort and lapses in awareness, two components that usually come with young guards in the league.

It’s no secret that the Nuggets have struggled defensively in recent seasons, making it even more important that Murray improve on that end of the floor. If Harris can take another step as a defender this season and Paul Millsap can stay healthy, Denver will quietly have two good defenders in their starting lineup. If Murray can become a passable defender at the point of attack, the Nuggets may actually crawl out of the basement dweller of team defenses in the league, an imperative step towards making the playoffs.