Denver Nuggets: Monte Morris at his best throughout injury stretch

Entering December, Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris was enjoying a wildly successful season. It appears he saved his best for when injuries hit.

In crunch time Tuesday night, the Denver Nuggets deployed the following lineup: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangomez, Mason Plumlee … and 15th roster spot signee Monte Morris.

But then again, has any part of Denver’s 2018-19 season proven predictable?

At 21-9, the Nuggets sit atop the Western Conference. The hot start appeared doomed once Paul Millsap and Gary Harris were snake-bitten in consecutive games.

Apparently, no one told the Nuggets. The shorthanded squad kept rolling, sweeping a tough four-game home-stand. During this stretch, they dispensed the Oklahoma City Thunder (third place in the West), and the Toronto Raptors (first in the East) in back-to-back games.

Denver’s “next man up” mentality is lifting them to historic heights. The squad recently tied its franchise-best start through 30 games. Picking up the pieces is point guard Monte Morris.

Not long ago, Morris was frequently referred to as, “Who’s that?”

Essentially a rookie, Morris plays far wiser than his 23 years. His 6.2 assist-to-turnover ratio currently leads the NBA. One thing has become clear in his extended minutes: The dude can ball.

Noah Schulte of Hashtag Basketball speaks regarding Morris’ feel for the game:

"“At first glance, he’s just an everyday floor general: dishing it off to the open man, hitting spot-up 3s, and playing hard-nosed defense. It’s only when you really start watching the way he plays that the true beauty of his game starts to show itself.“Whenever he has the ball in his hands, he seems to be in complete command of and in complete harmony with the flow of the game. It’s truly something special.”"

Schulte later says not one Nugget holds a negative net rating when playing with Morris. Anyone familiar with the stat knows this is truly remarkable.

Off the bench, Morris has posted seven consecutive double-figure scoring games. This includes a sizzling 20-point effort (4-of-5 from 3) in Denver’s recent win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s averaging 13.9 points per game during this seven-game stretch.

In addition to scoring, Morris has averaged 5.4 assists over the past five games. Even playing big minutes, he’s turned the ball over just twice in the past four contests.

While Morris was known for steady play in college, the shooting stroke is new. He’s put on a clinic of late, drilling 53.6 percent of 3-point attempts in the past seven games.

Morris’ best attribute is his cohesion, as he’s proven to be a glove-like fit with any lineup. This holds especially true with backcourt mate Jamal Murray. The duo constantly makes each other better.

Here’s what head coach Michael Malone said about combining Murray and Morris, per Mike Singer of the Denver Post:

"“I’ll be honest, going into the season, I did not expect Monte Morris to be playing at the level that he has,” Malone said. “I don’t think anybody anticipated that. … What I love about Jamal is his versatility.“Starting point guard, slide over to the two. He’s getting very, very comfortable in his position as a point guard and playmaker. And then when you go to Monte Morris, he’s one of the most trustworthy guards in the NBA.”"

Additionally, Morris has shown himself calm and collected in the clutch. He’s been a surprise source of late-game brilliance for the Mile High.

Let’s examine his notable fourth quarter moments in the past six games:

• Dec. 18 win over the Dallas Mavericks: Seven points in final 5:43 of the fourth quarter
• Dec. 14 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder: Clutch jumper with 2:35 remaining, extending Denver’s lead to five
• Dec. 10 win over the Memphis Grizzlies: Six points, three rebounds in the fourth quarter
• Dec. 7 loss to the Charlotte Hornets: Huge 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining, cutting Denver’s deficit to three

Passing prowess? Check. Careful with the ball? Absolutely. Plays well with Denver’s studs? You bet. Provides a late-game lift? Yes.

Monte Morris has proven himself a legitimate NBA point guard, and not only for a interim. Stay tuned for Morris, Isaiah Thomas, and the league’s best reserve backcourt.