With injured players returning, will red-hot Denver Nuggets guard Malik Beasley continue to see ample court time?
Is this when Denver Nuggets guard Malik Beasley quickly goes from hero to zero? That’s what some analysts believe will happen.
In the wake of Isaiah Thomas’ return, many questions surround this deep Nuggets rotation. Among the most pressing involves surprise guard Beasley, who’s averaging 20.9 points in February.
Obviously, there are compelling reasons to have Beasley on the court.
His 12.0 points per game is a career high by more than triple. He’s shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from deep, and 88.6 percent from the charity stripe, rendering himself a shocking candidate at the league’s elite 50/40/90 club.
Yet, what’s the cost of playing Beasley?
Look at Thomas, for instance. Just two years ago, the dude averaged 28.9 points per game with the Boston Celtics, lifting himself onto the charts as a fringe MVP candidate. This is a horse that must be ridden, obviously.
Meanwhile, Monte Morris has proven himself a key piece of Denver’s rotation, working his way into a vital sixth man role. His 10.8 points and 3.9 assists come packaged with just 0.6 turnovers per game and an ultra-efficient 49.7 percent shooting. The Nuggets’ strong record is largely thanks to his steady play.
And then there’s Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. As Denver’s coveted backcourt, the two combine with Nikola Jokic to make a salivating big three. The trio of Jokic, Murray and Harris leads the Nuggets with 20.4, 18.3 and 14.8 points, respectively.
Murray is enjoying a killer season, posting a career high in points while keeping the squad together with his durability. Harris has looked impressive when healthy, blending his shooting, defense and athleticism to boost the starting unit.
Which leads us to the following dilemma: Beasley obviously deserves to play. But among the Nuggets’ star pool of backcourt assets, he checks in at fifth-best. Is it really time to bid the Beasley show adieu though, right amidst its peak?
Head coach Michael Malone admits playing time may be a head-scratcher. Yet, he brings us back to reality with this take, per Sean Keeler of the Denver Post.
"“Good problem to have,” said Malone."
And he’s right. How many teams would kill to have this many game-changing bench players? Besides, there are certainly options in play.
At this point, Beasley should continue to see reasonable minutes. The Nuggets will likely run a smaller lineup because the play of Morris and Beasley has forced them to.
Several second-unit combinations can be used, most featuring Morris and Thomas in the backcourt with Beasley at small forward. The normal likes of Mason Plumlee, Paul Millsap and others will assume post roles
Keep in mind, much of the squad’s backcourt could actually benefit from a reduction in playing time.
Murray has been a workhorse all season, fighting through injury after injury because Denver’s needed him to. He averaged an insane 36.0 minutes per game in January, hitting the 40 clip four times in the month. Why not allow him five extra minutes of pine time in preparation for the playoffs?
Harris, meanwhile needn’t overexert himself in his return. His injury trends are concerning, so lower minutes would be beneficial. Finally, Thomas is still finding his groove, and will be for some time. Don’t expect him to play ridiculous ticks right away.
And considering the backcourt’s injuries to date? It’s reasonable to expect a couple more snake-bites before the postseason. This will open minutes, and the Nuggets are fortunate to have Beasley filling them.
Malone is committed to the best rotations, and Beasley makes the cut. Expect to see Denver’s smaller, high-powered lineups torture opposing second units.