Denver Nuggets: Paul Millsap the key to playoff success

As a relatively young team, the Denver Nuggets will have to rely on their veteran forward to push them deep into the postseason.

In the summer of 2017, the Denver Nuggets were coming off a campaign in which they finished 11th in the Western Conference with a final record of 33-49. A foundation had been set with impressive youngsters such as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but like any inexperienced team, they needed a veteran presence both in the locker room and on the court.

So when it was announced that Denver had inked former Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap to a three-year deal, fans in the Mile High City were ecstatic about the prospects for their basketball team moving forward.

A former second round pick, Millsap had blossomed down in Atlanta during his four-year tenure, being selected as an All-Star in each season while developing into one of the most versatile weapons across the NBA.

With the Nuggets, he’d be gifted a leadership role, expected to nurture and help his newest teammates grow while at the same time doing all the things on the court that enticed Denver to give him $60 million in guaranteed money.

Fast forward to the present day, and while the Nuggets are still one of the younger squads in the league, they hardly play like it. Jokic has become an All-Star. The backcourt duo of Murray and Gary Harris show improvements almost on a nightly basis. Throw in a host of experienced vets and high-energy role players and what you have is a team with the second-best record in the West at 42-18.

Denver is on pace to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2013, and considering how well the entire team has played throughout the season, it’s not simply going to be happy just to get in. How far the Nuggets go may depend on who they face in any given round, but there’s no doubt Millsap will play a large role in determining that fate.

Standing 6’8” and listed at 246 pounds, Millsap has the build of a prototypical small-ball forward to fit the downsized trends of the league. Head coach Mike Malone trusts him to guard basically anyone on the court, whether it be wrestling with a big down low or corralling a ball-handler out on the perimeter.

Offensively, Millsap is the perfect complement to Denver’s star big man in Jokic. While perfectly capable of scoring the basketball from nearly anywhere on the court, he’s more than happy to set screens, space the court and make the right play. The duo forms arguably the best passing frontcourt in the game, and it’s part of the reason the Nuggets have the third-highest offensive rating in the league.

His offensive rating per 100 possessions is at a career-best despite his lowest usage since the 2009-10 season. Millsap’s ability to play off his teammates is as valuable a trait as there is, and it’s endeared him to them in a way that’s built tremendous camaraderie in the locker room.

The Nuggets are better at both ends of the floor with Millsap in the game. That’s no coincidence. They post a winning percentage over .750 in the 49 games he’s played in this season. That’s not a surprise either. This is a guy who’s never been a full-fledged superstar, but his overall impact is undeniable to those who watch him knock down a timely 3-pointer or come up with a key defensive stop.

As talented as Denver’s core is, a majority of them have never experienced postseason basketball in their short careers. Enter Paul Millsap, a nine-time playoff participant who will likely be given a bigger role in such games as a way to ease his younger teammates into this new experience.

The Nuggets will be a tough out in the playoffs, that much is certain. But just how far this team can go won’t be determined by those in the spotlight. It will likely come down to the guy the front office brought in nearly three summers ago to help elevate them to new heights in whatever role he’s called upon to fill.