Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray in-depth 2019-20 projections
By James Siegle
Scoring
Jamal Murray averaged 18.2 points per game in 2018-19, which was his most effective season. He scored 20 points or better 29 times, and looked the part of a confident bucket-getter.
Once the postseason hit, Murray went into overdrive, averaging 21.3 points per game. He tallied 23 points or better eight times in the playoffs, a sample in which the Denver Nuggets went 6-2.
Similar to Nikola Jokic, Murray often dictated the Nuggets’ success with his scoring. Check it out:
When Murray…
- Made 9 or more field goals: Denver’s record was 15-2
- Scored 20+ points: Denver’s record was 20-9
Expect Murray to take the next jump in 2019-20, as Denver has shown huge confidence in him. Even in the playoffs, Denver’s offense shifted from its previous cutting style to a more traditional pick-and-roll between Murray and Jokic in the postseason.
This worked nicely, as Denver finished second among 2018-19 playoff teams with a 113.3 postseason offensive rating. With that in mind, look for Murray to play a larger role offensively this season, as he’s projected to average 19.6 points per game.
While last season showed vast improvement in the consistency department, he shot just 4-of-18 in Denver’s Game 7 loss to Portland. Murray’s next level of development involves consistency in big games, as Denver needed him in the final contest.