NBA Playoffs: Six X-factors for the Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz

NBA Playoffs: Six X-factors for Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 08: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz fouls Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, NBA playoffs (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Monte Morris

As the Nuggets are patiently awaiting the return of Gary Harris and Will Barton to the lineup their guard depth will be tested. Monte Morris is here to step up to that challenge.

In the month of March Morris averaged 8.0 points, 2.8 assists and 1.0 rebounds while shooting on 31.3 percent from distance. Since coming to the seeding games (in a bigger sample) he has improved to 13.9 points, 3.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds and shot 39.3 percent from the same range.

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With greater opportunity, Morris has shown before that he can score in bunches. He has only been held to single digits once in eight games. If this is the kind of streak he can build on he will continue to be a solid bench player for this team even when the missing players return.

Corner threes are such a big part of the game today. Jokic runs the offense from the foul line to the paint and either takes his man to the hole or finds the open man in the corner. Morris is shooting 42.4 percent from the corners this season and has had only a limited chance to make teams pay. As the three focal points of the Nuggets offense continue to pull defenders close to the paint Monte Morris is ready to cash in.