November 23rd 2024.
As the clock ticked down to just 4.2 seconds left on the game clock, Jamal Murray found himself trailing behind the Dallas Mavericks with a score of 121-119. With his team's hopes hanging in the balance, the Denver Nuggets guard stepped up to the free throw line, ready to take a shot. But this time, his intention wasn't to make it. No, he was aiming to miss.
And so, with exquisite disgust, Murray shoved the ball towards the rim as if it were a heat pad, sending it on a rope towards its target. It bounced off the backboard and tushed right through the net, sealing the Nuggets' fate for the night. It was just one of those games, one of those nights in November where everything seemed to go wrong.
"I spent the whole game trying to make shots, and then I finally try to miss and I still make it," Murray chuckled ruefully as he reflected on the defeat. "That's just the way it goes sometimes, you know?"
It was enough to make you laugh, but only to keep from crying. And as the Nuggets prepared for their late-night showdown with the Lakers the following night, Murray's performance had been far from his usual self. He had been averaging just 17.4 points per game in November, shooting 40.7% from the floor and 33.3% from beyond the arc. You never knew what you were going to get from him on any given night.
In fact, out of the four games this season where Murray had scored 20 points or more, he had followed each one with subpar shooting performances. It was a pattern that had become all too familiar for the Blue Arrow, and one that seemed to be weighing heavily on his mind.
"Are you feeling okay?" I asked him at his locker after the Dallas loss. "You keep saying you're good, but..."
Murray's response was sharp, as he shot me a look of daggers. "Then take that," he replied, clearly frustrated with his own performance.
But it wasn't just his shooting that was a cause for concern. There were also whispers about his knee and his head, both of which seemed to be affecting his game. While there were moments where Murray's talent shone through, reminding us of his Playoff Mal days, there were also times where he seemed to be struggling under the weight of expectations. After all, he had just signed a $209 million max contract, and the pressure to perform was always looming.
And it wasn't just his offensive game that was a cause for concern. Murray's defensive performance in the fourth quarter had also been lacking, with a Defensive Rating of 112 or higher in six out of the first ten games of the season. It was a trend that had carried over from the previous season, and one that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
"We just need to take care of the first half and come out with better urgency," Murray reflected on the loss to Dallas. "If we can do that, we can win games like that."
But it wasn't just the defensive struggles that were causing headaches for the Nuggets coaching staff. Murray's inconsistency in clutch situations was also a cause for concern. Last season, he had excelled in clutch moments, posting a Defensive Rating of 89.5 and a Net Rating of plus-5.4. However, this season, he had already appeared in seven clutch games, with a Defensive Rating of 123.4 and a Net Rating of plus-7.9.
In comparison, Christian Braun had played in ten clutch games with a Defensive Rating of 115.3 and a Net Rating of plus-18.9, making him one of the best performers in those situations among the Nuggets starters. Even Nikola Jokic, who was known more for his offensive prowess, had a better clutch Net Rating than Murray.
It was a problem that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore, especially with the Nuggets' championship window slowly closing. And as head coach Mike Malone acknowledged, it was something that needed to be addressed.
"We've got to find a way," Malone stated. "And I have to find a way to help get Jamal going."
But amidst all the struggles and frustrations, there was one moment that stood out from Friday's game against Dallas. With just over eight minutes left in the game, Murray had caught a live fly and walked over to the sideline, plopping it between ESPN announcers Doris Burke and Mike Breen.
"It was just squirming on the court and I thought I'd go to Doris or whoever was over there and just lighten up my mood," Murray explained. "Sometimes, you just have to smile, so I just tried to break the negativity mentally and have a joke with those guys."
But when asked if he had caught the fly in the air, Murray shot back with a sharp retort. It was clear that this version of Murray was struggling, both mentally and physically.
As the Nuggets Insider, I couldn't help but wonder if Murray's struggles would continue to hinder the team's chances at a championship. Only time would tell, but one thing was for sure: something needed to change. And it needed to change fast.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
