Why a Jamal Murray led bench unit makes sense for Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have historically utilized a staggered bench lineup that includes Jamal Murray with the second unit, a strategy that has been prominent since the 2018-19 season when Murray and Nikola Jokic began developing strong chemistry. Murray's scoring ability and adaptability on and off the ball make him a key player for this role, allowing the team to maintain offensive flow even when Jokic is not on the court.

Statistical data from the past seven regular seasons reveals that in lineups featuring Murray without Jokic, the Nuggets' offense holds up with an Offensive Rating of 111.3, but the defense suffers with a Defensive Rating of 115.3. Murray's contributions help sustain offensive functionality during these periods, outperforming scenarios where other starters are staggered or no starter is involved.

This season, the Nuggets face challenges in their bench guard rotation, as the starting unit is solid and dominant, but the bench lacks a cohesive lineup. For example, an all-bench group including Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, and Jonas Valanciunas has struggled against defensive pressure, highlighting the need for better ball-handling and resilience.

To address these issues, the Nuggets are considering leveraging Jamal Murray's experience with bench units, as he has shown strong form in the preseason and appears ready to contribute effectively from the start. Building lineups around Murray and Valanciunas is seen as a viable solution, with roles assigned to players like Watson for defense and rim protection, Hardaway for shooting, and Strawther for secondary creation.

Bruce Brown's role presents a complication, as he is best suited to play point guard next to Jokic when Murray is absent, but integrating him extensively with the bench could disrupt the rotation. The proposed approach is to limit Brown's bench minutes and focus his playtime with Jokic to maintain balance, even if it affects his rhythm initially.

The final rotation aims to provide stability, with the starters expected to dominate and the bench supported by Murray's leadership. This strategy emphasizes thoughtful combinations to mitigate bench weaknesses, relying on Murray to stabilize the second unit alongside Valanciunas, rather than seeking perfection, in order to enhance overall team performance.