DENVER – Although it was one other season impacted by the pandemic, the NBA has reinstated the rule that two-way gamers usually are not eligible for the playoffs. That leaves Michael Malone with out Markus Howard and Davon Reed for the postseason. The 15 playoff-eligible gamers performed quite a lot of roles to assist the Nuggets make a fourth consecutive playoff look.
#0 JaMychal Inexperienced
The beginning of the season was a little bit of a battle for the veteran who was taking part in as a small-ball middle earlier than DeMarcus Cousins arrived in late January, permitting Inexperienced to play energy ahead with the second unit. After failing to common greater than 6.6 factors per sport within the first 4 months of the season, Inexperienced posted 9.8 factors and 4.5 rebounds per sport whereas capturing 53.7% from the sector in February, his greatest month.
#1 Michael Porter Jr.
A 3rd again surgical procedure derailed what was anticipated to be a breakout season from the 23-year-old simply 9 video games into the marketing campaign. Porter’s pregame routine has been restricted to uncontested capturing. He stays with out a timetable for a return to the courtroom.
#3 Bones Hyland
The rookie has stated all through the season he’s made for the playoff highlight. And he appears poised to show as a lot. Hyland made the reserve point-guard function his personal over the course of his first skilled season. After averaging 10.1 factors, 2.8 assists and a couple of.7 rebounds, Hyland has a case for a spot on an All-Rookie crew. He scored a season-high 27 factors towards the Lakers in January.
#4 DeMarcus Cousins
The veteran’s capability to remain on the courtroom can be one of many storylines to observe towards Golden State, a crew he performed 30 video games for in 2018-19. Foul bother has been a difficulty for Cousins this season, and the Warriors’ capability to go small may complicate his function. The most effective of his 31 video games with the Nuggets this season got here towards Houston on March 4 when he posted 31 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals.
#5 Will Barton III
There have been good and not-so-good stretches of the common season for the Nuggets’ new franchise chief in made 3-pointers for a profession, and a robust displaying on each ends figures to be a giant a part of Denver’s possibilities towards Golden State. Barton averaged 24 factors, 5.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds in a four-game stretch in November and recorded 17.8 factors, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds in one other four-game stretch to finish March. His 4 video games to finish the common season showcase the ups and downs of the season. He scored 25 and 16 factors in two video games however went 3 for 12 from the sector and failed to achieve double figures in scoring within the two others.
#6 Bryn Forbes
The midseason addition by way of commerce with San Antonio fell out of the rotation for a stretch late within the season however produced a robust closing information level, a 24-point efficiency behind a 5-of-11 mark from 3, in Sunday’s time beyond regulation loss to the Lakers. If the Nuggets discover themselves needing to maintain up with Golden State’s high-powered offense, Forbes is a confirmed shooter within the playoffs as demonstrated by a 16-for-33 displaying from deep within the Milwaukee’s first-round victory over Miami en path to the title final season.
#7 Facundo Campazzo
The starter for 9 of Denver’s 10 playoff video games final season, Campazzo figures to be in for a smaller function in his second postseason with the Nuggets. Campazzo, with a popularity for being one thing of an irritant, could possibly be referred to as upon if Denver must disrupt Stephen Curry’s rhythm after he serves a suspension in Sport 1.
#11 Monte Morris
His popularity as an environment friendly ball handler stood the take a look at of a full season as Denver’s place to begin guard. Morris’s assist-to-turnover ratio was prime 10 within the NBA and limiting turnovers figures to be a giant a part of Denver’s playoff success. His 39.5% from 3 is the perfect amongst Denver’s common starters, and he’ll take averages of 12.6 factors and 4.4 assists into what figures to be the fifth-year guard’s most in depth postseason expertise.
#15 Nikola Jokic
If ESPN’s Participant Effectivity Score lives as much as its identify, Denver’s star middle simply put collectively the most efficient season in NBA historical past. Jokic’s 32.85 ranking edged Wilt Chamberlain’s 1961-62 season (32.08) for essentially the most environment friendly in league historical past. Averages of 27.1 factors, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.5 steals and .9 blocks – all team-highs – helped the probably back-to-back Most Beneficial Participant publish the primary 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound, 500-assist season in NBA historical past. The Nuggets will want extra of the identical within the playoffs.
#22 Zeke Nnaji
Simply when the second-year ahead’s 3-point capturing and defensive versatility appeared to begin pairing with some confidence across the rim, bilateral knee soreness slowed his progress. After lacking a lot of the closing two months, Nnaji performed 26 minutes within the regular-season finale. If Denver’s different reserve bigs battle, Nnaji may get a shot because of his capability to change onto smaller ball handlers and 46.3% displaying from 3 on 80 makes an attempt.
#25 Austin Rivers
One other huge postseason function may await Rivers after he was out of the league a little bit greater than a yr in the past. After serving to the Nuggets get previous Portland within the first-round final yr, Rivers, one in every of Denver’s prime perimeter defenders, may play essential minutes towards Golden State. He posted six factors in 22.1 minutes per sport throughout 67 appearances this season.
#27 Jamal Murray
His standing for the playoffs stays unsure with the one-year anniversary of his torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, suffered on Golden State’s courtroom, coming 4 days earlier than Sport 1. He didn’t make a regular-season look however has reportedly been bodily cleared to return. If he have been to return to the courtroom at any level within the playoffs, a big restriction on his minutes appears probably.
#31 Vlatko Cancar
With accidents decimating Denver’s wing depth, Cancar’s probability to carve out an everyday function was sidetracked by a damaged foot bone that required surgical procedure. He averaged a career-best 4.1 factors per sport in 15 appearances this season, however an everyday postseason function appears unlikely.
#32 Jeff Inexperienced
The one member of the Nuggets born within the Eighties, the 35-year-old performed the fifth-most minutes (1,849) on the crew. He began 63 of the 75 video games he performed on this season, however typically completed video games amongst the reserves. He used his persistent athleticism to common 10.3 factors and three.1 rebounds in his 14th NBA season.
#50 Aaron Gordon
In his first full season as a Nugget, Gordon’s 15 factors per sport have been second solely to Jokic, and he established himself as the primary choice to defend opposing wings. After averaging 11.1 factors and 5.4 rebounds in Denver’s playoff run final season, his largest publicity to playoff basketball, the 26-year-old can be tasked with contributing on each ends towards Golden State.
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