One ownership later, Murray did this:.
Denver isnt doing it in roadway environments, but to come back from 3-1 deficits in two successive series, and now to take this must-win Game 3 from the Lakers, I dont understand that Ive ever seen anything like this. Those Warriors, for all their enjoyable, fulfilled their match vs. San Antonio in the second round. Even beating the Nuggets that season, who were playing without Danilo Gallinari, while Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson were both nursing ankle injuries, wasnt as huge an upset as a 6-3 series typically suggests..
These Nuggets werent expected to have any opportunity against the Clippers, let alone after falling in a 3-1 hole. Now to come back and win this Game 3 vs. the Lakers after dropping Game 2 in such dispiriting fashion? Its amazing. That would squash most groups. Denver just keeps playing, and it has a lot to do wit Murray..
The Nuggets are deep and together and have a core that has actually been together for four years now. That manages a level of continuity not frequently discovered in todays musical chairs NBA.
Unlike Curry, who was in his first postseason in 2013, Murray done this playoff dance. For all Murray has done to this point, what he did in Game 3 versus the Lakers on Tuesday was, for him, uncharted territory: 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, consisting of 4 of 8 from three, to go with 12 helps and 8 rebounds in leading the Nuggets to 114-106 win cutting the Lakers lead in this series to 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Thursday. Sure, 28 points looks rather pedestrian next to some of the video-game lines Murray has put up this postseason. That was Murrays career-high 12th help of the video game. It was traditional Murray, a last-instant meal when hes about to be captured in the air with no place to go, however he pulls these off due to the fact that hes always in attack mode as a scorer.
Sure, 28 points looks rather pedestrian next to some of the video-game lines Murray has actually put up this postseason. The Nuggets had let a 20-point lead dwindle to 3 with five minutes and alter staying in the game.
By the time it was under 3 minutes, Denver was still clinging to a four-point lead. The Lakers, who had actually required a turnover on 6 straight ownerships at one point, were one Kentavious Caldwell-Pope rimmed-out 3-pointer from connecting the game, and the Nuggets were stuck in mud offensively.
Previously this year, I spoke to previous Denver Nuggets coach George Karl about the Warriors-Nuggets 2013 first-round playoff series. In that series, Karl stated he “saw Stephen Curry going from being a truly excellent player to becoming a star right in front of us.”.
” To see that at ground level, from the bench, you could see it in his eyes,” Karl told CBS Sports. “When he was boiling down the court with the ball in his hands, he was locked, guy. He was in it. You dont see that frequently, you know, where a guy is making that superstar leap right in the minute. You see guys who are already there, or guys you know are coming. Man, he just went to another level [ in that series]”.
Im not resting on the bench inside the Orlando bubble, however I need to imagine Jamal Murray has a comparable search his face today. After Murray hung 50 points versus the Jazz to force Game 7 in their first-round series, I composed that he wasnt a lot making the proverbial leap as he was affirming what everyone mustve long learnt about him, which is that hes the most lethal of shotmaking weapons when he gets it going..
I still think that. None of what Murray is doing is unexpected me. Unlike Curry, who was in his very first postseason in 2013, Murray done this playoff dance. He had some incredible video games and clutch minutes in last years playoffs, leading the Nuggets to within a single win of the conference finals. Hes currently played in 4 Game 7s, winning three of them. The most points Curry installed in those 2013 playoffs was 44 versus San Antonio. Murray has installed a 50 piece. Two times..
If that isnt a Steph Curry heat check shot, I do not understand what is. This guy Murray has actually certainly gone to another level, if just since hes doing what we always knew he might do at a stage of the playoffs hes never experienced.
That was Murrays career-high 12th assist of the video game. It was classic Murray, a last-instant dish when hes about to be caught in the air with nowhere to go, but he pulls these off since hes always in attack mode as a scorer. His capability to utilize the attention that scoring draws to make these kinds of plays for his teammates is the biggest part of this “leap” hes made. Now he can beat you even when hes not scorching hot..
With under a minute to play, Murray put the nail in the Lakers casket with this quick-trigger 30-footer:.
That stretched Denvers result in 7, and it seemed like a hit of oxygen to ward off an asthma attack..
Do not get it twisted: Im not saying Murray is anywhere near the gamer Curry is or even that he will be in the future. What I am saying is that at this moment in time, even if you wish to say its relative, Murray is making an even bigger postseason– shall we state– splash..
For all Murray has done to this point, what he did in Game 3 against the Lakers on Tuesday was, for him, uncharted territory: 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 4 of 8 from 3, to go with 12 helps and 8 rebounds in leading the Nuggets to 114-106 win cutting the Lakers lead in this series to 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Thursday. This is the conference finals, a stage Murray hasnt stood on till now.
I understand were beginning to take these back-against-the-wall Nuggets triumphes in stride, however we shouldnt. This is wild what they are doing. In the previously mentioned 2013 playoffs, the Warriors dropped a set of heartbreaking Game ones– very first to the Nuggets in the preliminary, then to the Spurs in the 2nd round, both on buzzer-beaters like the one that Anthony Davis sunk into Denvers heart in Game 2 on Sunday, however you knew those Warriors were for real when they recovered to win both Game 2s, on the road, in each of those series..
