DENVER (AP) 鈥� Here's an example of just how much Jamal Murray was missed: Introduced before a preseason home game, the Denver Nuggets all rushed over to swarm him.
That's the level of respect the team has for its point guard, who's back on the court for the first time since tearing his left ACL on April 12, 2021.
The band is back together as . Along with Michael Porter Jr., who was limited to nine games last season due to his balky back, they're ready to pick up where they left off when Murray and Porter were healthy. The trio led the Nuggets inside the bubble in 2020.
It may take some time for Denver to round back into that form. The Nuggets' over-under is set at , with a plus-2000 to capture the NBA title (the Celtics are at plus-600).
鈥淚t鈥檚 a different vibe since we got some of our guys back,鈥� said forward Aaron Gordon, whose team opens the season at Utah on Oct. 19. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a certain level of calmness. Just because we do have so many great guys on this team. We have such a talented roster that鈥檚 so deep.鈥�
The lineup boasts Murray, Porter, Jokic and Gordon while adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the mix. He was acquired, along with , in an offseason deal that sent Will Barton and Monte Morris to the Washington Wizards. That leaves a bench including Bones Hyland, Jeff Green, Bruce Brown, Zeke Nnaji, Davon Reed, Vlatko Cancar and big man DeAndre Jordan. In addition, the Nuggets drafted Christian Braun out of Kansas with the 21st overall pick.
This roster was assembled in large part because Denver didn鈥檛 have Murray and Porter last season. It gave coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth a chance to evaluate the team through "a different lens,鈥� Booth said.
鈥淚 think when you have guys like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., it鈥檚 easier to overlook some of your flaws,鈥� added Booth, whose team was eliminated in the first round by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors last season. 鈥淲e came to the realization we needed to get bigger and needed to get more versatile.鈥�
There was a little alarm in a preseason game when Murray tweaked his hamstring, only because he's a big part of the engine that drives the Nuggets. Malone plans to take it nice and steady with Murray's acclimation to the season.
鈥淭he team we鈥檙e going to be in October, November, is not the team that we鈥檙e going to be come April in the playoffs," Malone said. 鈥淲e want to be smart as we build up.鈥�
MURRAY'S GOAL
Murray's primary goal is to work his way back into the 21.2-point-and-4.8-assist-a-night form he demonstrated before his injury.
鈥淎t the moment, I just want to play,鈥� Murray said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 care if I go 0-for-10. ... I just want to get those couple games under my belt, first, and then you can have all the talks you want about what you expect.鈥�
TOP DEFENSE
Malone鈥檚 challenge to his team is to become a top-five defensive squad. The Nuggets were in the middle of the pack in defensive rating a season ago.
鈥淚t鈥檚 no surprise that Boston and Golden State, the two best defenses, were in the finals,鈥� Malone said.
GOOD FRIENDS
The Nuggets had a powerful recruiting tool to lure Jordan to town: his good friend, Green.
Jordan said his role is whatever is required. He led the league in rebounding in 2014 and '15 while with the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 5.5 rebounds last season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.
鈥淚鈥檓 not out there to play 35, 40 minutes,鈥� Jordan said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the back-to-back MVP鈥檚 job. I鈥檓 just there to be a part of the supporting cast.鈥�
SUPPORT SYSTEM
Porter leaned on Murray and friends in his inner circle while rehabilitating his back injuries.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you really ever lose confidence,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淵ou're always just trying to persevere through stuff. It just takes time.鈥�
He said he doesn鈥檛 have any limitations.
鈥淛ust continuing to get stronger,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淛ust getting back out there, being able to get in a rhythm again and keep working every day.鈥�
PAINTBALL
Gordon hosted a get-together in the offseason to play some hoops and paintball.
The best paintball player on the team?
鈥淚鈥檓 a beast at paintball,鈥� Gordon said. 鈥淚鈥檓 tough when it comes to paintball.鈥�
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Pat Graham, The Associated Press
