NBA insider attributes the Nuggets guard’s health to the team’s success

NBA insider Brian Windhorst made an interesting comparison this week between Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray and an Eastern Conference opponent. When discussing Murray’s recent shooting issues, including this preseason, the said NBA today The whole gang thought about what a successful season would look like for Murray. Windhorst focused on a key factor outside the goal that would be crucial to Murray’s year.

Jamal Murray’s health is Denver’s X-factor, according to NBA Insider

Murray’s influence in the West mirrors Joel Embiid’s influence in the East

NBA insider Brian Windhorst provided an exciting player-to-player comparison when delving into Murray’s health for the Nuggets NBA today. Show host Malika Andrews opened the topic by asking what success would look like for Murray and the Nuggets this season. The last we saw of Murray in meaningful games was him struggling to get on the field in the playoffs. His game-winning baskets in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers were great. But overall, including the Western Conference Finals against the Timberwolves, Murray’s shooting wasn’t on point. Then, at the Olympics, he struggled a lot while playing for Canada. To top it off, his preseason has gotten off to a relatively slow start.

The noise from outside doesn’t bother Murray too much, nor should it, but that doesn’t stop him from asking outside questions. When discussing what Murray’s success looks like this year, Windhorst focused more on his health than his play. In his take, he legitimately compared Murray to Joel Embiid.

“Yes, we all know that in the Eastern Conference, the health of Joel Embiid is perhaps the most important factor in how the conference will go. I would call Jamal Murray his health is probably the most important x-factor in the Western Conference. When he is at his best, the Nuggets have proven that they are a team at the highest level. He was healthy in the bubble in 2020 and the Nuggets reached the conference finals. He’s dealing with injuries from ’21 and ’22 [Nuggets] get out early. In 1923 he was in full swing; They win the title. Last year he was disappointingly eliminated in the second round.”

Windy continued, saying that when Murray is fully healthy, he and Nikola Jokic will be virtually unstoppable.

The Murray/Embiid comparison makes sense

Comparing Murray to Embiid is nonsense at first glance, but if you follow Windhorst, he makes a clear impression. Their respective conferences are changing drastically in terms of health and availability. Windhorst expresses this perfectly, alluding to Denver’s lack of success in the playoffs when Murray is not at 100%, as opposed to the alternative.

As great as Jokic is, he can’t lead the team like Murray can given the positioning on the court. And with all due respect Russell Westbrookhe won’t “lead the Nuggets on the path to a second championship” – Murray can do that. The Nuggets championship window is far from closed. Lose Kentavious Caldwell Pope Free agency could be a success, but the core of the team – Jokic, Murray, Aaron GordonAnd Michael Porter Jr. – are among the best starting lineups in the league. And the addition of Westbrook could prove to be proof to be valuable – not leading the team to the finals, valuable but still contributing and bringing energy and aggressiveness to the table. Kind of valuable.

The Nuggets season will depend on Murray’s health. And the 76ers’ season will rely on Embiid. An injury to a star player can happen in a split second of any game. So yes, Windhorst is right. If Murray’s health deteriorates, it will change the landscape in the West. Why? It will likely diminish Denver’s chances of competing deep into the playoffs.