Absent against the Blazers Friday evening, for a second game in two days for the Nuggets, Jamal Murray is hit in the tibia. But there is no point thinking that this missed match will solve the problems. The Denver playmaker will have to deal with this problem until the end of the season.
“It’s shin splints and as soon as he plays it will be a problem.”, clearly announce his coach Michael Malone. “This second evening of a back-to-back on the bench, it’s not rest, it’s managing his injury. We're going to have to find a way to deal with this and I hope the situation doesn't get worse for Jamal. »
Painful but not serious inflammation
The advantage for the 2023 champion is that the Nuggets only have two back-to-backs to negotiate, February 28 and 29, then April 9 and 10. Jamal Murray will therefore be able to breathe and not continue too much. But how can we do more?
“He could recover, but that would mean he doesn't play for a while”replies the coach. “We are more in management because we need Jamal to play. He is aware of that, I talk about it with him and Steve Short, from our staff. We take stock of how best to manage your injury and its symptoms. »
Because inevitably, each match will awaken this inflammation of the tibia aponeurosis. “I'm sure it's painful and Jamal is someone who plays 35 or 36 minutes a night. We have to limit his workload as much as possible, during shootarounds, training, so that match days go as smoothly as possible and he can play as much as possible,” continues Michael Malone.
The rest of Denver’s season depends on it. Because without a Jamal Murray in top form, the chances of doing the double are logically less strong, as the Canadian (who must also think about the Olympic Games in Paris) is crucial in the playoffs, we saw him again in 2023 where he been brilliant to support Nikola Jokic.
| Jamal Murray | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 82 | 22 | 40.4 | 33.4 | 88.3 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 81 | 32 | 45.1 | 37.8 | 90.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 16.7 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 75 | 33 | 43.7 | 36.7 | 84.8 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 18.2 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 59 | 32 | 45.6 | 34.6 | 88.1 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 18.5 |
| 2020-21 | DEN | 48 | 36 | 47.7 | 40.8 | 86.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 21.2 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 65 | 33 | 45.4 | 39.8 | 83.3 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 6.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 20.0 |
| 2023-24 | DEN | 41 | 31 | 47.0 | 40.6 | 84.9 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 6.5 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 20.4 |
| Total | 451 | 31 | 45.0 | 37.6 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 17.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
