All eyes were on Jamal Murray yesterday during the last training before Game 7. Hit in the right elbow at the start of Game 6 following a screen from Rudy Gobert, the Canadian leader had returned a worrying 4/18 shooting and did not show up for this decisive match in the best conditions, physical and mental.
However, yesterday's session allowed Jamal Murray to show that he had recovered from his injury. After participating in the entire training, he even stayed on the field to practice outside shooting sessions with the help of an assistant to challenge him. Enough to reassure Mike Malone, who saw a player ” hungry “.
“He feels very good”, replied the Denver coach post workout. “He looked very hungry today. It looks like he hasn't eaten in two days. I hope it will be the same tomorrow.”
The barometer of the series
Mike Malone of course knows the importance of having his conductor at his best level to play a Game 7, especially in this series against the Wolves where he acted as a barometer. In the Nuggets' three victories, he averaged nearly 20 points with 50% shooting success, including 42% from 3-point range. In the three defeats, his shooting stats took a serious nosedive, with 11.7 points per game at 26% shooting.
His coach is also aware of the importance of these decisive meetings, which decide the destiny of a season. Since 2019, this will be the fifth Game 7 for the Murray-Jokic-Malone trio, who have already won four. In summary, there will be no room for the slightest approximation…
“The message is simple. Game 7s are great. you should take advantage. With Jamal and Nikola, we participated in four of these games in six years of playoffs. That's why we work so hard, to have home court advantage, in front of the best fans in the NBA. And we know that in a Game 7, every possession counts. There will be no 'Sorry, it's my fault' tomorrow.”specified Mike Malone, who is therefore counting on a great Jamal Murray.
| 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 | 59 | 32 | 48.1 | 42.5 | 85.3 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 21.2 |
| Total | 469 | 31 | 45.2 | 38.0 | 86.7 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 17.5 | |
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.
