… has anyone considered that it's just Jamal Murray being Jamal Murray?

Slow starts have been the most, and perhaps only consistent quality of Murray. The picture shows Murray's career monthly regular season splits.

We always talk about Jamal being a "big game merchant", never making the all star team because he doesn't take the regular season seriously enough. Yet people act shocked all the same that he is this bad to start the season.

Maybe some glanced over it because he came back from injury, or because of "championship hangover" or whatever.

He literally started his career with an 0-15 slump. This is just who he is. If he's still struggling into January, only then am I genuinely worried.

30 comments

  2. He just looks bad physically. 2 years ago he was struggling but he looked rusty after not playing for a year and a half. Watch his 2023 highlights. He has lost some quickness and has no burst anymore to attack the basket.

  3. I think relative to slow starts that he usually has to start the season, this slow start is the worst we’ve seen and its only compounded by the poor playoff run and Olympics he had as well. He’s had only 3 games where he’s shot 50% or better this season, and can’t wiggle past any defenders to create separation and isn’t getting to the paint consistently. The only thing saving Murray right now is that he can make tough shots.

  4. He’s not playing poorly. And he seems to be pacing himself more than burning out redlining. Stay healthy and show out when you are most needing Mal. Don’t let these creatures that know fuck all nothing dictate your actions.

  6. I do like that there is data suggesting he might get better. But imo, he just doesn’t look as explosive or as good, and his shooting has gotten worse. Don’t know what to say, maybe he’ll prove us wrong down

  7. I’ve been saying this. Jamal has not been a good regular season player and is even worse at the beginning of the year.

    He makes his money in the playoffs.

  8. I think as Jamal Murray gets older, his defense is becoming more exposed. When he was younger, he was perhaps a step quicker. And also before all the injuries. But he could make up for his bad defense by exploiting the team on the other end.

    Now he’s not punishing the other team’s defense nor is he playing good team defense for us

    Now he’s just a revolving door. He offers very little resistance.

  9. Maybe his fat lazy ass should try coming into the season in shape so he’s not battling these soft tissue injuries all year. It’s his job and he gets paid ridiculously for it.

  10. He always sucks in November. He was never quick. The only difference is that this year people are shitting their pants over it because scapegoating is easier to do than enjoying being a fan.

  11. He got paid for the championship and because he’s a drafted home grown talent. He’s the Jaylen Brown of the team, except JB shows up every year in pristine physical condition.

    I get the max extension, I don’t get it being handed out after what was on display during the Olympics and especially with the apron issues. I would’ve loved the signing for less cash and would’ve had less issues watching this years struggles.

  13. I think we all had hoped after the 2023 playoffs that he would perform like that all the time. Instead the reverse has happened and he’s rarely looked like bubble/champ murray since then. And we don’t even need him to be a star, we just need him to put up some consistent scoring in the two man game with Jok.

    I have complete confidence he can do that and probably even become a consistent allstar level player, but it seems like hes got a lot to figure out before then. Always rooting for him.

  14. the problem isn’t just that his shots aren’t going down. it’s that he isn’t able to get separation for his shots at all. no burst to go past his defender or the lift to shoot over them. he ends up having to alter his shots to a heave instead of a natural shooting motion.

    he is a subpar creator right now, and yet we keep trying to force feed him when jokic is on the bench. it’s similar to watching Saric go into the paint with the ball, pump fake a couple times and throw up a wild layup that has no chance of getting in.

  15. Please let me know what current playoff team would rather have Jamal then their current point guard…I’ll wait. All the lower body injuries have sapped his quickness and he’s not good enough to get through defenders any other way.

  16. Pay him like he’s an all nba player when he hasn’t even come close to an all star game is the issue. People would not be upset if he was living up to a reasonable contract for his performance. When you pay the big bucks, you gotta expect a good investment on your return.

  17. Jamal is notoriously inconsistent and this sub is parabolic. But he does seem to have something else going on whether it’s physical or mental. His shot will start falling tho just a matter of time. Wouldn’t mind seeing him play more 2 guard

  18. Dude was never super quick to begin with so if you take away the quickness he had, hes gonna struggle

  19. People are panicked because of how bad he looks physically. He has zero burst and can’t even get lift on his jump shots. He’s getting physically bullied by g league players some of these hospital squads have been forced to play. 

    It’s hard not to be concerned given that both he and the team are claiming he’s healthy because this certainly looks like something beyond just poor conditioning or a shooting slump.

  20. The pick and roll just isn’t as effective as it once was, it still works but I remember a pick and roll from the Mavs game where Jamal ended up passing to Jokic where it ended being points off the turnover Jamal needs to have that confidence to take it to the cup. every defense in the nba is looking to exploit Jokic because the ball is going to be in his hands. Dallas rim protection is so good when you have lively and gaffodd rotating. Even that bunny layup Jamal missed in the first half was just awful. Jamal has a great bag but I didn’t see it at all last night.

  21. I think with the renegotiation and extension of his contract he is under more scrutiny, rightfully so, than previous seasons.

    But definitely a cool stat pull and objective take, quality post my dude

  23. The nuggets often complain that they get off to a slow start. Almost every Denver game with Jamal I see him with 5 ~ 9 points at halftime. Not only that, he can’t play defense.

    I honestly think people in this sub who defend him just don’t watch the games sometimes, man. It’s hard to win when one of your main guys is having an “off night” like 5/6 nights.

    Yeah the dude is clutch, I’ll give him that. But every game for Denver can’t be an uphill battle where Joker has to play 40 minutes to carry.

    If he’s the #2 option on this team, he sure doesn’t play like it.

  24. Jamal could have easily been an All Star if he knew how to draw fouls in the paint and get more FT. All the elite guards are great at doing this and he hasn’t figured this out yet

    Last regular season, Jamal averaged 3 FT Attempts per game. Luka(9), Brunson(7), Shai(9), Dame(7) Fox(6), Booker(7), Edwards(6)…considering the minutes he plays this should be a lot higher

    Doing this could get him 5+ more points easily as he’s a great FT shooter and his bad games wouldn’t be that bad…he would be more ‘consistent’. He settles for too many difficult shots and that’s why he is inconsistent

    His injury history doesn’t help but I still think he can pull himself out of this slump

  25. It’s obviously bad but I still think the narrative that we shouldn’t have signed him is wrong. We had to give him the max otherwise he walks. We don’t even get cap space if he walks because we’re already over the cap. We had no choice.

    Nuggets have to hope he plays his way into form or find a way to trade him.

  26. Ok, so just to clarify the terms you’re setting up right here. If February rolls around and he’s still looking this bad, you’ll concede that this isn’t just Jamal being Jamal?

  27. I never “turned it on” last years playoffs and that suggests to me that he is no longer able to “turn it on” to that level.

  30. This is fair enough, I just think this is pronounced because he was quite terrible in the playoffs, bailing himself out with the game winning shots against the Lakers. Had like 1 good game against the Wolves, game 7, which he then absolutely died in and they choked. Then he was nearly unplayable in the Olympics. Then it has continued mostly this season. Could honestly be he isn’t all that great.. unfortunately.

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