The issue with Jamal Murray could plague the Nuggets if they struggle.

AP NEWS

Even though many believe the Nuggets are outmatched, their playoff series against the Clippers in the first round stands at a tie of 2-2. Generally speaking, the remarkable performance of Nikola Jokic has been credited as the main reason for Denver's success, and this is completely justified. Jokic has been outstanding, averaging 28. 5 points, 13. 5 rebounds, and 10. 75 assists over the course of four games. Additionally, he has been exceptional in critical moments and has participated in nearly every minute of the series, at times supporting teammates who seem out of place on an NBA court. However, in a subtle manner and without the flashy statistics and excitement, Jamal Murray has played a nearly equally vital role in the team's success through a different approach. He is the sole player on the Nuggets capable of actively dribbling, shooting, and generating offense. The absence of Russell Westbrook makes this situation even more intense, yet the team struggles significantly whenever Murray is not playing.

For context, the offensive rating for the Nuggets during the regular season stood at 118. 9, whereas in the playoffs it has dropped to 106. 1. In this series, the rating decreases to 59. 3 when Jokic is not playing, and it drops to 49. 1 when Murray is on the bench. Even more surprising is the situation when Jokic is playing but Murray is not, resulting in a rating of only 65. 7. To provide context, the Wizards recorded the lowest offensive rating in the NBA this season, standing at 105. 8. It is very clear how much this team requires Murray and how important it is for him to log as many minutes as he can. However, that is where the issue exists. Murray's defense has posed a significant issue. When you consider Murray's slight build, his injured ankle, the exhaustion from his offensive duties, and his already subpar defense, it becomes clear that he's facing challenges on that front. The Clippers have set their sights on Murray, who has struggled to perform consistently. When the top players of the Clippers look for favorable matchups, they target Murray, and it appears they can score effortlessly. Whenever Kawhi has Jamal defending him, it results in a guaranteed score. He has not demonstrated the ability to stay in front of Harden or Powell. He lacks the size to stand up to anyone else.

The Nuggets managed to keep Jamal out of sight by putting him on Kris Dunn, but Ty Lue and his team appeared to have figured that out towards the end of Game 4, understanding that Dunn’s offensive play was damaging them. When the Clippers chose Bogdanovich instead of Dunn in the closing moments, there was no place to conceal and no one to leave open. In roughly 7 minutes, LA achieved a run of 30-9. The Nuggets definitely won't bench Murray since he is clearly essential to their offense. However, with both MPJ and Jokic playing together, there aren't sufficient strong defenders on the court to compensate for Murray's weaknesses. Should the Clippers take lessons from the conclusion of Game 4 and focus on pressuring Murray for the entire 48 minutes, it could lead to the downfall of the Nuggets, and there isn’t much they could do to counter it.