The longer the season goes, the better the deal looks.
Fifteen games into the turbulent NBA season, Monte Morris has been a rock for the Nuggets. The 3-year, $27 million extension he signed a week into training camp was a win for both sides. Morris wanted clarity; the Nuggets wanted reliability. Both sides got what they were looking for in spades.
“That was my biggest focus trying to get a deal done so I could go out there and perform at a high level and not worry about numbers,” Morris said after scoring 17 points in the Nuggets’ overtime win over Phoenix on Friday night. “I’m going out there focused, playing for other guys, with a clear head. And just trying to be the best version of me. … The contract definitely got me at peace.”
Morris’ play has been a reflection of that peace.
Through 15 games, he’s averaging career-highs of 11.7 points on 53% shooting from the field. But it’s more than just the raw numbers. It’s not a coincidence that his 9.4 fourth-quarter minutes lead the Nuggets, or that he’s been the leader of Denver’s second unit, which has destroyed opposing reserve lineups with a net-rating of +29.4 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com.
All are referendums on the team’s trust in Morris. As the rotations and availabilities of players have swirled around him, Morris just keeps on producing.
“It’s not surprising,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “Monte, he’s been incredible off the bench for us. … His ability to know when to attack, know when to get off the ball, make a play for somebody else, his competitive spirit on the defensive end of the floor. Just his overall confidence right now. Monte Morris, I’m so thankful he signed that contract extension. … When Monte plays like that, he’s a difference-maker.”
Following his strong “Bubble” performance, where he was arguably Denver’s fourth-best player, Morris identified three areas to address. He wanted to improve his finishing against length with either hand, get physically stronger to aid his defensive presence and become a more consistent 3-point shooter, according to his trainer, Kieon Arkwright.
“And I also made him play a lot of 2-on-1 to force him to make tough shots under pressure, which helps with scoring late in the shot clock,” Arkwright told The Post.
Morris’ late-clock finishing is something to behold. His first three buckets against the Suns all came with less than four seconds left on the shot clock or game clock. As a team, the Nuggets shoot just 31% on attempts with four seconds or less on the shot clock. Morris, though, connects on nearly 42% of such looks. Among guards, it’s an elite rate. Morris is sandwiched behind Phoenix’s Devin Booker and ahead of Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Utah’s Donovan Mitchell.
Unsurprisingly, Morris is comfortable in isolation. Sixty-six percent of his two-pointers are unassisted, far ahead of Jamal Murray, who’s second on the Nuggets at 57%.
That all goes back to his offseason work, where Morris worked closely with Denver’s developmental staff to refine his touch around the rim. He even brought in Bol Bol for several workouts to practice finishing over his 7-foot-9 wingspan.
Monte's layup package >> pic.twitter.com/weSuMngWtJ
— Mike Singer (@msinger) January 23, 2021
The fruits of his labor have paid off. Morris has been an elite finisher in the paint, as evidenced by his deep layup package against Phoenix, and has excelled as the primary point guard, no matter who he’s paired with. After Friday night, Morris was the NBA’s league-leader in pick-and-roll efficiency as the ball-handler. That’s to say nothing of his assist/turnover ratio (48 assists, seven turnovers) that’s also among the very best in the NBA.
“Monte’s amazing,” Nikola Jokic said. “I really love to play with him. … He’s always making the right play. … Monte’s never gonna make mistake. Even if he makes mistakes, he’s never gonna make it again.”
Morris’ confidence is brimming. His success, though, was no accident.
