This was an amazingly annoying game but it showed me the blueprint for how I think the team “should” play, but they likely won’t.

Russ should be the dominant ball handler in the starting lineup. Murray really shouldn’t be starting, it should be Russ, Watson, MPJ, AG and Jokic. However, that will never happen. So Murray needs to be off ball the majority of the game; sub out early with AG so the two of them can run the bench with DJ and Braun. That unit looked good with Murray able to dribble as much as he damn wants. 

Then MPJ slides to the four, you can have any two others with Russ and Jokic. Strawther makes sense there because now you have real spacing. I’d keep Peyton out there to shore up the defence. Paint is open for Russ to run two man with Jokic, generate endless good looks and dudes just need to hit their shots. 

Tie Russ to Jokic, the ball movement is sensational and quick and the entire team gets into a beautiful rhythm with Murray off ball. Plus, when Murray sits the defense looks miles better. 

Every time the team was dysfunctional, there was too much Murray and not enough Russ and Jokic. Murray got into a rhythm on the bench anyways. Plus, Murray can be hidden better defensively with AG and DJ behind him, DJ being a much better rim protector than Jokic to defend every blow by or failed screen navigation by Murray.

There’s stuff that you can visibly see that would make sense, but it’s just stuff we will never see Malone go to either for political reasons, contract reasons or fossilized philosophies. 

The Murray, Jokic two man game doesn’t work with Russ on the court because the spacing is terrible and Murray can’t get to the rim, so the defense just collapses on them both without worry. Murray nearly wasted a full possession and was bailed out by MPJ in the clutch after a disgusting possession. Russ and Jokic generated easy looks every time they ran it. 

It just looks so clear to me that the team can’t get into a functional rhythm with the starters when Murray is ball dominant and Russ isn’t. It doesn’t matter when Murray plays with the bench; that’s when they need it which makes him look more like a six man than a true number two. 

Anyways, win is a win. I’m just a fan with pedestrian ideas, but these are my thoughts.