The Nuggets Must Believe in the Process of Emmanuel Mudiay
Dec 10, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) shoots the ball over Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Perseverance and support will see Mudiay live up to his potential
In what has been an up and down season for the sophomore guard, it is time for the Denver Nuggets to continue with their patience and reinforce their confidence in the guard.
The 20-year-old point guard had been at the center of various trade talks in the last month. And whilst being in and out of the team with lower-back pain, the guard has struggled as of late.
Want your voice heard? Join the Nugg Love team!
Through his last ten, Mudiay’s productivity on the court has stagnated; averaging seven points and four assists in just over 20 minutes.
But with an important stretch coming up for the Nuggets, fans shouldn’t be giving up on the youngster’s massive potential just yet, as Mudiay’s involvement could be critical in the coming weeks.
Nov 25, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) guards Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Reason for Optimism
In a long, strenuous and eventful season, the guard has shown promise on several occasions when given the chance. Most notably, Mudiay dropped a career-high 30 points against the Celtics with an impressive 24 points coming in just the first quarter alone.
And more importantly from a team perspective, the guard added a career-high 13 assists against the Magic in January.
More from Nugg Love
Passing the ball efficiently is an aspect to his game that Michael Malone would’ve taken great joy in witnessing. Ball distribution has been a component of the player’s game that has witnessed struggles in his short career.
Though, both games provide as proof that he has the capability to perform at an extremely high level. But, as always, it’s a question of consistency which is an issue for the young athlete. However, can we honestly expect the 20-year-old to be consistent in a league with such an intense and experienced level? The answer, undoubtedly, is no and it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s all about patience and experience at this stage in his career.
Dec 7, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) reaches for the net during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Simplicity is key
For Mudiay, it often seems to be about nailing down the basics; reducing turnovers and making simple plays. These two components will be vital to the guard’s progression as we already know of his incredible athleticism and explosiveness running the floor but his ability to protect the ball has seen difficulties.
By simply taking time and making the simple pass, Mudiay will surely decrease the number of turnovers in a game. And despite a poor start to the season, this is something Mudiay has improved on as he continues to learn from his mistakes.
As for shooting the ball, we all know the player has an undesirably low shooting percentage. But looking deeper into the type of ill-advised shots the guard is taking, there is no wonder the percentage is low. Mudiay isn’t giving himself credit, nor a chance to have a great field-goal percentage with his current shot selection. But, again, with time, he will surely begin to improve his mid-range game and learn when the right time to shoot the ball may be.
From long-range, the former Guanzhou Long-Lions player has shown that he is more than adept. But there are occasions the player will hesitate on an open look – missing those questionably easy mid-range shots may dent his confidence during a game. But we have all seen he can shoot a three competently in the early stages of his career, so it may just be a question of assurance in his jumper.
Nov 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (right) celebrates a play with Jameer Nelson (1) in the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Experience
The Congolese player is incredibly young.
And whilst most fans will always and naturally be impatient, if the guard is nurtured and given an optimal platform to perform, he will be a guaranteed success with his massive potential.
This season, Malone has rightly allowed veteran Jameer Nelson to pull the strings during the end of tightly contested matches. But maybe it is time to start showing confidence in the second-year to make the right decision and trust his game.
As he continues to develop his mid-range game, the guard should focus on distributing the ball, getting his teammates involved. On top of that, he has incredible ability to drive to the hoop with his athleticism, which he should utilize more often. In other words, the thing that will be easier said than done for fans, is to remain patient.
Oct 3, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles the ball under pressure from Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) during the third quarter at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
There is no need to dwell on the past
In the second half of the season, every game becomes more and more important. While Portland is giving the Nuggets a real fight for the 8th seed, the position is surely in Denver’s hands if they find some consistency.
For Mudiay as an individual, a taste of the NBA Playoffs will do the player’s game wonders. But, just being involved in a contest for a playoff berth itself will allow the guard to grow and learn about competing in this incredible league.
With every game, Emmanuel Mudiay will no doubt learn and improve. And with confidence and belief, the Nuggets’ guard just might turn into something special, becoming a huge part of the team’s present and future success.
