NBA Mailbag: Best offense in the league? Most disappointing first half?

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the defending champion Nuggets continue to shine on offense this season.

The NBA Mailbag is here to answer your questions throughout the 2023-24 season! Have a question for Jamal? Submit it at the bottom of this edition of the NBA Mailbag. 

Who has the most effective offense in the NBA right now and can they be stopped?

– from Noah in Great Falls, MT

I don’t know what the numbers say, but for me, I think Denver has the most effective offense. And it’s because Joker is so unique as the hub for everything, almost like a point-center. That, plus the way they all cut and move makes it hard to stop. While they have a scheme, a lot of it is random and just reads. For a defense, that’s hard to scout and even harder to stop.

Hey Jamal – I loved watching you play! Now that the Clippers have been on a roll with James Harden in the lineup, do you see them as true Tier 1 title contenders?

– from Landon in Washington

Yeah, I see them as a legit contender. Their style of play is built for the playoffs. And kudos to Russell Westbrook for coming off the bench. If they were still trying to start all four stars, I think it would still feel disjointed. Him off the bench allows everyone to find their proper place, and they’re rolling now. Then when they get to the playoffs, they have Kawhi who is a top 5 player in the postseason.

Who is the most disappointing team of the first half of the season? And how could they be fixed/improved?

– from Michael in San Antonio, TX

I’ll say the Lakers. Part of the reason is it’s always like, “Well, the Lakers need this or that.” At a certain point, they’ve had a lot to play with over the last couple of seasons. And this is a team that made the West finals last year. So the way they’ve started, especially with the offseason moves they made, has been disappointing.

Is it possible for Trae Young and Dejounte Murray to play alongside each other? If so, what do they need to do for their play to be more cohesive when on the court together?

– from Andre in Colorado

Of course, it’s possible for them to play well together. It just has to be more strategic. I think it would help if they staggered their minutes more so they could each get time as the primary ballhandler without the other on the floor. That would help them get into a rhythm earlier. Then when they have a rhythm, it’s easier to play off-ball later in the game. You’re comfortable and in the flow of the game. It’s not a perfect science, but staggering their minutes could be a key to helping them unlock their potential together.

Will Ja Morant bounce back next season from his injury?

– from Owen in Phoenix, AZ

Yes, I have full faith that Ja will bounce back next season. And as crazy as it sounds, he may return even better because he’ll be hungrier for the game after he recovers from this injury.

How long do you estimate the Spurs will take to develop into a championship team?

– from Nancy B. in Charleston, WV

They have the foundation they need. And the foundation isn’t Wemby … it’s Pop and the Spurs’ way. Then obviously Wemby is the transcendent piece to build around. It will take a few years to reach the championship level. But before we talk about that, let’s see them get to the playoffs first.

You are the GM of the Detroit Pistons. What’s the priority for this young squad? Would you be active at the trade deadline?

– from Michael in Detroit, MI

I would bring in more veterans. I wouldn’t have a team that young with just one or two vets. I would get at least four or five and figure out which young guys to build around. But allow the right veterans to set the foundation for what a career looks like, what being a pro is like and what everyday habits are like. It’s needed for the young players. So my first steps would be to identify who they want to build around, then target veterans who can help the young guys grow. And I would do it by position. If Cade Cunningham is your point guard of the future, then bring in a veteran point who can help teach him the ropes.

If you played in the NBA right now, who would be the toughest person to guard?

– from Vincent in O’ahu, Hawaii

For my position, Ant Edwards or SGA. Those two seem like they would be the toughest to guard because they’re always in go-mode, which means there’s no rest and no plays off. So your antennas are always up. And they’re both electric, which is a tough combo to stop. Some players are in go-mode but they aren’t electric, so you can kind of control them. When they’re in go-mode and electric, as the defender you feel like you’re on an island all the time.

Is Giannis the best cutter in league history or even maybe the greatest power forward?

– from Josh in Australia

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You covered a lot of ground there … almost like Giannis does on the court! He’s definitely a great cutter, but he puts that level of energy into every movement he makes on the floor. And that’s partly what makes him such a special player. Is he the greatest power forward ever? I wouldn’t say so yet, but his book isn’t finished being written.

Who’s bag has surprised you in the last couple of years?

– from Lucca in Chicago, IL

SGA. I knew he’d be good, but it’s the way he’s doing it that’s been surprising. It’s not like he’s on a hot streak. He can do this every single night because he’s figured out certain parts of the game that he can unlock. And he’s doing that while still keeping his teammates involved, which is a tough balance to achieve. But he figured it out. So it’s not just his bag that’s been surprising, it’s how he’s balanced being a great scorer and a great distributor.

Being the best 6th man ever, who do you think will win 6th man of the year this year?

– from Ben in State College, PA

I like Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Monk, or even a big like Naz Reid. The field feels wide open with half the season left.

What was the hardest part about being in the NBA for 20 years?

– from Armand in Houston, TX

The travel, for me. I don’t like to fly. I got into a routine once I had vets around me as far as getting rest, eating right and watching film. So that routine was easy for me, that’s just discipline. But the actual travel was tough. I would wake up like, “Where am I at?”

What was your favorite point you scored?

– from Mason in Arizona

Right now, I’ll say my first points with Brooklyn in the bubble. It was like, “Oh, wow, I’m really back out here.” After being gone for 16 months, it felt great to be back.

What was it like to be on the bench and locker room after the DeAndre dunk on Brandon Knight?

– from Brian in Portland, OR

It was crazy, because just like a week before I made that pass to Blake. So the DeAndre dunk felt like a continuation of that. I felt bad for Brandon because they called a foul on him for that play. To get a foul on a play like that is tough, and he just kind of stayed on the ground for a second. Nobody saw that coming.

Just how unstoppable was LaMarcus Aldridge in the mid-range and overall post game? I’ve viewed him as forever under-credited, and would like to know your experience seeing him play in your era, and also your year as teammates (2011-2012).

– from Sebastian in California

He’s one of the best players I ever played with. His mid-range was automatic. I remember him coming to a pro-am and he was warming up downstairs shooting 3s like free throws. He wasn’t missing. But he ran like a gazelle, was a great teammate and was one of the closest friends I ever had in the NBA. So I’m a huge, huge LaMarcus fan. Hopefully, he’ll get in the Hall of Fame because he is so underappreciated.

Do you believe Tracy McGrady would be considered an all-time great if he won a championship?

– from Nathaniel in Chicago

I think he’s already considered an all-time great. He’s in the Hall of Fame! But a championship would’ve made his resume even more undeniable. People would appreciate his talent more. He averaged 32 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists at 23 years old … that’s incredible.

Do you think some of the current players look too often for the ref to give them a call?

– from Quinn in Illinois

The way the game is now, it’s tougher to defend. The game is built for the offensive player to have an advantage. Once you get used to that, then any time there’s contact you look to see if a call is coming. So yeah, absolutely, they’re looking for calls too often. But it’s fun to see everybody score so many points.

What move is the hardest to defend at the NBA level?

– from Fernando in Buenos Aires, Argentina

I’m not sure it’s a move, but I would say a change of speed is the most difficult thing to defend. When you’re on offense, only you know when you’re going to go. The defender is literally on defense. So changing the speed and pace of your attacks makes you even harder to defend.

What was your favorite/easiest way to get open vs. a defender?

– from Max in New York

When I had the ball, I would just hang dribble. It gave me so many options for how to take apart the defense because they can’t take away everything. Let’s say the ball is in my left hand so I hang dribble left … I could pull up and shoot. If I hang dribble left again, I could blow by you. I do it again, I can cross over. Or I could switch the ball to the right hand and have the same three moves. That’s six moves off 1 starting point. So for me, that was partly the foundation for how I got open. I broke it down with Player’s Tribune in 2016.

Best exercise to increase vertical jump?

– from Landon in the United States

It used to be toe raisers when I was a kid. Everyone wanted to wear those. But I think using weighted vests helps a lot. And do explosive jumping and explosive speed work with the vest on. An underrated part of helping your hops is your core. If your core is strong, it centers everything and allows you to get that extra balance.

Do you know a way to put power into my shot? I am a 14-year-old who is skinny and my jumper is inefficient and UGLY. So I am currently trying to get a different jump shot but I can’t find a way to get my range back with a different jump shot. Do you know any tricks? I want to make the NBA and I don’t think I can anymore.

– from Jacob in Palm Harbor, FL

Start closer to the basket and focus on form shooting. You need to become comfortable with your shot because everybody’s shot is different. It’s just about you mastering your shot and feeling comfortable. So start closer to the rim … like underneath the basket … and just work there until you feel ready to work your way further out. You don’t have to get your range back all at once. But if you get a solid foundation, you can build from there a lot easier.

What are the best summer drills for a freshman who was cut from the JV team and wants to make it next year? Any advice?

– from Gabe in Long Island, NY

If I were you, I would work out with the guys who are on varsity. If you train with older, stronger and better players right now, then when you get back with the JV group you’ll be further along. I think training with older players is the best training method. It helps your confidence tremendously because you start to see the game differently.

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