Sometimes, it’s not about what you can’t do for your team. It’s about what you CAN do.
Facundo Campazzo can flat out play. Certain situations demand his skill set more than others, but there should be no question about his capabilities. Denver Nuggets fans hadn’t been treated to a breakout Campazzo performance until tonight, and Denver needed every bit of his energy, basketball IQ, and simple shot making tonight.
Campazzo played 21 minutes, racking up 15 points — all three-pointers — to go with two assists, three steals, and even a block. He finished the game with a +26 plus-minus, second best on the team behind a +27 from Nikola Jokić. His energy on the floor was infectious, and the manner in which he accumulated steals and blocks was incredibly valuable. One steal stopped a 3-on-1 fast break as Campazzo anticipated and snatched a cross-court pass out of mid air. His block saved what would have been an easy layup. His other two steals were turned into points.
The fundamental floor spacing was also incredibly important. Gary Harris and Will Barton have struggled to properly space the floor with the starting unit, and the Nuggets have felt that pressure despite having one of the top offenses in the NBA. Campazzo hit 5-of-7 threes tonight, and he’s the first Nugget to do that this season. None of Jokić, Jamal Murray, or Michael Porter Jr. have managed it, though the latter two have gotten close. Denver has needed another floor spacer to emerge; who knew it would be Campazzo?
Check out the highlights from Sunday night’s game below!
