SAN DIEGO — This year’s Nuggets training camp offered a sense of calm regarding their starting lineup, even before practice commenced.
The main focus of the camp was how to integrate other players effectively.
David Adelman has taken over a championship-caliber team from Michael Malone, along with the challenge of managing Nikola Jokic’s rest minutes. Given the Nuggets’ past weaknesses, he now has the opportunity to improve that aspect with a deeper roster. The offseason changes have sparked enthusiasm about shaping their bench rather than apprehension.
“One of the biggest challenges of camp is finding the right fit for the second unit,” Adelman remarked during media day. “I have no concerns about our starters. We just need to ensure we don’t consistently lose those crucial minutes.”
1. Initial Second Unit Structure:
The initial second unit features Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, and Jonas Valanciunas. This lineup is not definitive but serves as a logical starting point. “We’ll experiment with different players in various roles,” noted Adelman. Brown highlighted their full-court pressure strategy against starters, underscoring the lineup’s diversity in skills.
2. Utilizing Valanciunas:
Brown compared the strategy of playing through Valanciunas to that of working with Jokic. Adelman referred to Valanciunas as a “point center,” indicating that he will not bring the ball up but will direct half-court plays with his size and basketball IQ. This approach could anchor the bench’s performance effectively, especially as Valanciunas gets acclimated to the team’s system.
3. Watson’s Role as a Playmaker:
Adelman suggested a new offensive role for Watson this season, indicating he might take on more responsibilities in initiating plays. “He’s demonstrated sound decision-making with the ball,” Adelman stated. While Watson might not lead every play, his capability to drive the offense can provide the bench with additional scoring options.
4. Staggering Starters:
The Nuggets will avoid wholesale substitutions and instead will stagger their player rotations to keep at least one starter on the floor at all times, particularly when Jokic is off. “It doesn’t have to be Jamal or Nikola,” Adelman explained, emphasizing the importance of finding the right combinations for effective play.
5. Growing Optimism:
Murray remains a key figure in guiding the bench during non-Jokic minutes, as he and Valanciunas appeared to work well together in scrimmages. Asked about his anticipation for collaborating with the reserves, Murray expressed a newfound confidence in their ability to perform. “I believe we’ll score and defend better than ever with this unit,” he commented, highlighting the team’s promising depth.
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