Vinny Benedetto, a beat writer for the Denver Gazette, brings insights from the NBA and the Nuggets’ locker room:
NBA Insider
The recent offseason acquisitions promise to enhance the Nuggets’ rotational depth.
Here are five lineups to keep an eye on this season:
1. The Starting Lineup
Denver’s starting five has been considered among the best in the league over the past few years, but there will be changes this season. Cam Johnson is expected to take over for Michael Porter Jr., joining Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic. Johnson should integrate well into this lineup, minimizing the impact of Porter’s exit. Although the lineup may have defensive gaps, their offensive capabilities should compensate for that, just as in earlier seasons.
2. Two-Big Strategy
More teams are adopting two-big lineups these days. Denver experienced this tactic first-hand when the Thunder used Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren in their series. While Jonas Valanciunas won’t be the starter, his addition provides David Adelman with a better option to counteract other teams that play big. The challenge, however, lies in defense, as either Jokic or Valanciunas will need to guard on the perimeter, but it’s a strategy worth testing occasionally.
3. Non-Jokic Rotation
The struggle during the 10 to 15 minutes without Jokic has been an ongoing issue. The acquisition of Valanciunas is intended to alleviate those struggles, but he’s not the only new face within the second unit. Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. will add experience, while players like Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, and DaRon Holmes II vie for the last bench spots. The predicted second unit for the season includes Brown, Strawther, Hardaway, Watson, and Valanciunas, with the latter two expected to create space for Brown, while Watson tackles the toughest defensive roles.
4. Staggering Murray’s Minutes
Throughout Michael Malone’s recent seasons, he aimed to have one of his top two players on the court at all times. Even with roster changes, Murray remains the most dependable offensive force when Jokic is off the floor. With experience from their 2022-23 season, Murray and Brown will work together, supported by Hardaway, Watson, and Valanciunas when Adelman opts for a nine-man rotation. Their combination should strike a solid balance, enabling Murray to take on the offensive burden.
5. Embracing the Future
If the Nuggets live up to their potential this season, there should be ample opportunities for key players to rest during the fourth quarter. This creates an optimal chance to give younger talents a chance to shine. Players like Pickett, Strawther, Holmes, Hunter Tyson, and Denver’s two-way players—Tamar Bates, Spencer Jones, and Curtis Jones—are likely to receive significant playing time during these moments.
The decision to reintroduce Denver’s black skyline jerseys after a few seasons in the closet has been positively received. The skyline, set against the Rocky Mountains, stands out as an iconic look for the franchise. The standard white home and navy blue away jerseys are often criticized for lack of creativity, while last year’s alternate jerseys were less than successful. Transforming the skyline jerseys into Denver’s primary look would be ideal, marking a step toward a better overall appearance.
