1. THE BIRTH OF THE BIG THREE
The days of the Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray two-man game as we knew it are pretty much extinct. This is not a Big Two. It’s a Big Three. A legit Big Three of Jokic, Murray, and Aaron Gordon. Gordon as simply a complementary piece to Murray and Jokic is over. He’s much more significant than that. He’s the third piece of what really is a 3-man game, not just a 2-man game.
The Jokic-Murray screening action works best now when Gordon is allowing that action to be initiated in a variety of different ways. That keeps defenses from being able to hone in on one specific entry point, say, like a high ball screen, and gives Murray (or Jokic) a running start into the screen.
Nuggets coach David Adelman has emphasized Gordon’s importance several times, but it’s worth noting again. When Gordon is out, the Nuggets offense simply doesn’t run the same. It’s less effective, and defenses relentlessly attack Jokic and Murray. Gordon is as important as he has ever been.
2. SPENCER JONES’ TEST OF HAMSTRING PROTOCOLS
Hamstring injuries to Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson last season were devastating to the Nuggets. Both players injured them, returned to action, and then reinjured them. Watson missed the playoffs, and Gordon only played in 36 games.
The Nuggets examined their rehab protocols and staffing after the season and added a director of athletic training to their medical personnel. “We added a new position, a leadership role in the medical department,” EVP of Basketball Operations, Ben Tenzer, said.
Spencer Jones is quickly testing whatever is new. He picked up a hamstring injury during training camp and has not played in the preseason. He is this season’s first test of the organization getting him back on the court in a way that doesn’t result in him quickly reinjuring the hamstring and going back on the shelf. And the importance of this cannot be understated. Hamstring injuries have derailed this team’s ability to put its best foot forward in the last couple of playoffs in particular, but also to put consistent lineups out there during the regular season.
This is the injury of record for the Nuggets — and getting Jones through it in a way that puts him on the court for the majority of the regular season will mean any new treatment/rehab protocols were a success.
3. TREVON BRAZILE MUST PLAY
The player the Nuggets might just have to shoehorn into the lineup is rookie second-round pick Trevon Brazile.
He is the type of player that you don’t have to run any specific plays for, but still can make a huge impact. And if you do run plays for him, he’ll excel in that space, too. In my opinion, he’s already the Nuggets’ best lob threat, and that’s saying something for a team that has the super high-flying Aaron Gordon on it.
His offensive versatility stands out. He finishes EVERYTHING around the rim. He’s got an effortless — and accurate — shot from the 3-point line. He attacks the offensive glass relentlessly. At 6-foot-10 with a gargantuan 7-4 wingspan and a 41.5-inch vertical jump, he and blocks and alters so many shots.
With the loss of Peyton Watson to trade, this is the exact profile of the player they need to be giving minutes to because of the various ways he can help the team. And they can do this without putting pressure on him to produce points. So he can learn and help the team at the same time and that’s the win-win.
4. IS THE DEFENSE IMPROVED?
So this is TBD. I know all of the emphasis in training camp and the preseason has been in transition defense, but I’ve been more impressed with what I see in the Nuggets halfcourt defense.
There are subtle changes in how the weakside defenders cheat in to help stop drives, especially in screen-rolls. They are shrinking the court really well, and making it very difficult for teams to get into the middle of the defense, something that was a big problem last season. If opponents can’t just always get into the middle of the defense and collapse it, their drive-and-kick game is rendered null and void, and the Nuggets defense can stay out of rotation more, which is a great thing.
5. ALPHA DIALLO = SPENCER JONES
Even their physical profile is similar: Both Alpha Diallo and Spencer Jones are 6-foot-7. Diallo is listed at 210 pounds, Jones is 225. And the extra 15 pounds do matter. But these are two players that do basically the same things on the court.
While Jones has been out, Diallo rightfully so garnered a ton of praise for his ability to pressure the ball 94 feet. He’s hounded ball handlers left and right, causing turnovers in a variety of different ways.
Just like Jones.
And while he’s been gone, that was forgotten. It will be interesting to see what happens when they are both healthy and available. My sense of it is this: Jones plays as a regular part of the rotation. Meanwhile, Diallo plays if Jones is in foul trouble or not available to play.
These are both players that are high-level defensive performers. Jones contributes offensively mainly via the 3-point shot. Diallo, more at the rim with drives and lob dunks.
They are similar, and therefore not playable together for a Nuggets team that has a number of reserve players vying for playing time.