Nuggets regulars should play again against Chicago, then Denver picks which of its two Los Angeles games to rest people, David Adelman said at practice. He'll take the injury risk with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon since the group didn't play together last year.
"If they choose to play Chet on Aaron Gordon, I feel like Aaron Gordon can orchestrate the offense," Nuggets coach David Adelman said at practice ahead of the opener at Oklahoma City. That gets Jamal Murray off the ball, which Denver had for only about 30 games last year.
Nuggets 1/3
Nuggets coach David Adelman wouldn't commit to Spencer Jones playing Oct. 3 after a tweak kept him out of a scrimmage: a small thing that could become a big one. Aaron Gordon: "My ankle's in a good spot." Adelman will watch DeMar DeRozan, "an older guy."
Nuggets 2/3
David Adelman wants a 10-man Denver rotation to open the season, about 8.5 by year's end; preseason is for settling it, not results. Tyus Jones "can call a game himself," he said. Aaron Gordon wants to bring the ball up more to spare Jamal Murray's legs.
From Denver's practice: David Adelman pulled the regulars early, "just fatigue," not injuries. He'll manage Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and others through preseason. Christian Braun "played through a lot" last year; getting his explosion back is key.