Denver Nuggets · 7 notes
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.
Jamal Murray is getting help with ball-handling. Nuggets coach David Adelman said Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun and others handled it by design in the Oct. 11 game: "That's going to help Jamal out." On Murray's poor shooting night: "you guys know the shooting's coming."
Jamal Murray returned for Denver after missing the last preseason game. David Adelman: "Last game without Jamal, then this game with him, I thought the looks were great." He thought the starters, who played only the first half, could have scored in the 70s by the break.
Jamal Murray was out, so Denver's David Adelman gave Julian Strawther ball-handling duties: "it was almost a good way to force us to do stuff like that with Jules." Strawther said he "felt real comfortable" there, "But I know what my main role on the squad is."
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.
Nuggets camp: Jamal Murray says Christian Braun is healthy, "noticeably different" from when he was hurt. David Adelman's bench plan: push the pace with Tyus Jones and Marvin Bagley III, and "if that doesn't work, we slow the hell down and get DeMar DeRozan the ball."