While most teams will host Media Day tomorrow, the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics already have a few practices. The Nuggets and Celtics will then board a plane for Abu Dhabi, where they will play a pair of exhibition games over the weekend as part of the 2024 NBA Abu Dhabi Games.
Denver will leave the Rocky Mountains on Monday for Abu Dhabi, a 17-hour plane ride. The Nuggets and Celtics will then play on Friday and Sunday.
“I’ve never done it, so I’m going to try to learn, try to listen to people that have done it,” Nuggets Christian Braun said about the upcoming trip. “I can’t say that I’m excited about the flight, but I am excited about being there and getting to play.”
Denver Nuggets Looking To Improve 3-point Shooting, Open To Adding A Long-Range Marksman
Even though Denver has already had three days of practices, the Nuggets still have several things to figure out. The Nuggets didn’t do much this offseason, but they lost two rotational players, including starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Denver did bring in DaRon Holmes (via Draft Night trade) and signed Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook. Additionally, Vlatko Cancar has returned from the injury that cost him all of last season.
Denver returns four starters and 11 players from a 57-win team, marking its second consecutive 50-victory and seventh straight winning season. However, the Nuggets, who finished second in the Western Conference, fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round.
The Nuggets’ 15-man roster and nine-man rotation also appear set. Holmes (torn Achilles) is out for the entire season.
However, Malone does have to figure out who the fifth starter is and finalize their second unit. They need to be more versatile on offense, get to the foul line more often, and be better at forcing turnovers.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity for our team to get together and have fun, (but) you definitely have to get some work in, but it’s also a chance for us to be together as a team, go visit an exciting place I’ve never been, get to learn about a new culture,” coach Michael Malone said about the upcoming trip. “So, I think we’re all looking forward to taking it all while going there and representing the Nuggets in front of some great NBA fans.”
Who Is A Candidate For The Fifth Starting Spot?
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, coming off a career season, will once again lead the way for the Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon are outstanding Robin’s to those two stars. But the Nuggets need to figure out who is their fifth starter.
While Westbrook is not a candidate to be with the first unit, The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando said that Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and Julian Strawther are options to fill the spot.
Braun is the leading candidate to win the starting job. Braun, who has started 10 NBA games, is known as a shooter and showed improvement in year two. He also has playoff experience over the past two seasons, scoring in double-figures three times this last postseason.
Strawther is also a shooter. But the 22-year-old didn’t see much playing time, totaling 11 minutes over 50 games in his rookie season. He averaged 4.5 points with shooting splits of 36.7/29.7/71.0. He had 10 double-figure scoring games with two contests of 20-plus points.
Watson has started six games in his two-year career. The 6-8 athletic wing is efficient around the rim and arguably the best defender of three, though he has looked uncomfortable on the offensive end and doesn’t shoot it well.
Watson won’t play in Abu Dhabi as he is dealing with a soft-tissue hamstring injury. He may miss the entire preseason, per a Durando tweet.
“Peyton Watson is out with a soft tissue hamstring injury. Michael Malone said Watson rehabbing and being prepared for the regular-season opener is more important than getting him in preseason games.”
Westbrook, Saric, Watson, and Strawther will likely headline the second unit. Therefore, the Nuggets have one spot to fill. Zeke Nnaji, DeAndre Jordan, and Cancar will likely compete for the unit’s second team unit.
Denver Looking For 3-Point Shooting?
3-Point shooting is one of the Nuggets’ biggest concerns heading into the season. The Nuggets were 10th in 3-point percentage at 37.4% last season. However, their 11.7 3-pointers made were 25th in the league, and they were dead last in attempts at 31.2. Additionally, Caldwell-Pope and Jackson — two of the players they lost this offseason — were third and fourth in the league at 1.6 and 1.2 treys a game. KCP (40.6%) and Justin Holiday (40.4%) were second and third on the team in percentage.
General manager Calvin Booth told Durando that he would monitor their 3-point shooting and, if necessary, make a deal.
“We are riding a fine line with our shooting when you have Russell Westbrook, Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson all in your rotation. And I think Christian (Braun) should be left out of that conversation when he shoots 42.9% above the break last year. But it is gonna be a fine line. It’s something we have to monitor. If we need to address our shooting at the trade deadline, we’ll do it.”
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