The Denver Nuggets kicked off their preseason with a narrow loss to the Phoenix Suns, falling 118-114 in a tightly contested game. While preseason games are often seen as warm-ups for teams to fine-tune their lineups and strategies, Denver's head coach Michael Malone took a more strenuous approach, deploying his starting unit for the entire third quarter. This decision seemed to underscore Malone's commitment to pushing his players, even at this early stage of the season.
"Played that starting unit the whole third quarter to try to push their envelope a little bit," Malone remarked after the game. His strategy highlighted a willingness to prioritize conditioning and readiness, echoing a broader sentiment that may run counter to today's perceived modern NBA norms of player handling.
With Jamal Murray absent due to a knee issue in the second half, Malone had to adapt quickly. Christian Braun and Julian Swather became crucial figures during Murray's absence, stepping up to fill the void. Murray's knee concern is a possible red flag for the Nuggets as they move forward, but Malone showed no visible signs of panic as he calmly relied on his bench depth.
Malone's post-game discourse further shed light on his perspective regarding current training regimens. "That was probably a little bit hard on some of those guys," he noted, reflecting on the rigorous third quarter. He continued, "In practice, I think we can get up and down more. I think so often as coaches and modern-day NBA, the league has gotten so soft. Everybody's afraid to condition and run. Well, we have to."
Malone’s candid comments about the league's approach to conditioning resonate at a time when player fitness and workload management are hot topics. His sentiments are shared by Michael Porter Jr., who indicated a personal focus on staying active and conditioned throughout the season. Porter Jr.’s goals align with Malone's vision, stating, "The better conditioned you are, the most opportunities will find you because you're just always moving." He added, "That's a big goal for me this year." These statements not only demonstrate a unified team ethos but also hint at a rigorous physical emphasis in the Nuggets' training sessions.
Amidst the preseason challenges, the Nuggets are also coming to terms with key off-season changes. They lost playoff series momentum last year, suffering a notable defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves despite leading the series 3-2. Moreover, the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic during the offseason has left a gap that Malone has to address strategically. These factors compound the task Malone faces to maintain competitive edge and morale within the squad.
The Nuggets' preparation for the upcoming season is a balancing act between nurturing nascent talent and leveraging established experience. Malone’s latest choices and comments provide an early glimpse into the team's potentially rigorous and dynamic methodology as they gear up for the regular season.
As the preseason progresses, all eyes will remain on how the Nuggets refine their approach, ensuring that the team's conditioning and strategic prowess are sufficiently robust. With Malone at the helm, Denver looks prepared to embrace a work ethic-centered culture, setting a tone that may well inform their ambitions and exertions in what promises to be a challenging season ahead.