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Kenneth Faried: It is time to utilize him

By Mathew Huff

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 2: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets boxes out against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 2, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 2: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets boxes out against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 2, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Kenneth Faried has been sitting on the bench with no minutes and now is the perfect time to unleash the Manimal.

Kenneth Faried is a major part of the Denver Nuggets’ bench. A major part which, for some reason, has not been utilized at all lately.

With Paul Millsap out with injury and Mason Plumlee struggling and dislocating his finger recently, head coach, Michael Malone, must unleash the Manimal. Yes, Trey Lyles has emerged as one of the clear leaders off the bench and the best natural power forward on the team outside of Millsap.

But, Faried’s talents are just wasting away on the bench and there have been a few times in close games where his hustle and energy would have helped shift the momentum. Faried has always been a rebound and hustle guy and still has a place on this team despite the log jam at the power forward spot.

Whether he is in the dog house with Malone remains to be seen, but as of right now, what the coach is doing with Faried is a head scratcher. If they want to use him as trade bait, then this would be all the more reason to play him so he can showcase his talents for potential suitors.

With Millsap still out, it has opened up a window of opportunity for him to spark some key runs with this Denver squad as he would be getting meaningful minutes. Instead, he is being left on the bench where, yes, he is best coming in with the second unit, but it only helps if he does play.

Denver is coming off a heart breaking loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the next game against Philadelphia would be a perfect time to release him to get some offensive rebounds.

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One cannot put a price on the energy he brings and Malone needs to start utilizing it.

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