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Denver Nuggets: Specialty lineups for 2018-19

By Grayson Moore

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 26: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is introduced into the starting lineup before the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 26, 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 - JANUARY 26: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is introduced into the starting lineup before the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 26, 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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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 13: Jamal Murray #27 and Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 13, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 13: Jamal Murray #27 and Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 13, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Denver Nuggets will have no shortage of bench depth next season.

With Isaiah Thomas signed to a 1 year, $2 million contract, 3 new draft picks to experiment with, and a returning bench core very similar to last season’s, the Nuggets look set to have one of the best benches in the NBA.

With that being said, it will be hard for Mike Malone to find minutes for everybody next season, especially when you factor in the starting lineup, who will take up a majority of the minutes. If Thomas returns to his Celtics’ form, you have to find more minutes for him. Not to mention, we still are not sure if Michael Porter Jr., the Nuggets’ lottery pick from this summer, will actually play this season or not, depending on his recovery process.

So, most players will have to cut out their minutes in “specialty lineups”, or lineups that play to their strengths and enforce a particular attribute of the game.

Let’s take a look at what some of those lineups might look like.

(Note: All stats are via Basketball-Reference or NBA.com unless otherwise noted.)

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