The Nuggets have been able to weather the storm when it has come to injuries this season for the most part, because they’ve finally enjoyed the luxury of a deep roster. It has been a blessing for the gauntlet of a regular season, and should help keep everyone fresh once the playoffs begin as well, but with the extra options come tough decisions.
In the past couple of seasons, making the playoff rotation has been fairly easy because the team simply hasn’t had many options. Michael Malone two years ago and David Adelman last year have had to lean heavily on the starters and an extremely thin bench to the point of running them into the ground.
It was ultimately the team’s undoing, but it also made things easy for the coach in a weird way. This season, thankfully, they actually have some options, but at the same time, that is going to crank up the heat on Adelman, who’s now under pressure to push all the right buttons.
Sure, he’s still going to lean on his main guys, whom he trusts, but that list has changed a bit, and now there are a number of different choices to make on the margins. Those moves can make all the difference in a tightly contested playoff series, and Adelman can’t be afraid to make bold changes when the situation calls for it.
Nuggets can’t wait to change if something’s not working
We obviously know that Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon are going to be on the court for all the biggest minutes as long as they’re healthy, but beyond that, there are a lot of question marks. Christian Braun and Cam Johnson were expected to round out the starting lineup, but if their shots aren’t falling, DA can’t let them sink the ship.
He’s got great options now in Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and even Julian Strawther. They all provide a different look, and it’s on Adelman to know which player to use at the right time. THJ has been great, but he still needs a quick hook on an off night, and vice versa.
Brown is one of their best defenders, but he can’t be allowed to sink the offense. P-Wat and Strawther are still young and unproven; if the bright lights of the playoffs force them to shrink in the moment, the coaches need to realize that and be quick to adjust.
Will Jonas Valanciunas play at all, or will AG soak up all the backup center minutes? Does Jalen Pickett see any backup point guard minutes? There are so many questions for Adelman, and his answers may decide the fate of this team. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope he’s the right guy to be pressing these buttons, and his moves help lead the Nuggets to another title.