LA JOLLA, Calif. – There’s the usual rust that’s often present during preseason, but the Nuggets’ slightly tweaked starting lineup hit its stride on the second day of training camp.
“Just beginning, but what’s beginning looks dangerous and impactful,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said of his starters after Wednesday’s practice at UC San Diego. “(There’s) a lot of chemistry there.”
The chemistry should be about 80% there. Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic return in their previous roles, while Cam Johnson is in line to replace Michael Porter Jr. after the Nuggets and Nets swapped small forwards in the summer. Johnson’s versatility has been lauded in his short time with his third NBA team.
“He can be anywhere on the floor,” Murray said of his new running mate. “He can be the dunker then space out. He can start with the ball and come off a screen. He’s a guy you have to chase. He can start in the corner, come off a DHO (dribble handoff). He has a quick release. He can catch them by surprise and then just go into his shot with no problem. There’s a lot of different things where it’s like, ‘This will help the whole game unfold for everybody.’”
The Nuggets have two more days of practice before the new starting five make their debut in Denver’s preseason opener against the Timberwolves. Murray said the biggest issue for the team is a common one at this point in the preseason – limiting turnovers.
“We’re good. We’re rusty,” Murray said of the starters. “Our timing is a little off right now, but we’re the same five that we’re used to.”
Denver’s starting point guard received praise for his leadership over the summer, making sure some of the young returners and new veterans like Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr. were all in the gym together for some pick-up runs in Los Angeles. Murray said the emphasis on team building will continue once the team gets back to Denver and gets into the rhythm of the season. He planned to host a team dinner. For now, the focus is growing together on the court, and his coach said Murray set the tone on both ends Wednesday.
“Jamal was incredible today on both ends,” Adelman said. “Part of leadership is just your approach, not just what you say to your teammates or in the media. It’s how you actually approach each day. They’ve been really good for two days. … The first group was really good, really good defensively. Just another day of chemistry building.”
Murray has maintained the longer offseason allowed him and the others who played heavy minutes – both in the NBA and international competitions – the last couple of years to properly recharge ahead of another season with championship aspirations.
“Everybody came back fresh not only physically but mentally. I think that’s the biggest thing. The body follows the mind, so everybody is in good spirits, and we had a good couple of days,” Murray said.
“Coming off a loss to the champs, having a long offseason I think not just me, but everybody had a chance to recoup and regenerate and come to this training camp with a goal in mind.”