The Nuggets became the last of the NBA’s 30 teams to play their regular season opener on Thursday, falling to the Warriors in a 137-131 overtime thriller. It was a huge night for veteran forward Aaron Gordon, who established new career highs by pouring in 50 points and making 10 three-pointers. However, he was disappointed not to come away with a victory in Golden State.
“They’re asking if I wanted the game ball, and no, I don’t want the game ball,” Gordon said, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic. “Take an L home with me? No thank you. So this sucks, but it’s one game, our first game. It’s a good team, it’s a really good team … we’re going to reconvene, watch the film and try to play better in our home opener.”
Nuggets head coach David Adelman said after the game that he felt “awful” for Gordon after his career performance was spoiled by some crunch-time heroics from Stephen Curry, who tied the game with a long-distance three-pointer in regulation, then scored a team-high seven overtime points to seal it. Still, Adelman was very pleased by what he saw from Gordon, who is typically a third or fourth offensive option for Denver.
“I thought he did it in a really efficient, smart way,” the Nuggets’ coach said. “He wasn’t forcing any … AG’s a special player. He has been for us for a long time.”
We have more on the Nuggets:
- In an in-depth conversation with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Adelman spoke about last season’s second-round playoff loss to Oklahoma City, why he believes Jonas Valanciunas is such an important addition to the roster, and the challenge of putting his own stamp on the team while also honoring a culture and foundation he helped establish as a longtime Nuggets assistant. “Yeah, it’d be stupid not to maintain some things that have been constants, that won us playoff games,” Adelman said. “But it would also be stupid not to realize the league educates itself and people have guarded us differently in the last two years. So doing the same thing over and over is not going to lead to anything successful in June. We have to tweak things.”
- The Nuggets intend to send 2024 first-round pick DaRon Holmes to the G League throughout this season for developmental purposes, tweets Durando. Holmes missed his entire rookie year due to a torn Achilles and the team doesn’t want to rush him, Durando explains.
- Former Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, who was let go by the team near the end of last season, has shifted to a broadcast role this season. However, the 54-year-old said during an Inside The NBA appearance on Thursday that he doesn’t believe his coaching career is over (Twitter video link). “I’m definitely not done coaching,” Malone said. “Coaching is in my blood. I got that from my father. I’m excited to get back coaching on those sidelines and teaching once again.”
Jokic looked overweight at EuroBasket – skin folds on the back of his head and all that. I thought he would trim down for the season, but nope.
He’ll have to play himself into form.
My thoughts on last nights Warriors/Nuggets game:
1. The Warriors are lethal when Jimmy at at SG. Kerr finally unveiled the “death” lineup of Steph Jim Dray Jon Al with 2 mins left in regulation, as a last gasp move…but it should have been Kerr’s starting lineup from moment one. That death lineup played all of overtime, and it’s clear that lineup will cook almost everyone in this league.
2. Every single time Kerr went small with Steph/Richard/GP2 or Steph/Buddy/Podz or any 3 undersized guys, they got cooked. Small ball is over. Kerr needs to be smacked over and over until he understands this and stops doing it.
3. GP2 is unplayable as anything but a 5-10 MPG guy. Kerr overuses him instead of superior talents. Disgusting how good TJD and Post are, but they lose playing time to a 6’2″ nepo guy who gets unlimited buckets put directly on his head by bigs defensively and is mid and inconsistent on offense. Why is GP2 so important to Kerr when he isn’t very good?
4. Podz is also Very Bad. At everything right now. No consistency, lack of focus, too many mental mistakes, no defense aside from random charges, he doesn’t have the guts for the big moment. He says he wants to be a leader and the future of the team, but if that’s the case, then he should sit on the bench until Dray and Steph are off the team. Podz plays like a wannabe Russ, and that style will -never- work on GSW with Curry and Dray. Whoever on here said GSW were showasing Podz for a trade this year….my god I hope you are right. Podz and GP2 are making these blowouts close.
5. Only Giannis, Joker and maybe Wemby can say they are on Curry’s level. Absolute joke putting Luka ahead of 30. Curry is still in his prime. Super elite.
6. If GSW can replace GP2 and Podz minutes by giving them to Moody and Melton = this team will win 65+.
7. Nuggets were good too. Warriors are better though. Joker gets better as the season goes on. Not a fun team to face in the playoffs.
Curry’s clutch shooting gets better with age, unbelievable…. At least we will never see Spencer when Moody and Melton comes back. .. Richard is legit!!…. Podz want to be better than Curry, lol. That’s disrespectful. Podz got away with all kinds of low percentage shots unlike Kuminga…. Podz is trying to get himself a major extension in the offseason.
Podz game is literally modeled after Russell Westbrook, and that type of chaos mode + ball hog + the whole show, simply will never work with Steph and Dray, its too much chaos. Will Richard is a much better fit in that “trad SG starting role” than Podz due to his “big game” penchant, and likely will be kept over him, but ultimately the best SG on the team right now is Jimmy Butler III. All Kerr has to do it play Jimmy Butler at SG for like 20-25 mins a game and its over. He can play him at the 4 and 5 in his moronic small ball lineups, but ultimately those will go away too, because they simply do not work. Jimmy at the 2 = Dray+JK+Al as the bigs = chip incoming.
Jokic stop hitting baskets because he was tired. Different Jokic after 3rd quarter and he looked 100% tired in OT couldn’t even play defense in OT. That should be the concern for Nuggets play him less minutes in 3rd quarter no more than 8 minutes.
He was already tired the entire 3rd Q and it got worse from there. He scored 2 pts on 1-5/0-4 in the third.
Curry went crazy in OT because he knew Jokic was tired and used him as a screen.
First game of season. Joker always gets his stamina as the season moves on.
Adelman blew the game by not playing Valanciunas and the rest of the bench more than 12 minutes (to give a fat/out of shape Jokic more rest).
Jokic is going to need to play no more than 32-33 if they want him to be effective.
Joker does this every year. He builds stamina as the season moves on. Nothing to see here. Game 1.
Well, in last season’s opening loss, Jokic shot 46%/33%/75%. This loss, 35%/15%/50 %.
Ofc he will get in shape as the season progresses, but it’s too bad for nuggets fans that he doesn’t work out in the offseasons.
ESPN Kevin Pelton prediction
Conference finals
(1) Orlando Magic over (2) New York Knicks, 4-1
(1) Golden State Warriors over (2) Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-2
I second those predictions. Warriors dynasty is still VERY alive. The Magic are the likely East reps, but Dubs are sweeping them in the Finals.
Except that wasn’t a prediction – it was the result of a single simulation (#620) of the NBA season.
100% clickbait, nothing more.
So impressed with Richard. He’s huge, strong, athletic, and fearless. He plays awesome defense, pass, shoot. He can do it all. It’s early but what’s his potential? Wow!
High NBA IQ is why he is doing well. He knows his role and doesn’t try to do too much. Let him work on his 3 pt shooting and he could be a real good player.
Nuggets first game and the wagoneers all got answers. Nuggets bench should have played more. Braun 38 mins, 6 pts.. Cam 32 mins, 5 pts. Brown 20 mins, 4 pts. Valanciunas played 12 mins. He could have played more to help Jokic rest. Thise three players have to score more.
Warriors played their game. And Curry closed it out. Nuggets knew it and couldn’t stop him. As a team Nuggets can play better. But this was a solid win for Warriors.