Mike Conley is one of two Jazz players in the COVID-19 protocol, though he has tested negative for the virus. He had close contact with a family member who tested positive, which has forced him to the sidelines. He has to produce seven consecutive negative tests before he can exit quarantine, according to the Salt Lake Tribune’s Eric Walden (Twitter links). The other player who is not currently allowed to practice has yet to be named publicly.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Carmelo Anthony realizes he’ll probably be coming off the bench this season with the Trail Blazers but he admits it’s a difficult adjustment for a longtime All-Star, ESPN’s Royce Young tweets. “I tried it in Houston but it was only seven or eight games,” he said. “This is new for me. … I had to take a deep breath and figure it out. We’ll make it work.”
- Swingman Will Barton believes he should be part of the Nuggets’ starting five, Mike Singer of the Denver Post tweets. “I’m a starter in this league. … I think it’s clear cut,” he said. “I’m a starter. At the end of the day, (it’s up to Coach (Michael) Malone).” Barton missed all of the restart, including Denver’s playoff run, with a knee injury. Barton could wind up competing with Michael Porter Jr. for the small forward spot, though Porter will also see action at power forward.
- Darius Miller expects to be fully recovered from his Achilles injury by the start of the season, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman writes. “I’m feeling pretty good,” Miller said. “Unfortunately with COVID I haven’t had a chance to play a lot, but the team’s working with me, and they’ve got me going at a pretty good pace.” Miller, who was on the Pelicans‘ roster, missed all of last season due to the injury. He was dealt to the Thunder in the four-team deal that sent Steven Adams to New Orleans.
I wouldn’t be worried about Barton starting, I’d be more worried about his health
Nuggets are getting softer and softer with weak bench
Warriors can still take care of Nuggets and Blazers in playoffs
… and help them to the next round.
Nuggets added Green, Hampton, Nnaji, etc. Plus, you factor in the experience and likely improvements from Bol and Porter Jr., a healthy Harris and Barton, and the Nuggets are much more complete team this season!!
Saying they’ve gotten softer is just ignorant..That was the samething people said about the Spurs before they went on their run, the Mavs were also too soft before they beat LeBron in the Finals, and Steph and Klay were also too soft to ever win a title..
Keep calling the Nuggeys soft all you want, but if they continue to make strides as a unit, then they will certainly have the last laugh!!
Oliver Miller is the only player I would call soft. Cuz his tum tum.
I guess me calling them the “Nuggeys” probably doesnt help them look any more tough though..lol haha
Draymond shut down Jokic
Oubre shut down Murray
The rest Nuggets plays zero defense
Warriors are a defensive team
Those two guys play such great defense so that Curry, Wiggins, and their starting center won’t have to? What a luxury for them.
You do realize Obrue has never played for Warriors.
Is this Sillyman too ? Starting to wonder
No really? Wasn’t he with them when they went to 5 straight NBA Finals? My point is that Oubre (not Obrue) is a huge dropoff on both ends of the court from Klay. Plus Draymond isn’t the player he was 4 years ago when he won defensive POY honors.
Curry has never been a good defender, and that will be super obvious this season. They will win more than 15 games, but not nearly as many as people think. Sure they can win 30, but I’d be shocked if they win 40.
How much playing time can Melo get with a front court that features Nurkic and Enes Kanter at the 5, Covington at the 4, then Derrick Jones Jr. and Rodney Hood at the 3? He might play a few minutes until Zach Collins comes back, then he’ll be a bench warmer to end his career.
I would agree but Portland always has bad luck with injuries.
ALWAYS!! I still feel terrible for Oden and Roy…Dang what could have been…
Don’t forget Bill Walton!
I wonder if there’s some data about teams with the worst injury luck…
I wonder about Conley, if he is staying. Big FA yr coming. So his money coming off is a good thing. But resigning Clarkson makes me think he will be moved.
Carmelo always seems to have mental gymnastics he can’t seem to overcome easily. How many years 4? to accept that hes not the best player. Now he’s got the hurdle (…again) of not starting. I would go insane managing someone with so much day to day internal conflict.
Seems like at least 1000 articles on him playing mindgames with himself.
Melo sounds happier.
He is being more practical and knows what will be expected of him and what his role will be. Think it really helps knowing the front office and players do have faith in him. Whereas in Houston where he came off the bench he was out of the league for a long time and wanted to show what he could do and knew he was better than a lot of others on the team. But now that he is settled in Portland everyone respects him and knows what he can do. He has nothing to prove and can come off the wood and light it up and have fun.