Prior to Wednesday’s game against Portland, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told reporters that the team didn’t bring in Austin Rivers just to “hang out” and that the plan was to incorporate him immediately, writes Mike Singer of The Denver Post. Malone delivered on that promise by playing Rivers for 13 minutes in Wednesday’s win — the veteran guard scored five points and added three rebounds.
After the game, Rivers said he reflected on his situation a lot since being traded and waived in March, and arrived in Denver determined to be a professional teammate who brought a “positive energy” to the Nuggets (Twitter link via Singer).
In addition to that positive energy, Rivers should bring capable outside shooting, shot creation, and perimeter defense to a backcourt that has been hit recently by injuries, writes Eric Spyropoulos of Nuggets.com.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- When D’Angelo Russell returned from his knee injury earlier this month, the Timberwolves had him coming off the bench on a minutes limit. Russell’s minutes should increase a little going forward, to about 30 per game, per head coach Chris Finch, but he’ll continue coming off the bench for the time being, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune writes. “It’s the plan eventually to get him into the starting lineup, but we’re all comfortable where he is,” Finch said.
- Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said on Wednesday that there’s still no update on the arrival of recently-signed forward Gabriel Deck, who is being held up visa issues. “Still working through it. Trying to get him here, trying to get him locked in,” Daigneault said (Twitter link via Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman). “We’d like to certainly have him join us and see him play for as many games as possible.”
- Asked about his upcoming free agency, Trail Blazers wing Norman Powell said he’s too wrapped up in the playoff race to think about much yet, per Jason Quick of The Athletic. “I’m looking at everything, evaluating everything,” Powell said. “It’s a little different for me now because I thought I would be in Toronto. It was like home, and you always want to stay home. But now, it’s like a different perspective, learning about a different organization and how they operate.”
Opposing teams don’t guard Compazzo. The Nuggets offense is much worse with him on floor. Not that he’s a bad shooter or doesn’t try hard; and he does give endless effort on defense. But defenses don’t guard him. Instead of guarding him, they sit in the passing lane. He’s not tall, and he doesn’t have a quick release; it’s relatively easy for teams to not guard him and then recover to challenge his shot if he decides to shoot. And, some of this is Compazzo’s fault because he often doesn’t look to shoot. There’s a play the other night where Jokic sets a pick for him and then rolls towards the basket and both defenders follow Jokic…and Compazzo is completely free from deep but he doesn’t even look at the basket. I suspect defenses will guard Rivers. I hope Rivers hits shots…playing with Jokic, a point guard needs to be able to hit the 3 when the defender goes under the pick and roll; they need to be able to drive to the basket when Jokic sets the pick and then pops out; and they need to be able to make the pass to the corner three if help comes when they are driving to the basket on the pick/pop with Jokic. Other than that the Denver pg needs to learn a few gimmick plays. I’m wishing Rivers good luck.
Great observation, but Rivers really isn’t an exceptional p/r player – he’s better sitting in the corner waiting for the jumper than actually being in that action. But, I agree he’s probably more of a threat with the ball, scoring-wise, than Campazzo.
They also have Monte Morris they can throw in there who’s probably the best player of the 3.
x% posted a good breakdown of Rivers most recent stats, and they’re pretty ugly-much worse than Camp’s or Morris’s this year.
Doesn’t hurt to give him some run before the playoffs tho, Jokic definitely can make guys better
Just a quick note: Rivers wasnt waived in NYK, but in OKC
Good catch, thanks.
Sure, no problem!
Rockets have defeat Wolves in reverse standing
Winning %
Rockets 25%
Wolves 27%
If Blazers pay Powell $18 million to start and Kanter 6 m to start, Blazers need to pay $15 million luxury tax
Blazers are not cheap
By comparison, Celtics are cheap
And their payrolls are practically identical. Go figure.