Nuggets’ guard Will Barton is expected to play tonight, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Barton had previously been listed as “doubtful,” but over the course of the last 24 hours, had been upgraded to “questionable.” Now it seems that barring a setback, he’ll appear for the Nuggets in an important Game Two.
The 30-year-old has been inactive since April 23 with a hamstring strain, but has been ramping up his workouts in recent days. Adding Barton back into the Nuggets rotation would give them a 6’6, athletic option to try defensively on Devin Booker, who had 21 points on 12 shots against a combination of Austin Rivers, Aaron Gordon, and others in the Suns’ Game One victory.
Here’s more on the Nuggets:
- Michael Porter tweaked his back in Game One, but head coach Michael Malone expects him back for tonight’s game, reports ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “He got treatment all day today, had a good conversation with him. But, barring anything unforeseen, Michael should be good to go for Game 2,” Malone said. The 22-year-old forward missed his first year in the NBA due to back injuries, but there seems to be little concern Game One’s injury was anything more than a minor tweak.
- The Nuggets haven’t provided a specific timeline for Jamal Murray‘s return from his torn ACL, but sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports that the earliest they expect the guard to return would be in February 2022. Murray has been spotted getting shots up before games while avoiding putting weight on his injured knee.
- The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie and the Denver Post’s Sean Keeler both took a closer look at Nikola Jokic‘s rise from 41st pick to 2021 MVP. Keeler writes about Jokic’s underdog mentality and how he refuses to lobby for his own awards. “I didn’t come here to want to be MVP of the league,” Jokic told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols. “I always think someone is better than me. I want to compete to beat him. Just by that mentality, I’m going to be underdog, always.” Meanwhile Vecenie writes about the draft process that led Jokic to Denver. “It was just kind of lucky scouting, to be honest with you,” said team president Tim Connelly.
- Malone called the Nuggets’ mentality in Game One “soft,” reports ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “I think [we] had a soft mentality,” Malone said. “You can’t give up eight and-1s in a playoff game. If you’re going to foul somebody, foul them, and not let them get the and-1.” Aaron Gordon agreed with his coach’s assessment. “Scared, that’s another way to play it,” said Gordon. “You could choose between them two words, either soft or scared, that’s what it felt like we were playing like.” Jokic offered a different take, saying he didn’t believe they played soft, but that the team needed to be more decisive when the Suns started getting hot.
Coach Malone is going to yell at you for calling him Mike instead of Michael lol.
I heard that once, or more exactly, all the on-air apologizing after it.
Denver should have a more than decent chance of tying up the series tonight.
explain!!
The nuggets are a veteran team that have been here before. This is Phoenix’s first crack at this aside from Chris Paul. Phoenix is very young and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, but this round will go to the nuggets.
I think Denver doesn’t get too serious until they’re down 3-1 LOL. Plus I don’t see Phoenix shooting the lights out as they did in game 1. They’ll come back to earth.
Well they about to be down 2-0, so hopefully for Nug fans your right!
The Nuggets were done the minute Murray got hurt. They certainly don’t have the firepower to beat the Suns, this could end up being a
It’s not looking good for the nuggets right now but aren’t they used to being down 3-1? They don’t get serious until game 5 or so? Sort of like Kawhi Leonard. Doesn’t laces his shoes up tightly till game six and seven.
Great picture choice!
I believe that the Nuggets best chance to beat the Suns is that Millsap should start instead of Rivers. Jokic should draw Ayton out of the paint and the Nuggets should spend much of the game running a low post offense thru Millsap, JaMychal Green, and Aaron Gordon.
Nuggets are standing around watching Jokic because the Suns are faster and stronger at basically every position in their starting lineup. If the Nuggets start Millsap instead of Rivers, the Nuggets will have a matchup advantage at both forward spots. Millsap needs to play 30 minutes instead of 11. Green needs to play 30 minutes. I’d give Zeke Nnaji a shot, McGee a shot. The Nuggets have a little bit of a size and strength advantage that they need to use if they want their best chance to win.
I actually agree with most of this. Didnt notice before I posted about potential lineup changes
I don’t see any reason why the Nuggets couldn’t start Jokic, Millsap, Green, MPjr, and Gordon. I don’t think the Suns would be able to press them and turn the ball over. Jokic, Millsap, and Gordon are strong dribblers. And then send whomever Paul or Booker is guarding into the low post. Can Shaq Harrison post up? I know Jokic, Gordon, and Millsap can play the low post. I’m guessing Green, Shaq Harrison, MPjr would have a lot of success in the low post if they were being guarded by Paul or Booker…Mikal Bridges probably can’t guard the low post that well either against Millsap or Gordon. If playing big doesn’t work, the Nuggets have lost nothing. If it works, they could even sit Jokic early and then reinsert Jokic when Ayton sits…let Jokic dominate the Suns bench centers. The Clippers ditched their center to beat the Mavs. Maybe the Nuggets need to ditch their guards to beat the Suns? With Murray out, the Nuggets are playing with house money.
I mean…that’s a little drastic lol, and very little spacing…
Shaq Harrison is a Marcus Smart type
I’m not a fan of a particular team, just a fan of the game played well. Denver has been my favourite team to watch the past few seasons because of ball movement. This ball movement is non-existent so far this series. When Nikola gets the ball the other four players just stand watching him. It’s so frustrating to watch. Credit PHX defense.
I think they can unashamedly call the season done at this point. Too many injuries to key players and MPJ’s back issue looks like the final nail. Phoenix are winning easily and convincingly.
I look forward to Murray joining the team in February. Have a long break, get healthy, try again next year.
It’s not over till it’s over. These guys won’t just quit like that. Game 3 is huge. Let’s see if there’s any life in Denver !!
I agree they’ve shown incredible resiliency over the past couple of years but I just think they’re too beat up at this point.
I’d LOVE to be wrong though.
The Suns aren’t a particularly likeable team in style or personnel, as sublime as Chris Paul is.
I had Phoenix in 6 b/c while I think these teams have a really close matchup, Phoenix edges them out. I think Denver might want to try something different, now that Barton is back. Missing Dozier hurts them a lot here as well.
I would consider changing 2 or potentially even 3 starters, in this matchup, although I think there are 3 interesting potential options that are all a little different.
Campazzo, Shaq Harrison, Barton, Paul Milsap, Jokic
Porter, Morris, Gordon, Jamychal Green, and potentially Rivers, and Nnaji off the bench
You could also do Harrison, Barton, Porter, Milsap, Jokic
Morris, Gordon, Green, Campazzo, and potentially Rivers, and Nnaji off the bench
Or Campazzo, Harrison, Porter, Milsap, and Jokic
Barton, Gordon, Morris, Green, and potentially Nnaji, and Rivers off the bench
Denver needs to use their size at some of those positions a little more in the matchup. Phoenix has size at a couple of those spots as well, but if they stick with their current rotation, I feel like these guys would play better against those lineups.