Shootaround Notes: Nuggets in regular season mode, battle for 15th roster spot continues and latest injury news

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The Denver Nuggets eighth and final preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks is only hours away. This preseason has added more questions then it has answered in terms of injuries to Darrell Arthur, Gary Harris, and Emmanuel Mudiay and the new starting front court of Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic. While there is still a fair amount of uncertainty going into the regular season tonight represents the final chance for the training camp invites and rookies to prove themselves in extended minutes.

Michael Malone spoke today on tonight’s matchup with the Mavericks, how he views it as the Nuggets home opener as opposed to the final preseason game and provided an update on the statuses of Harris, Arthur, and Mudiay.

Treating tonight as a regular season game

It seems that Malone is ready to get down to business and get the regular season started. Being that there are so many uncertainties revolving around the Nuggets rotation, Malone wants to treat Denver’s final preseason games as the home opener.

“My message is really simple. We’re treating tonight’s game like it is the home opener,” Malone said at shootaround. “We have to go out there and play and get better. We cannot continue making the same mistakes and have the same concerns. So tonight is, yes, the last game of the preseason on paper but lets come out like it is a real game and protect our home court and clean up as much stuff as we can.”

Considering that the Nuggets have struggled with many of the same issues that they suffered from last season, like turnovers and defending the three point line, it makes complete sense that Malone is putting more pressure on his team to perform tonight regardless of whether the game counts or not. The Nuggets need to make obvious strides in these areas or they’ll suffer the consequences especially their difficult schedule to open the season.

While there have been many positives this preseason, the Nuggets have yet to put together a full 48-minute effort. Look for Malone to potentially tighten his rotation and force his top nine players to work their way though struggles and to begin redeveloping their chemistry on the court.

Last shot for Nate Wolters, Robbie Hummel and Jarnell Stokes

When asked which of Denver’s three training camp invites has impressed him going into the last preseason game he was highly complimentary of all three players but was transparent at the same time.

“I think they have all had moments. Let’s be honest. I think both Robbie and Jarnell have gotten a lot more minutes to play and to showcase their abilities so it hasn’t been entirely fair for Nate,” Malone said. “Obviously, [Wolters] has had a lot of practices to showcase but it will be a tough decision. All three of those players are good enough to be in the NBA. Obviously, our decision will be what is best for our team. It may not be the best player, maybe, according to our roster what is the best fit. What makes more sense for us. We will make that decision, obviously, prior to next Wednesday and it will be a tough one. All of those guys have been terrific and I can’t thank them enough.”

While Malone wouldn’t give specifics on who is leading the race for the 15th roster spot it seems that it is Stokes’ job to lose. He fits the roster’s needs better than Hummel with his ability to play both frontcourt positions and also brings an unwavering passion and work ethic that fits the culture created by Malone and general manager Tim Connelly.

Injury updates

The biggest question leading into the Nuggets first game of the season is which players will be available opening night. Mudiay is recovering from a sprained ankle, Harris is dealing with a partially torn groin, while Arthur is still rehabbing from his surgically repaired knee. With the rash of injuries the Nuggets are dealing with Malone shed some light on how the three are progressing so far.

“I think all of them. It is my hope, keep hope alive, that we can have all of those guys available [for the regular season opener]. Gary Harris has made unbelievable progress and he is ahead of the original 4-6 week window that was originally given to him.”

Malone then elaborated on Harris and his path back from his partially torn groin:

“No pressure but it seems that there is a good chance that he can play on Wednesday night which would be nice to have our starting backcourt from last season.”

To round out the Nuggets starting backcourt, Mudiay did participate in shootaround this morning. While odds are he does not play tonight, it sounds like he’ll be in the lineup in New Orleans on October 26.

On Arthur:

“Obviously disappointed but were not going to rush him. He went in hard yesterday for the first time as I mentioned after practice. I think his knee probably not being used to that the live competitive physicality of a contact practice; it swelled up a little bit so we’re gong to be smart about this and give him some rest and hopefully he can be available next Wednesday.”

Hearing that Arthur had additional swelling in his knee, while not dire, is not good news. It’s looking less likely that Arthur will be ready for opening night than both Mudiay and Harris.