Nuggets' Balkan Buddy Ball faces major test as Warriors visit Denver

 

Preseason game No. 5 | Golden State Warriors (2-1) at Denver Nuggets (2-2)

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado | 7:00 PM MST | TV: None

Injury Report

Gary Harris – OUT (groin)

Darrell Arthur – OUT (knee)

Shaun Livingston – OUT (rest)

After falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-88 Wednesday night, the Nuggets host the Golden State Warriors in Denver’s first home game of the 2016-17 preseason. Here’s what to watch for in tonight’s matchup:

Denver’s twin towers frontcourt faces its biggest test yet

Tonight’s matchup against the Warriors acts as a crescendo to what the Nuggets have been building towards this summer and preseason. Denver’s twin towers frontcourt will go against Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia to start and potentially a small ball look with Kevin Durant or Andre Iguodala and Green at times.

Coach Michael Malone and general manager Tim Connelly claimed this offseason that the Nuggets are going to zig when everyone else is zagging. Denver won’t try to emulate the Warriors with their 3-point shooting or fall in line with the “herd mentality” that’s alive and well throughout the NBA. The Nuggets will play to their strengths this season and management feels that one of their biggest strengths is Jokic, Nurkic, and what they can do on the floor together.

Tonight we’ll likely see both Jokic and Nurkic matched up against Green on the perimeter and get a feel for how the Nuggets defense reacts when the Warriors more athletic forward gets by one of the Nuggets’ big men on the perimeter. Denver won’t panic, though. Malone is on record saying that the Nuggets “will not be reactionary” this season, meaning they won’t change their starting lineup based on who their opponent is. The pairing has looked promising at times this preseason, but tonight’s matchup against the Warriors is the first of many bridges “Jurkic” has to cross this season.

Nuggets done resting players

After the Nuggets disappointing effort against Minnesota Wednesday, Malone is done resting players during the preseason. Over Denver’s remaining four games, the Nuggets will play their regulars and establish the rotation that will log minutes on opening night in New Orleans October 26.

But Malone and his staff still have a number of questions he has to answer before Denver begins the regular season, the most pressing one being the Nuggets’ starting two-guard.

Will Barton seems to have the inside track. The rangy swingman started Denver’s subsequent game after Gary Harris was injured and against the Lakers before resting in their third preseason game. Barton is the Nuggets most experienced option and one Malone feels comfortable with and confident in.

It’s a tough decision, but Barton’s role off the bench is one that can’t be sacrificed to get him in the starting lineup. The bench unit with Kenneth Faried, Jameer Nelson, Jamal Murray and Darrell Arthur (if he’s healthy) needs his playmaking ability and efficiency in the pick-and-roll. Starting Chandler at the two or even Axel Toupane, who might not even make the final roster but showed well in Wednesday night’s preseason affair ( 11 points, seven rebounds in 19 minutes), should be considered as well.

Warriors’ stars are healthy and will play

Golden State rested Green when the Warriors last visited Denver last season (the Nuggets won that matchup 112-110, giving Golden State only their third loss of the season at the time) but this time around all the Warriors’ stars should be a full go for tonight’s matchup.

The Warriors haven’t played since hosting Sacramento back on October 6 and will give their regulars at least some run in Denver.

Handicapping the race for the 15th roster spot

Nate Wolters, Toupane, JaKarr Sampson, and D.J. Kennedy finally got their first minutes of the preseason Wednesday night in Nebraska, while Jarnell Stokes and Robbie Hummell have logged minutes in four and three games, respectively. Yet, it’s still hard to get a feel for who’s leading the pack for Denver’s last roster spot.

If Denver plays as Jokic and Nurkic together as much as they’ve indicated they will, it makes sense to carry another big that can play the five as insurance in case the Nuggets suffer some sort of frontcourt injury. I’ve got Stokes as a slight favorite over Toupane to get the last roster spot as of right now.