SAN ANTONIO — Michael Malone called the 1-on-1 chat he had with Will Barton where Denver’s coach informed the Nuggets’ starting small forward that he’d be bringing him off the bench for Game 4 a “tough discussion.”
Barton agreed with his coach’s characterization of their conversation but didn’t think Malone’s decision to replace him in the starting lineup with Torrey Craig was the correct one, even though it helped break the Nuggets’ 14-game losing streak in San Antonio and gave Denver its first win at AT&T Center since 2012.
“It was tough on me. I don’t agree with it, and I told him that face to face,” Barton told BSN Denver following the Nuggets’ 117-103 win. “I also told him at the same time whatever he feels like he needs to do for the team, I accept.”
In Barton’s place, Craig scored 18 points, converted on a career-high five 3s and held DeMar DeRozan to 19 points after the Spurs’ high-scoring wing averaged 24.7 points across the first three games of the Nuggets’ and Spurs’ first-round series.
Barton came off the bench and had his best offensive outing since Game 1, finishing with 12 points on only 3 of 10 shooting but hit all three of his 3-point attempts.
“I got the same shots. I just made them tonight and the last couple of games I missed them,” Barton said.” I always know that I’m going to make shots. That’s what I do.”
The Nuggets will likely start Craig at small forward again in Tuesday’s Game 5, meaning Barton will continue to come off the bench, something he did in 41 games last season. It’s a role he’s thrived in before, and getting the ball back in Barton’s hands with Denver’s second unit could help the 28-year-old regain some of the offensive rhythm that he’s lost throughout an up-and-down 2018-19 campaign. After injuring his hip/core in the Nuggets’ second game of the regular season, Barton underwent surgery, missed the next three months and hasn’t looked like the same offensive player since. He averaged 11.5 points per game this season, his fewest since 2014-15, but Malone hasn’t seen his confidence or leadership qualities take the same hit that his scoring numbers have.
“Starter, bench, you’re not going to ever shake his confidence,” Malone said. “I have a deep respect for Will because of that.”
“I asked him just to continue to be the leader that he is, and I thought he was phenomenal. He handled it like a man. Of course he wants to start, but he went out there, was mature about it and played to the best of his ability off the bench.”
Why doesn’t Barton agree with Malone’s call?
“Because I’m one of the best players on the team,” he said. “I feel like I give us the best chance to win when I’m on the court. He decides to do what he wants to do. I’m just going to be ready to play. It is what it is.”
