Shootaround Notes: Nuggets have zero margin for error against Warriors

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The Denver Nuggets are finally back at the Pepsi Center preparing for the first game of the preseason on their home floor. Michael Malone spoke at shootaround this morning about how the Nuggets will defend the Warriors, how Will Barton can adapt to starting or coming off the bench, and how Denver’s twin towers look matches up with Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia inside.

“They are just so smart. So skilled. Any breakdown that you have, they exploit,” Malone said of the Warriors. “On top of that, probably our biggest weakness after four preseason games is probably one of their biggest strengths, which is turning people over. They are averaging 24 points a night off of forced turnovers. Over 13 steals a night. They are small, they are versatile and they are aggressive. They turn you over and then they score a lot of easy points. When that happens they are almost impossible to beat because guarding them in the half court is tough enough but when you have self-inflicted wounds, those are the kinds, that against this team, make it really hard to be in the game.”

The Nuggets are currently averaging over 20 turnovers per game through four preseason games. If they want to stick with Golden State, they’ll need to do a better job protecting the ball.

Barton’s rise

With Gary Harris still sidelined with a partially torn right groin, Barton and his role has been a popular discussion in regards to how the Nuggets should use last year’s sixth man going forward. Throughout the preseason, Barton continues to do what he has always had in terms of acting as an initiator in the pick and roll and finishing around the rim at a high level. Malone praised his play offensively so far:

“Last year, I said it many times that Will is more than qualified to be a starter. The year he had. The month of December. If you look at his stats, [it is] ridiculous the month that he had,” Malone said. “I love him coming off the bench because he gave us that spark. I think he’s done a good job. The challenge is, in the starting lineup, he is very aggressive with an attack mindset, which is great, but we also want to make sure we are moving the ball and play the right way and getting off the ball. I think Will, being a starter or off the bench, will give you the same thing every night.”

However, for Barton to take that next step, he has to become a more disciplined and reliable defender.

“There have been flashes and moments for Will, and our team, where, ok, were getting it and there have been other moments where you say you need to keep on pounding that rock and watching film and getting on the court to work on it,” Malone said of Barton’s progression on the defensive end of the floor. “The fact is that I like that Will is in tune with that, he knows that. He is not oblivious to the fact that he has to be a more disciplined defender. That is his biggest challenge. He has all the natural and physical abilities to be a very good defender.”

“Jurkic” frontcourt faces its tallest task yet

Being that the Nuggets are preparing to take on the Warriors tonight it will be a great look at how the Nuggets’ “Balkan Buddy Ball” frontcourt performs against the much quicker and more athletic front line of Green and Pachulia. Malone has stated that the Nuggets will not be reactionary when deciding on lineups and that that line of thinking will be put to the test tonight.

“The easy thing today would be to say that, hey, we have to play small. They have Draymond at the four and Zaza at the five, but we feel that teams will have to guard us, as well, if we play big,” Malone said. “That is the advantage. The Warriors are a great team but you can hurt them on the glass and you can hurt them inside, we feel. So maybe you try to exploit that.”

Tonight’s game tips off at 7 PM MST and is not broadcast on TV.