Replacing Christian Braun in the Nuggets’ starting lineup is a multifaceted equation.
The fit and impact of a starting role player is arguably the easier variable. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon will be good together, almost always, no matter who shares the floor with them.
The domino effect on Denver’s bench can be tougher for coach David Adelman to reconcile.
That went into consideration as part of the lineup decision that he announced Monday before the Nuggets hosted the Bulls: Peyton Watson will be the Nuggets’ fifth starter for now, as Braun begins a six-week recovery process from a severely sprained ankle.
“I think he’s embraced it,” Adelman said of the fourth-year wing. “Thought he did a good job in Minnesota. … It’s also a team thing behind (his on-ball defense), but Peyton has special abilities with his length, his contests, and then beyond that just as a weak-side defender. So it makes sense that he complements the starting unit. Especially with Cam (Johnson) back, it makes sense for Peyton to be the guy that stays in there.”
In the first game without Braun last Saturday, Johnson was also sidelined by a bicep injury, leading Adelman to deploy both Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to fill the multiple voids in Minnesota. Johnson’s return to the starting small forward position Monday left the first-year coach with one spot to figure out. Hardaway was fantastic offensively in Minnesota; Watson was superb defensively.
Ultimately, Adelman chose the latter skill set to complement his other starters without Braun, who usually defends the opponent’s best guard.
“I didn’t want to start Tim, to be honest. But it just made sense, just the way (the Timberwolves) guard,” Adelman said. “And you have to have shooting on the weak side against that team. So it worked out. The other part of that is Tim, he’s been in the league a long time. So I don’t want to run him into the ground either. It’s one of those things where you’ve gotta manage it.”
Hardaway, 33, has been Adelman’s first substitute on a nightly basis, emerging as the Nuggets’ sixth man after signing with them on a one-year veteran minimum contract. He’s shooting 49.3% outside the arc for 12 points per game in 23 minutes off the bench.
Going with Watson “puts Tim back with that (second) unit,” Adelman said, “which is a good thing because Tim, Bruce (Brown), Jonas (Valanciunas), they’ve had a really good thing going. So we want to keep that going. At the same time, I can’t sacrifice trying to win the game. So you’re just trying to find the best unit possible while being smart with the minutes for the veteran guys.”
Hardaway, Brown and Valanciunas entered Monday’s game with a positive net rating in 103 minutes together without Jokic — an unprecedented start for a group of Nuggets bench players. The team has been largely dependent on Jokic throughout the prime of his career, struggling dramatically when he’s been on the bench.
But after a series of offseason moves, including the Hardaway signing, Adelman has repeatedly stressed his confidence in Denver’s new depth. He’s also taken to using two-way wing Spencer Jones as a next man up to extend the rotation to nine players.
Still, Adelman anticipates the Nuggets will miss Braun, who’s not projected to be reevaluated for a potential return until after Christmas.
“He’s a person that kind of makes us go offensively away from the ball,” Adelman said. “The cutting, the moving, screening, the stuff that no one pays attention to. And then defensively, obviously, he’s the guy that guards the best player. So losing that sucks. But it’s part of the league. You lose people throughout the year.”
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