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Alpha Diallo's defense in #Nuggets preseason G1. Making a *strong* case he needs to be in the rotation. Denver simply hasn't had this kind of (badly needed) defensive acumen/tenacity at the guard spot in so long (KCP probably the last guy who qualified). Gotta find him minutes.

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Ryan Nembhard knocks down the transition triple #Nuggets

DaRon Holmes with another big dunk on the break... #Nuggets

DaRon Holmes leaks out and slams down the transition dunk off the Ace Bailey missed 3-pointer #Nuggets

#Nuggets fans are rightfully concerned about Spencer Jones' preseason hamstring injury... ...so it's good to see him here laughing and in good spirits, hopefully a harbinger of better health returning quickly.

Ryan Nembhard pulls up and drains the jumper from the top of the key #Nuggets

Another look at DeMar DeRozan's driving, spinning layup #Nuggets

Trevon Brazile blocks Ace Bailey with authori-tay, then a couple possessions later drills in the triple #Nuggets

Gonna be super interesting questions for Adelman/staff to face: Which bench players do they *need* more? Who "deserves" more minutes? Who do they want to just give some run (ie Whitmore) to try out? But to me, both Diallo & Strawther are "earning" spots. That raises dilemmas.

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I want to see more from Trevon Brazile/Cam Whitmore. But in practical terms, the #Nuggets need: Tyus Jones' playmaking as backup PG, Bagley to back up Jok, Spencer to hold the bench together. To me that leaves: Alpha as defensive disruptor & Strawther as Tim offense replacement.

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A few nice Julian Strawther highlights from the #Nuggets' first preseason game

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Stanley Clarke on David Letterman 1986

One of the greatest bassist ever, appearing on the show with one of the greatest hosts ever, and one of the greatest backup bands ever... Ladies & Gentlemen, Stanley Clarke (iykyk, but if you don't, learn, kids!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RCj...

youtube.com

YouTube video by Rick Suchow

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Julian Strawther splits the defense to drive in for the floater #Nuggets

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Conjuring a pretty nice Jamal Murray impersonation, Julian Strawther drains the off-balance baseline jumper off the inbound pass #Nuggets

Two deep 3-pointers from Cam Whitmore for the #Nuggets, sandwiched around an attack on the closeout that gets him to the line

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Marvin Bagley gets a mouse in the house in Darryn Peterson, spins and slams home the dunk #Nuggets

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Another potentially positive Tyus Jones sign: Here, he initiates the PnR w/ Nikola Jokic (in more Murray-esque 2-man action) and drops the sideways bounce pass to Joker for the elbow jumper #Nuggets

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Tyus Jones may really be important as #Nuggets' backup point guard. This possession doesn't convert, but how he so quickly/aggressively drives & attacks the paint before the kickout is a thing DEN needs off the bench as a change-of-pace to Murray's slower, methodical approach.

Tyus Jones makes an excellent read out of the pick-and-roll with Nikola Jokic (somewhat reminiscent of the Murray-Jokic 2-man game, actually) to spot up in the corner for the wide open 3-pointer Joker-Tyus chemistry would be an encouraging sign for the #Nuggets

Cam Johnson attacks the closeout on the corner 3. pulls up, drains the FT line jumper.. ..then on the other end hustles back to block Markkanen's layup attempt, and some exquisite #Nuggets ball movement gets Aaron Gordon wide open in the corner for the 3. #chefskiss

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Reposted by Joel Rush

Aaron Gordon, looking like his younger, spryer (and importantly, healthier) self, barrels and bounces in for the offensive rebound and putback, then hypes up the CU student fan section in a disproportional way that's wild for a #Nuggets preseason game. He's looking SO back.

Reposted by Joel Rush

I've updated this chart of the Denver #Nuggets' offseason moves from my @forbes.com Sports article on it (link below), now incl. Ryan Nembhard, who signed later. Hope you folks will read it, I think my offseason breakdown remains a relevant lens into this training camp/preseason.

Reposted by Joel Rush

Like I said below, I hope you read this piece (you might be tl;dr because it's like 4000 freakin words, but #Nuggets fans might be like hell yeah I hope), but I do think I made here maybe the best at-a-glance visual graphic summary of Denver's offseason moves.

Reposted by Joel Rush

Reposted by Joel Rush

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Reposted by Joel Rush

Another potentially positive Tyus Jones sign: Here, he initiates the PnR w/ Nikola Jokic (in more Murray-esque 2-man action) and drops the sideways bounce pass to Joker for the elbow jumper #Nuggets

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I won't be able to watch #Nuggets preseason Game 2 live tomorrow (work), but what I'm most hoping for is a shit ton of minutes for Alpha Diallo and Trevon Brazile. Both ostensibly fringe rotation players, but also both, if they can pop, with skill sets Denver desperately needs.

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Another potentially positive Tyus Jones sign: Here, he initiates the PnR w/ Nikola Jokic (in more Murray-esque 2-man action) and drops the sideways bounce pass to Joker for the elbow jumper #Nuggets

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It's insane that this was only Nikola Jokic's 2nd or 3rd best pass of this game. But that's Joker, who pulls down the board and quarterbacks a full-court rocket to Christian Braun for the vicious dunk through traffic. This is #Nuggets preseason game 1, folks. Crazy.

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DeMar DeRozan intercepts the bad shot and takes it coast-to-coast for the layup and-1, adding some flourish with a nice spin move through contact #Nuggets

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Tyus Jones banks in the runner off the glass, then a few minutes later knocks down the triple off the assist from DeMar DeRozan #Nuggets

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Midrange #Nuggets bench action... DeMar DeRozan drains the free throw line jumper, then Julian Strawther puts on the brakes and spins into a floater in the lane on the next possession

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Marvin Bagley gets his first dunk attempt on the rim run denied, but pogo sticks to slam it back it, off a nice assist from Tyus Jones out of the PnR #Nuggets

DeMar DeRozan can't convert another great Nikola Jokic no-look pass, but Christian Braun dives to the floor to snatch away the rebound, and flips it up to rookie Trevon Brazile for the dunk #Nuggets

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Cam Johnson drills in the 3-pointer off some nice #Nuggets ball movement around Utah's zone D, Tyus Jones in particular keeps it swinging with the nice, quick heads-up assist

Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun getting fed cheeseburgers in the dunker spot, Nikola Jokic (and AG!) dishing 'em up #Nuggets

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This certainly will never be a #Nuggets lineup outside of garbage time this season. But the fact Adelman deployed it today (outside of doing random stuff in preseason) intrigues me, as to trying to find combinations of athleticism and playmaking. Guys who excel in either may get a rotation shot.

Ha! Then he immediately drops in a 3 after I tweet this.

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It's unfortunate for him, because he only got a chance (so far) in garbage time, but my prediction: Lonnie Walker IV will not be making the #Nuggets' roster.

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NGL, even though I looked at the #Nuggets' preseason roster, I didn't remember there was a dude named Emmanuel Miller on it. But kudos to him, that was a great play. My sincere apologies.

I missed capturing it, but Rocky made his first halfcourt shot on his first attempt. #GoodVibes despite this, um, rocky 4th quarter.