Julian Strawther has returned from injury, but Michael Malone says the Nuggets intend to remain with the Jamal Murray-led second unit.
“Whatever coach rolls with, that’s what I trust,” Strawther said after recovering from a knee ailment in Sacramento.
Sacramento, California. Julian Strawther has recovered from his right knee injury, although he may not return to the Denver Nuggets’ rotation.
When questioned Friday night about the process of returning Strawther to NBA minutes, head coach Michael Malone stated the Nuggets intend to continue with their Jamal Murray-led second unit for the time being, which includes Murray, Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and DeAndre Jordan.
“I just have to keep ready. “He’s a rookie on a really good basketball team, and he played earlier this year,” Malone said before the game Friday night. “He performed well for us. But Jamal was not on that second unit, but he is today. It was fantastic to see Strawther back on the court, healthy and ready to go. And if we can get him into any games, that’s certainly a plus for him. But for now, Reggie, Jamal, Christian, Peyton, and D.J. form our second unit. So for a guy like Julian, all he has to do is stay prepared and seize every opportunity.”
Strawther, who entered Denver’s rotation as a rookie sharpshooter with heat-checking skills earlier this season, was sidelined for 13 games in January due to a right knee strain and contusion. He was cleared to play last Friday, but did not come off the bench in a win against Portland. Strawther was then assigned to Denver’s G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, and scored 21 points in a win on Wednesday. He rejoined the Nuggets on Thursday and dressed for two consecutive road games.
Following Malone’s pregame comments regarding the bench unit in Sacramento, starters Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were both ruled out of the second game of the back-to-back. (Neither absence is cause for concern, Malone said later.) So Strawther played his first NBA minutes in over a month while wearing a knee brace for the first time. He had never experienced a major knee injury before, he told The Denver Post.
“I needed to go down there (to the G League) to get some reps for sure,” he added. “I still feel like I need to work on my timing, mentality, and brace-wearing skills. It is all different. This is all new to me. So, just settling in.”
Strawther believes he’ll just need to wear the brace for the All-Star break. Then he hopes to be finished with it. In his return to action on Friday, he went 3 for 8 from the field and 1 for 5 from three.
Strawther remained optimistic about his future minutes, citing the same context Malone mentioned: It’s not meant to be easy for a
“There weren’t too many conversations (with coaches about minutes),” he remarked. “It’s just a matter of realizing that as the season progresses and teams compete for higher seeds, the rotation will inevitably shorten. So whatever coach (Malone) goes with, I trust.”
Prior to Strawther’s injury, Malone was employing an all-bench lineup as Denver’s second unit, with Strawther and Jordan and Zeke Nnaji alternating at center. The Jordan variant of that unit had a net rating of minus-7.4 in 42 minutes together. The Nnaji variant is still the Nuggets’ third-most used five-man lineup this season. In 86 minutes, it has a net rating of minus-16.3.
Since Strawther’s injury, the newest edition of the second unit, which includes both point guards (Murray and Jackson), had a minus-3 net rating in 72 minutes. Malone has come to rely on Jordan at the five to back up Nikola Jokic.
Murray has frequently staggered alongside Denver’s second unit in previous seasons. Malone’s strategy is to keep one of his top two players, Jokic or Murray, on the court at all times. Murray has recently countered double-teams and other confrontational coverages with great efficiency during his scattered minutes, when opposition defenses typically aim on restraining him. He had double-digit assists in each of his previous three games, giving him a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio heading into Friday night’s game in Sacramento.
“It’s what we saw last year during our run to a championship: reading the game, reading how he’s being guarded,” Malone went on to say. “With the first unit, he receives more normal coverage. And then, when he’s out there with the second unit, teams get much more aggressive with him. Some teams are attempting the box-and-one. They blitz him. They capture him. They struck him… When you put two on the ball, you’ve completed your task. Get off on time and trust your teammates to make the right play.”
