Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon says he’s ready for more | Denver nuggets

Denver Gazette Beat -Author Vinny Benedto takes you around the NBA and inside the nuggets dressing room:

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There seems to be a difference of opinion between Aaron Gordon and Nuggets.

“I’m ready,” Gordon said after Saturday’s match in Minnesota. “I don’t feel my calf anymore. Yes I’m ready. So it’s on the training staff and coaching staff. “

Denver’s educational staff and coaching staff seem to feel different. Gordon continued to play as part of Denver’s second unit in Monday’s match in Chicago. After Saturday’s loss, Nuggets coach Michael Malone did not sound like a change of plans coming soon at any time.

“We just want to continue to stay with it, bring him off the bench for the time being and use him in every way we can to help us get victories,” Malone said on Saturday.

Gordon played 25 minutes in Saturday’s loss, the most he played since he strained his right calf muscle on December 25. He sounded like he thought he could have been more help against a large and strong Timberwolves team.

“It’s a big, balanced team. They have big wings. They got a big center, big power forward. They have good size, good skills, so it’s a very physical team. You have to match their physical, ”Gordon said.

“Just to have a chance with that team, you must first match their physical character.”

Gordon and Peyton Watson were the first two players from Denver’s bench on Monday in Chicago. Gordon’s next opportunity to participate in the starting lineup will come on Wednesday in New York. Gordon saw a little hindered after a can in Minnesota, two of his 13 points in the game. But it was not related to the damage that limited him to 25 performances this season, with nine of those coming out of the bench.

“It was something else. I’m fine, ”Gordon said. “It wasn’t my calf. I’m good. “

What I think

With less than two weeks before the NBA trading deadline, the Nuggets General Manager Calvin Booth had to answer the phone, but he should not make many calls.

Despite an ugly view on Saturday in Minnesota, Nuggets went into Monday’s slate fourth at the western conference. Oklahoma City is the only team over nuggets that are probably out of reach at the end of the regular season and Denver has a favorable schedule until the deadline. As the guard plan gets healthy at the right time, Booth should feel comfortable without making a bigger move. A less exciting feature of tackling the back-up center place makes sense, but it will not be easy to pull off considering the limitations Denver faces as a team that is in the first apron of the luxury tax. Michael Malone also seems to be quite comfortable using Deandre Jordan throughout the regular season and spending Aaron Gordon as needed in more important matches in regular season and playoffs.

Going for one of the big names of the market as Jimmy Butler or Zach Lavine is an unnecessary risk that can close the Denver’s championship window prematurely. Booth’s best effort is to let other teams become more desperate as the deadline approaches before making too many calls.

Friday Faceoff: Are Avalanche or Nugget’s more need for a great deal?

What they say

At this point, the nuggets should have a pretty good idea what to expect when it comes to the physical character that Timberwolves play with. It didn’t seem to help Saturday.

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“Very too little,” Malone said of Minnesota’s physical character compared to his team after the game. “They were definitely much more physical, much more aggressive, much more urgent. It was as if we kind of showed up as a team that was 12-3 in our last 15 games, felt good about ourselves, and thought we could just show up for a division game against a team that struck us Our home floor last year in a game 7. You have to give them plenty of credit. Absolutely disappointing way to start this road trip. “

Nikola Jokic scored 13 points in the first quarter of this game, but ended with 20.

“We could probably have shown Jok a little more in this game,” Gordon said. “He came out of Fakling, so if he does, just feed him.”

Jokic also committed two of his seven revenue in the quarter, but said Timberwolves did nothing unusual on him defensively.

“It happened just other guys were open,” Jokic said. “I think they didn’t make any different adjustments.”

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from Denver’s tough defeat in Minnesota

What I follow

– Another week, another development in Miamis Jimmy Butler drama. The latest is an indefinite suspension after Butler allegedly walked out of the team’s shot after he was informed that he would no longer start for the heat.

– The field for the Dunk competition is set and full of players with limited name recognition. Mac McClung, who has appeared in an NBA game this season with Orlando, seems to be winning his third dunk competition. The rest of the field contains two rookies-spurs Guard Stephon Castle and Chicago Wing Matas Buzelis and other Jackson Jr. Another year wing for Bucks.

– The damage error has made its way to Dallas. First, it was Dereck Lively II who is expected to miss at least a few months with a broken ankle. Then Maxi Kleber suffered a foot break in Saturday’s loss to Celtics. It has left Daniel Gafford as the team’s only healthy big man. Dallas had lost three of four on their way into Monday’s game.

What I am reading

Espns Kevin Pelton Looked at 10 players on the trading market that could help a conflicting team win a title. Nuggets are listed as an “best possible fit” for Chicago’s Zach avalanche, but Pelton notes that a trade is less likely to consider how well Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook have played recently.

The list

The odds of the next NBA Master have shown some movement in the last few weeks. Nuggets are among the five teams with the best odds per year. Betmgm.

1. Boston Celtics, +240

2. Oklahoma City Thunder, +240

3. Cleveland Cavaliers, +700

4. Denver nuggets, +1.200

5. New York Knicks, +1.300