There’s not much you can glean from one preseason game. The Nuggets played 14 players in the first half alone, and didn’t even have the services of Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari. I’d wager that drawing any sort of hard and fast conclusion from one preseason game is pretty pointless. However, it does seem that the Nuggets are intent on focusing on an inside-out approach featuring JaVale McGee.

How you view this approach boils down to how you a.) believe how an offense should be run and b.) how much you trust JaVale. If you struggle with either a or b (and they kind of go hand in hand) you will approach this Nuggets season with a sense of apprehension. If you tend to trust JaVale, you will be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. If you believe the Nuggets need a big offensive change, you are willing to ride this out regardless.

I have zero issue with the Nuggets offensive approach. They need to try something new, and while it's not quite as exciting as relentless pace and up and down basketball … it may (in theory) mean greater post season success should the Nuggets be fortunate enough to be there. It is said that if you don't possess a Lebron James or Kobe Bryant that this approach (slower, defensive) acts as the great equalizer of talent disparity. Or something like that. I'm willing to give it a try.

The trusting JaVale part is going to be much more difficult for me, I have to admit. I’ve seen far too many moments when McGee was so bad on the court he actually hurt the team (particularly during an epic four minute stretch when the Nuggets played in New York against the Knicks when JaVale was so bad he likely cost the Nuggets the win). While he has done some spectacular things, and made some strides, it’s hard for me to commit to someone who never seems too far from a complete mental lapse.

So, what is to be done. I do believe now that the Nuggets are committed to this particular approach, those of us who have commitment issues with JaVale will have to grin, bear it and hope for the best. It's the only way we can ride out the season. Trying to look on the bright side, or at the very least willing to give McGee a solid chance to succeed without constant snarky comments and passive aggressive tenor is the least I can do. While we as fans and people who cover the team should never lose our standards, giving the player a chance to be what others see in him is probably the best course of action.

Lack of trust is still there however. It will take a long stretch of solid play to turn me around on JaVale, and I'm hoping for the team's sake that he rewards their trust in him with immediate growth and a show of great potential. If this happens, as has been said in other places, the Nuggets ability to progress will be helped out tremendously. It is clear they are putting the onus on JaVale, and there's relatively little alternative to anything else.

So, what do you think Nuggets fans? What do you think of the inside-out approach and the reliance on McGee? Are you nervous like me? Or do you see big things from McGee? Comment below and tell us where you believe the Nuggets new approach will lead them.

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Twitter: @jmorton78

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