Summer League action is here for Denver Nuggets fans looking for their July basketball fix and a quick glimpse at some Nuggets reserve options. The Nuggets lost the opening game of Summer League, a surprisingly-entertaining affair with the Milwaukee Bucks, on a buzzer-beating three. Next up is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who got nice games from Joan Beringer and Terrence Shannon Jr. in their opening win. The Nuggets will get a different look from the Wolves with the size of Beringer than they did from the Bucks – which is good since they’re trying to assess these players in all kinds of circumstances. More messy basketball awaits!
Who: Denver Nuggets (0-1) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (1-0)
When: 8:00 PM MDT
Where: Cox Pavilion. Las Vegas, NV.
How to watch: NBA TV, Altitude TV, ESPN+.
Rival blog: Canis Hoopus
The thing to watch for: Daron Holmes II, again
DaRon Holmes II looked great in his first organized action since his Achilles injury last Summer League, leading the Nuggets with 15 points, three made deep shots and a great block. He’s trying to force his way into Denver’s expected rotation as a backup to Aaron Gordon as well as a small-ball 5 when the circumstances allow, and last game was an excellent one for the resume. He did a little bit of everything: made threes, a block, a shot fake into a layup, a hundred different screens set, and a nifty set-up pass inside for a guard finish. Summer League is less about numbers and more about looking like the competition is too small to handle you – and if Deuce plays tonight he’ll get a chance to show he can handle the likes of Beringer, who is 6’11 barefoot with a wingspan over 7’4. Holmes will be facing that kind of size disadvantage against several NBA centers, and it would be nice to get a look at how he would handle it tonight.
IF he plays tonight – because we still don’t know how many games to expect Holmes in but it almost certainly will not be every one, and after playing a bunch of minutes and giving good effort the duration of the first game, his body may not bounce back in time for the second. I hope we see him play, but there are no guarantees – so enjoy this highlight package from Game 1 just in case he’s a towel-waver tonight.
The thing to remember: Denver’s non-Holmes players are looking to fill roles
The Nuggets do not need a 20 ppg scorer for the regular season, and do not have one on their Summer League Roster. The Nuggets need guys who can play defense, get turnovers, run in transition, and make open shots. Rebounding would also be nice from anyone with size. Currently the potential NBA help on the Summer League roster looks like shooting guard Tamar Bates and defensive forward Spencer Jones (both already signed to a two-way contract with the Nuggets), combo scoring guard Curtis Jones and forward EJ Liddell.
Liddell is a short but stout forward with long arms and a quick motor who had a promising college career that went off course almost immediately in the NBA with an ACL injury in Summer League. Denver needs to see him defend and rebound, finish when he can. They are not looking to him for his handle or elite shooting. Jones can score for sure, but he is skinny and short for a two-guard, so they need to see him handle physicality, take a look at his passing… it’s a skills game, and the guys who aren’t Holmes will need to show them in multiple games to get looks both here and elsewhere. Those guys all had some moments in Game 1, but doing it again and doing it better is how they get noticed for contracts and call-ups.
The thing to bet: The under on days it will take before you call gambler’s anonymous
We don’t bet on Summer League, sickos. Bet that Hunter Tyson is gonna get shots up again if he plays I guess, because needing to get reps in a third Summer League since being drafted is not a good sign for his place on the depth chart.
