The Denver Nuggets' final regular season game against the Houston Rockets is crucial for determining their playoff seeding. A win secures a higher seed and a crucial home-court advantage, while a loss could drop them as low as seventh, requiring a play-in game. The Rockets' strategy is uncertain, with several players potentially rested due to injury or the team having already secured their playoff position.
The Rockets' lineup for the game is unpredictable due to various injuries and potential resting of key players. Several starters and reserves were absent in their previous two games, raising questions about their approach to the Nuggets' matchup. This uncertainty adds a significant layer of complexity to the Nuggets' playoff positioning.
The Nuggets' key players, including Jamal Murray (returned from injury), Nikola Jokic (aiming for another triple-double), Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. are expected to play. The team’s performance will heavily rely on their efficiency, given the uncertainty surrounding the Rockets' lineup.
The article also highlights the Nuggets' recent coaching change, with David Adelman taking over as interim head coach. His calm demeanor and collaborative approach with Jokic are noted as positive influences. The article suggests that a successful playoff run under Adelman could result in him being appointed as the permanent head coach, replacing the recently dismissed Michael Malone.
The article concludes by emphasizing the high stakes of the final game and the unpredictable nature of the Western Conference playoff race. The Nuggets' fate rests on their performance against the Houston Rockets and the outcomes of other simultaneous games.
Welcome to the wild, wild, weird, wacky, wicked, wondrous, wide-open West in the NBA where 10 teams are vying for seven playoff or play-in positions Sunday.
Wow!
The Nuggets are pursuing nirvana Sunday in Houston. They could conclude the regular season at 4, 5, 6 or 7. If they win over the second-seeded Rockets the Nuggets earn an extra home game in the first round of the playoffs by being the fourth seed. If they lose, however, the Nuggets could drop as far as sixth or even seventh (in a play-in game) depending on the outcomes of the Clippers-Warriors and Timberwolves-Jazz games that will be played at the same time (1:30 p.m. in Denver).
Confusing? Complexing? Convoluting?
Oh, so. And the Rockets are making the situation even more perplexing on the final day because nobody outside the team’s inner sanctum knows how they will play it. While the Nuggets staged a remarkable comeback victory Friday night in Denver against the Grizzlies, the Rockets had become virtual no-shows in Los Angeles in their two previous games vs. the Clippers and the Lakers. Having already clinched their runner up spot in the Western Conference playoffs behind the Thunder, the Rockets imploded 134-117 and 140-109. Seven Houston starters and reserves were held out because of injuries (real or imagined), rest and personal reasons.
Will the Rockets continue to sit point guard Fred VanVleet (who has been struggling since February with a lingering ankle injury), forwards Jabari Smith Jr. (groin soreness), Jae’Sean Tate (ankle), Amen Thompson (a night off) and Tari Eason (lower leg management), and center Alperen Segun (mystery). Starting guard Dillon Brooks was enjoying R&R (rest and relaxation) Friday night, and Jalen Green played for only 15 minutes.
Jeff Green, who was an effective backup on the Nuggets championship team, played 22 minutes, and several other bench-squatters were on the court even longer in the blowout.
Ready or rusty Rockets?
The Nuggets rarely will play the five starters they began the season with, considering that Jamal Murray returned Friday night and loosened up in the second half, eventually contributing 15 critical points and 7 assists. He is good to go, as is The Player with the Greatest Year in NBA History Who won’t win the MVP trophy – Nikola Jokic (who produced his second-to-last triple double of the regular season). The other three starters are Aaron “G-Man” Gordon (with his most superlative offensive effort ever with the Nuggets – 33 points), Christian “Most Improved Player” Braun and Michael Porter Jr., who can’t shoot straight lately but had 12 rebounds. The Bricklayer, Russell Westbrook, added 14 quality points.
David Adelman now is the only undefeated head coach in the league after a 2-0 start, and Jokic is undefeated as the unofficial player/assistant coach (scribbling plays during timeouts and calling out defenses on the court).
It is well to remember that Nikola did not participate in the two previous games this season when the Nuggets and Rockets split. He missed the first Jan. 16 because of an elbow inflammation suffered in pre-game warmups and was sidelined for the second March 24 because of left angle impingement. Last season The Joker dazzled with 74 points, 40 rebounds and 19 assists in two games in Houston.
Adelman says he appreciates any time Jokic wants to grab the whiteboard. Under the interim coach, the Nuggets didn’t seem as tense, uptight and troubled. And the 43-year-old basketball lifer, son of a coach like his predecessor, seems more comfortable on the sideline and calmer with his players than Michael Malone.
Not often that an NBA assistant takes over a postseason-bound team with three games remaining in the regular season. Larry Brown, the long ago Nuggets coach inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame the past week, was dumped by the Nets just before the playoffs in 1983 because he was becoming the Kansas coach.
Malone and general manager Calvin Booth were deemed “persona non grata” before the Nuggets final home game, and are seething still.
Yet, if Adelman can coach the Nuggets to a fourth seed and at least into the second round, the “interim” label must be removed.
But, first, the whole wide world of the west happens Sunday.
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