DENVER — Two-time Finals MVP Nikola Jokic said Friday he is comfortable with the Denver Nuggets being overlooked while Western Conference attention shifts to Oklahoma City.
“Hopefully we can be the silent… dark horse,” Jokic told reporters, according to the Denver Post. The center added that Denver’s preseason approach involves playing “close to a foul” to see how officials respond.
Assistant coach David Adelman described the tactic as “junking it up,” explaining that the club wants to keep opponents off balance after adding depth during the offseason.
Jazz Face Standstill With Walker Kessler
Utah has made no progress toward a contract extension with center Walker Kessler, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported. The 24-year-old can enter restricted free agency next summer, and trade speculation continues to swirl.
The Los Angeles Lakers have previously shown interest, and Fischer noted that the Phoenix Suns considered pursuing Kessler before acquiring Mark Williams. If Utah receives a strong offer or Kessler’s price remains high, the team could decide to act before the deadline.
Analysts Predict Spurs To Reach Mid-40s in Wins
On the ALL NBA podcast, analysts Tim Legler and Adam Mares projected the San Antonio Spurs to finish around 44 victories with a first-round playoff ceiling, SB Nation reported.
San Antonio flirted with the play-in tournament last season until injuries to Victor Wembanyama and DeAaron Fox slowed the push. The roster now features added experience from Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk along with emerging defenders Stephon Castle and Carter Bryant.
Coaches believe the healthy pairing of Fox and Wembanyama could be pivotal. Wembanyama shot 37.7 percent on catch-and-shoot attempts last season, and Fox’s tempo and passing are expected to amplify that threat. The franchise has not advanced past the first round in nearly ten years and hopes the retooled roster will end that drought.
Source: Hoops Wire
