Tim Hardaway Jr. is making a bigger impact for the Denver Nuggets than just his quick-trigger shooting hints at. Nuggets beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes readers behind the scenes, giving a closer look at how Hardaway is influencing the locker room surrounding their showdown in Denver.
Head coach David Adelman highlighted Hardaway’s value beyond his scoring. After Tuesday’s practice at Ball Arena, Adelman said, “Tim has been incredibly solid for us in the locker room. He brings veteran leadership and steady energy every day. He’s been everything we expected—and more.”
Hardaway joined the Nuggets on a veteran minimum contract after helping Detroit in their turnaround last season. His resume also includes stints with the Knicks, Hawks, and Mavericks. He started all 77 games for Detroit last year, and this season he’s mostly coming off the bench, teaming with Jonas Valanciunas to shore up Denver’s second unit as injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun have shaken up Adelman’s rotations.
“That’s what veterans are here to provide,” Hardaway said. “We’ve navigated countless situational games and moments in our careers. We know what it takes. We’re doing whatever we can to make life easier for our coaches and teammates.”
Hardaway is delivering on multiple fronts. He’s capitalizing on Jokic’s passes with a career-high 42.5% from three, averaging 5.8 attempts per game. Only Jamal Murray is pushing more threes per night for Denver.
Adelman called the threat of Hardaway a key intangible for opponents to defend. “Just the possibility of what Tim can be on any given night makes him a dangerous factor that teams have to account for,” he said.
In addition to scoring, Hardaway has logged double-figure scoring in seven straight games. Adelman also praised his defense in recent showings against Atlanta and Charlotte, notably guarding Hornets wing Brandon Miller. The benefits extend beyond box scores; Hardaway’s presence helps the entire group.
“The competitiveness he brings, plus all the experiences he’s accumulated, have been a meaningful boost for our locker room,” Adelman noted.
What I’m Thinking
The NBA’s high-scoring era is closely tied to a trend that also raises injury risk: pace. Pace measures how many possessions a team uses in a game. As of Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinals, the Heat lead with a pace of 107.9, while Boston sits at 98.8, per ESPN.
A decade ago, Sacramento’s pace of 102.2 topped the league, and Utah’s 93.3 pace was the slowest. “Trends come and go, but right now teams are pushing to play faster,” Adelman observed. “That makes sense given rosters that have downsized; you want to exploit that with speed.”
Denver isn’t among the fastest teams, posting a pace of 101.5 (19th), roughly in line with the Lakers. Last season, Denver sat at 102.2 (10th). With Gordon and Braun out, Adelman would like to see a faster tempo at times, provided it can be executed cleanly.
“I’d like us to be able to play fast for stretches and then slow down and execute when needed,” he said. “We have to get better at that.”
Together with more skilled players, faster play has spurred historic scoring benchmarks. Denver’s offensive rating stands at 124, one of the best in the league and on track to be among the highest ever. The Rockets, Knicks, and Celtics are also trending toward historically potent offenses. Hardaway pointed to younger players working with specialized trainers to sharpen ball handling and scoring skills as a factor.
“Obviously, the three-point line is a major driver of today’s game. More attempts, faster transitions, and a wave of athletic players make it harder for defenders to stay in front,” he explained.
Yet the uptick in pace and shooting comes at a cost: more wear on players’ bodies. Teams are leaning heavily on sports science and meticulous maintenance, but injuries and high usage remain a concern, including Denver’s Aaron Gordon.
Everything has trade-offs.
What They’re Saying
Adelman gave updates on a few injuries. Gordon, Braun, and Julian Strawther went through practice in various stages of recovery, with Strawther participating in half-court 3-on-3.
“Jules looks okay. Aaron and Christian are progressing slowly. They’ll likely miss some of the upcoming games, though there’s a chance they could rejoin on the upcoming trip. Christian is moving well; Aaron is building up gradually. It’s a careful process to avoid setbacks,” Adelman said. “I’m eager to get both back, but we’ll be prudent and hold the fort until then.”
Jamal Murray weighed in on Denver’s success away from Ball Arena during a franchise-record 10-game road win streak. “I think we’re really tight as a group, bringing our energy wherever we go,” Murray said. “Regardless of the arena or opponent, we bring our own energy and sustain it. That chemistry has been our biggest strength.”
What I’m Following
- Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty in federal court to charges involving information provided to sports bettors. A March 3 hearing is scheduled.
- Orlando’s Franz Wagner escaped a scary fall against the Knicks with a high ankle sprain; imaging showed no structural damage.
- Desmond Bane’s decision to accelerate a throw at OG Anunoby, who was out of bounds, cost the Magic guard a $35,000 fine from the NBA. The league announced the penalty on Monday.
