What the Boston Celtics can learn from the Denver Nuggets

When Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone took the podium immediately following his team’s Game 7 exit from the Western Conference semifinals, he sighted fatigue and high usage of his star players as factors for his team making an early exit from the playoffs.

“Our guys looked dead tired,” Malone said. “They did. Did I run our players into the ground? I’m sure that’s definitely part of it. That’s the decision we made and we’ll live with it.” For an NBA team, with the league’s MVP three out of the last four seasons, success and winning are not a given.

Statistically speaking, Denver’s output didn’t drop off too much between 2022-23 and last season. In fact, they improved to 57 wins in a tough Western Conference last season compared to a 53-win season en route to the title. In terms of league-wide net rankings, Denver also improved in points, assists, FG% and 3P%. However, the usage and miles on the body of superstars Nikola Jokic increased to a career-high 34.6 mpg up from the prior seasons’ 33.7 mpg.

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The Nuggets roster also change in the intervening season between title runs and one could argue that the depth dropped off dramatically as key bench veteran Jeff Green departed in free agency followed shortly after by Bruce Brown Jr. The title aspirations of Denver’s front office has come into question yet again as another title-winning member, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, made an exit for more money in Orlando.

All the departures have left a talent vacuum for the Nuggets to address. As a result, Denver have had to rely on the growth of their draft picks like Christian Braun and Julian Strawther. Both are talented young players, but the remaining supporting cast has several question marks looming over it.

With Denver’s books looking awfully tight after locking down three max contracts, the front office added a pair of veterans on multi-year deals in Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric, and observers have questioned their fit. One could view this as a last ditch move for Denver to plug gaps and positions in the roster. Were Mike Malone’s hands somewhat tied last season? Did he overuse his players? Sure, but looking at the makeup of the bench and the reliability of what lies behind his stars, he has no real choice.

Fast forward to October 2024 and the Celtics’ preparation for another championship run is well underway. For Boston, the theme is one of continuity. All the key players are back and most are now signed long-term.

However, there are already some obstacles that they must navigate. Since Kristaps Porzingis will be out for the better part of the season, it will be important to keep an eye on Al Horford’s playing status as a key story line to monitor. Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday all had a jam-packed summer with Team USA’s gold medal-winning Men’s Olympic team.

Preserving the squad’s energy for the long regular season grind and not overtaxing key players early should be a priority after a shortened summer break, a training camp that started a week early that includes overseas travel to play the Nuggets in two preseason games on October 4 and 6 in Abu Dhabi.

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In total, it will be a 13,300-mile round trip before the regularly scheduled domestic preseason offerings which start Saturday, October 11th. These two exhibition games against Denver are meaningless in the grand scheme of the season proper. However, for Boston, these early season games will offer a glimpse into the roles and responsibilities of the deeper supporting cast as the top-8 is pretty much set in stone.

Compare Denver’s plight with what Brad Stevens has been able to do and it really is night and day. With ownership’s blessing, Stevens has been focused on re-signing all the key pieces and just subtly massaging things around the edges. The Celtics deep roster includes a bevy of players primed to develop within the system including a second year of growth for Jaden Springer, a sophomore-ready Jordan Walsh, and an intriguing rookie with an NBA ready 3-point shot in Baylor Scheierman.

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The frontcourt though is where the keen observers should look to as we begin this quest for back-to-back banners. Al Horford has always been extremely important to the success of this team and this season, the 38-year-old Dominican native is entering his 18th NBA season. Keeping him fresh for May and June 2025 should be a team directive.

Brad Stevens’ ability to shore up the front line early in the summer, has meant Joe Mazzulla can utilize multiple bigs night in and night out, a luxury not afforded to Denver and it’s title aspirations last season.

Celtics fans can expect to see quite a lot of Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Neemis Queta in the early start of ‘24-’25. All three big men offer a variety of different traits, strengths and weaknesses. Tillman has the footwork to guard on switching ball handlers but not the elite length, Queta gives the C’s a long active energy big man however is still honing a complete game, whilst Kornet can give Boston the right read play and occasional lob threat, but lacks the heft and muscle. All three should, and will be called upon much more than in previous seasons, again, this versatility behind the star power, is a luxury that Denver sorely lacked in the playoffs last May.

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As coach Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens preach, it’s important to stay humble, stay prepared, to stay in the moment, be self-aware, stay open-minded with a growth mindset to keep learning. Much will be written about this Boston Celtics team and its fortunes for 2024-25, but there is a thread that binds both teams for this two-game Abu Dhabi exhibition series. It will be intriguing to observe what lessons Denver’s strategy, choices, and arduous journey to becoming back-to-back champions can impart to the Celtics.