Snapping a losing steak – like the Denver Nuggets did Wednesday night by beating the New Orleans Pelicans 93-85 – is always a bit of a mixed blessing. Yes, the Nuggets got off the schnide, but to do that, they did have to lose seven straight in the first place.
In Denver’s particular case, there’s also the worry of where the season is actually headed. With the playoffs looking like an impossibility with a record of 19-27, every Nuggets win is a step further away from a chance at a top draft pick. That, however, is a debate for another time.
The other side of the coin, along with the fact that the Nuggets got a much-needed win Wednesday, is that, for the first time since head coach Brian Shaw took over the reins, the Nuggets were completely healthy Wednesday (Welcome back JaVale McGee!). Though McGee didn’t appear in Wednesday’s win, he was available for the first time in 26 games. He’ll likely play Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies, if only to spell Jusuf Nurkic and J.J. Hickson on the second night of a back-to-back.
Combined with the return of forward Danilo Gallinari, it’s one of the few surefire positive signs for the future of the franchise. The Nuggets have been disappointing for a number of reasons over the past two years, but a lack of healthy bodies has been a big reason for the team’s struggles.
Those problems aren’t completely gone now, but they’re trending in the right direction. McGee has only appeared in 17 games between last season and this one, and it’s a mystery just how much the Nuggets will get from him moving forward. Conditioning – never McGee’s strong suit because of an asthma condition that he’s had to manage throughout his career – will likely hold his minutes down as he works his way back into game shape.
Luckily Shaw seems to have learned his lesson when it comes to easing injured players back into the lineup. Gallinari was pushed hard before his meniscus tear that kept him out for three weeks; he played 26, 24, and 28 minutes in three straight games late in December after sitting out a few games because of knee soreness. Since his return from that tear, the most minutes he’s logged is the 20 Wednesday against New Orleans.
He’s also looked much more like the Gallinari of old than he did earlier in the season. Although he showed signs of breaking out before his latest injury, he’s looked downright spry during his four games back. In Denver’s latest two games, against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Pelicans, Gallinari’s shown more of the shooting touch that was missing at the beginning of the season. He’s also been attacking the basket with much more regularity, something that was always part of Gallinari’s game before his lengthy time off.
It’s easy to forget now just how good Gallinari was before his ACL-tear. Gallinari was, along with point guard Ty Lawson, considered a team leader, their best shot creator, and a go-to guy at the end of games. If Gallinari can get back to the guy he was before his long lay-off, it would go a long way towards improving the franchise’s outlook for next season.
McGee, on the other hand, probably won’t have as big of an impact, even if he does remain healthy. With the emergence of Nurkic as a player to build around, McGee likely missed his chance to claim the starting center role for Denver. Given McGee’s healthy and large contract (he’s due another $12 million next season) he’ll probably be impossible to move, even if he does prove he’s healthy. Still, it will help the Nuggets to have a true back-up center available, because the team has struggled on defense (to put it mildly) when J.J. Hickson has been asked to fill that role.
Regardless of the long-term effect McGee’s return, it’s going to be a joy to see him join Gallinari on the floor once again. Nobody likes seeing anyone struggle with injury, especially players who are so much fun to watch (even if it’s for different reasons). Getting everyone back can only mean goods things for the future of the Nuggets, and if nothing else, will make the rest of the 2013-14 season a hell of a lot more fun to watch.
Zach Marburger is a staff writer for Mile High Sports. He can be reached via email at zmarburger@milehighsports.com or on Twitter @BurchBurger.
