Ahead of their Tuesday night matchup in the Mile High City, Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone complimented the Miami Heat, calling them the best “cutting” team in the NBA.
Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman on Twitter, the Nuggets' fifth-year coach called the team's off-ball movement particularly “impressive.”
Michael Malone calls Heat the best “cutting” team in the NBA. Says their movement off the ball is particularly impressive.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) November 6, 2019
The Heat have shot to a 5-1 start six games into the 2019-20 season, thanks in part of contributions up and down the roster, four-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler's paternity leave notwithstanding.
Miami has seen breakouts from center Bam Adebayo starting at the five in place of the traded shot-blocking big man Hassan Whiteside, along with great starts from rookie guards Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn, and Justise Winslow looking good when healthy as the team's starting point guard while veteran floor general Goran Dragic comes off the bench.
Erik Spoelstra has orchestrated a brilliant start for the South Beach franchise, which has a tough task on Tuesday evening in Denver. The Nuggets were the second seed in the Western Conference last season and have a powerful offense guided by All-Star Serbian center Nikola Jokic and Canadian guard Jamal Murray. The Nuggets also possess a bevy of solid wings in their rotation, including Will Barton, Gary Harris, and Malik Beasley, and Barton is officially back in the lineup.
Denver had one of the lowest roster turnover rates in the NBA this past season, which points to the kind of continuity the franchise wants to keep.
Malone has improved the team's record in each successive year he has coached the Nuggets, and while the Heat are out to a fast start, it won't be an easy matchup on Denver's home turf.
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