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Peyton Watson Rumors
As Gordon overheard one teammate sing his praises in the locker room afterward, he said to himself, “Aw, shucks.” “I think everybody by now knows AG is a salt-of-the-earth person,'” Peyton Watson told The Post. “I never understand why he’s never up for Teammate of the Year (in the NBA). I never understand it. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had at any level of basketball.”
Perhaps sensing what was needed, Jokić led the Nuggets from a 2-point halftime lead to a 20-point lead entering the fourth quarter. “Him being an MVP player, getting to his spots, making shots,” Kawhi Leonard said of Jokić scoring 16 of his 36 points in the third quarter. “Gotta give him credit. On the defensive end, we had five baskets. It’s the playoffs; it’s how it goes sometimes.” I’ve seen many Clippers comebacks, including in the playoffs. A big key to comebacks is to watch the minutes of the leading team. The Nuggets couldn’t play a single reserve more than 13 minutes in Game 4. Peyton Watson was the only reserve who played in the fourth quarter, and he was on the floor for only the first 2:45 of the fourth quarter and on the last Clippers possession when Zubac put back Harden’s miss to tie the score at 99.
The interim coach also pointed out that Denver might need reinforcements to guard Leonard if Gordon is going to assume his dual role as postseason backup center. As versatile as the 29-year-old power forward is, he can’t play all 48 minutes. This series could be a watershed moment for Peyton Watson. Braun might be asked to shift assignments. He has the physical profile to deter drives and post-ups against bigger wings. “He’s one of the best two-way players of all time. Without injury, I think we’d be talking about him as one of the top players to ever play the game,” Adelman said of Leonard. “So tons of respect for him. I mean this: Even though we’re gonna play these guys in a seven-game series, it’s good to see him back out there. He’s good for the game.”
Booth was livid at Malone for not playing second-year wing Peyton Watson in Game 7 against the Timberwolves last season when the Nuggets blew a 20-point lead in a stunning season-ending loss, sources said. Subsequently, Malone wanted Watson to play on Denver's Summer League team going into his third NBA season, accentuating the massive disconnect in their evaluations of young players.
When the Nuggets entered this season, sources told ESPN that there was growing tension between Malone and Booth that grew into a "cold war." Since the team won the championship, the Nuggets have gone with younger role players such as Christian Braun and Peyton Watson around the team's core of Jokic, Murray and Aaron Gordon. Veterans such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown left in previous summers during free agency to sign bigger deals elsewhere.
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Bennett Durando: Michael Malone confirmed all five usual starters are out tonight. Am told Peyton Watson is also expected to be out.
Vinny Benedetto: Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic and Peyton Watson are questionable for tonight’s game against San Antonio. Julian Strawther remains out. Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan are among the Spurs’ inactives.
Defensive consistency has recently evaded these Nuggets, sitting at 26th in defensive rating since the All-Star break entering Friday night against Utah. But they got necessary stops in the fourth quarter Wednesday against Milwaukee and held the Jazz to 36% from the field Friday, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Nnaji and Watson. “If we can come out with that type of mindset from the jump,” Nnaji told The Denver Post pregame Friday, speaking on wire-to-wire defensive effort, “I think we’re the scariest team to play against.” And Watson is the most important variable in that equation, continuing to cement himself as Denver’s stopper. “I got nothing but confidence in myself, especially come playoff time,” Watson said, postgame. “I’m a gamer. I’m a riser.
“Since I’ve been back from injury, I’ve played a lot more at the three, giving me a lot more space to attack from above the break,” Watson noted, referring to his sprained knee in February. “And it’s definitely different, attacking off the dribble from the wing as opposed to the corner. Just more space, not as clogged up, and I’m not playing against the out-of-bounds lines.” But Watson understands his value to Denver in the corner as well. His third-year leap as a 3-point shooter — he’s up to 37.7% — is mostly a product of that area of the floor. He’s 46.4% from the baseline and sub-30% from above the break, though that didn’t stop him from sinking a pair of wing 3s against Chicago. “I’m also probably in the corner more, so I think that correlates,” Watson said. “And I think I’m a great shooter all around.”
Duane Rankin: "I was actually supposed to go to the strong side corner." Kevin Durant on his 3 to force OT in Suns loss to Nuggets. On Nuggets 21-of-40 effort from 3: "Braun, Gordon, Peyton Watson the guys we kind of want to help off a little bit. Not disrespect them, but the percentages and pic.x.com/LfMDoxTUHC
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Vinny Benedetto: Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji and Vlatko Cancar are available, Michael Malone says. Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon remain questionable.
Just as opponents are likely to dare Aaron Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Peyton Watson and even Christian Braun to shoot 3s in order to disrupt Denver’s spacing, they’ll be equally inclined to target perceived weaknesses at the other end. That could mean steering Murray, Nikola Jokic or Michael Porter Jr. into the action. Murray has seen a lot of it this season. “For sure, 100%,” he said when asked if he relishes those situations. “It’s just tough when I have four fouls, you know what I’m saying?”
Vinny Benedetto: Aaron Gordon is questionable for tonight’s game in Detroit with a left ankle sprain. Jamal Murray is again listed as probable, while Peyton Watson remains out for the Nuggets. Full injury report: pic.x.com/zp61jXQmnQ
Vinny Benedetto: Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are again listed as probable for tomorrow's game at Indiana. Trey Alexander and PJ Hall are on G League assignments. Peyton Watson, Vlatko Cancar and DaRon Holmes II remain out.
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