The Nuggets are ready for the “new” NBA

In today’s NBA, there is nothing more in vogue than small-ball basketball. Teams have been fiddling with the idea of a position-less brand of play for years, but after watching the Golden State Warriors defeated LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals with Draymond Green playing large minutes at center, a precedent of success has been set.

To be fair, though, the true small-ball innovators were the Miami Heat teams that played Chris Bosh at the five during their final three title runs.

The point, though, is that it works. Small-ball basketball is no longer just a fad or a gimmick; it’s a winning formula, and the Nuggets are in the perfect position to take advantage of it.

For large portions of the season, expect to see 6’8″ Kenneth Faried playing at center, 6’10” Danilo Gallinari at power forward and 6’8″ Wilson Chandler at small forward. That’s the exact lineup the Nuggets started on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, and I expect it to be the lineup they use to start the season, too, at least until Jusuf Nurkic returns from his knee surgery.

And even when Nurkic does return, don’t be surprised if this is the lineup the Nuggets finish most games with.