Tim Hardaway Jr. Has Kept Denver Afloat Amid Injuries

Still, Hardaway Jr.’s biggest contribution to the team may not even be his shooting; it may be his mere availability.

Healthy Hardaway

Many of Denver’s best players have been unable to stay on the court for long periods of time. Out of the Nuggets’ 59 total games this season, Braun has only played in 22 of them; Aaron Gordon has only played in 23; Cameron Johnson has only played in 34; even the three-time MVP, Nikola Jokic, has only played in 42 games.

Hardaway Jr., meanwhile, has played in every game but one.

Denver has had to give starting-level minutes to players like Jalen Pickett, Spencer Jones, and Zeke Nnaji all season long. Guys who, with no disrespect intended, were fighting this offseason just to have a roster spot.

Yet, with all that turnover, Hardaway Jr. has been there for Denver through thick and thin. His ability to come off the bench and catch fire from deep game after game has played a massive role in the Nuggets’ success this season.

As jubilant as Denver fans have been to watch Hardaway Jr. so far, their joy will only build during the playoff run.

Playoff Pressure

With the month of February nearing an end, basketball fans are beginning to look towards the playoffs. Once the postseason rolls around, nothing from the regular season matters. Nobody will remember Denver’s season-long injuries. Coach David Adelman will likely have to cast out the reserves that stepped up. Everyone’s focus will just be on making it to June.

Despite their long string of bad luck, it seems as though the Nuggets will be fully healthy come playoff time. Jokic, Braun, and Johnson have already made their way back into the lineup. Meanwhile, Gordon and Watson, who are both currently injured, should return with about a month left in the season. As such, Denver will be at full strength, which will be vital to even stand a chance.

The West is full of superstars, loaded rosters, and stiff competition this year. Teams like the Thunder, Spurs, Timberwolves, Rockets, and Lakers will not go down without a fight. The Nuggets will need everyone they can get, and it’s more than likely that they’ll need some of their bench players to step up in a big way.

Tim Hardaway Jr. can absolutely be a player to do so.

Depth Is the Difference

In this new wave of the NBA, depth is everything. In the most recent NBA Finals, fans saw the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indianapolis Pacers trot out lineups that went 10 or 11 men deep. Having an elite starting lineup is not enough to make a deep run, and the Nuggets learned that the hard way last year.

Despite their stellar starters, Denver did not have the firepower to contend. In the playoffs, they consistently went with a mere eight-man rotation. Their bench players were Russell Westbrook, Peyton Watson, and Julian Strawther. Westbrook was on the older side and very inconsistent, while Watson and Strawther were simply inexperienced and still developing.

This season, though, the Nuggets have depth out the wazoo. When fully healthy, a vastly improved Watson and two excellent veterans in Bruce Brown and Jonas Valanciunas will join Hardaway Jr. in the bench unit. Hardaway Jr. will be able to provide much-needed relief when Braun or Johnson need a breather. Additionally, when the starters of Denver and their opponents tire, Hardaway Jr. will give the Nuggets a huge offensive advantage.

Tim Hardaway Jr.’s High Stakes

In last year’s playoffs, Denver shot 34.7% from three, which would place them right around the bottom five in the NBA this season. However, with Hardaway Jr.’s help, the Nuggets currently rank first in three-point percentage. The sky was the limit for Denver last year if their shots had fallen, and thanks to Hardaway Jr., they are falling now.

There is still a lot of basketball left to be played this season, and the playoffs are a long and grueling process. However, the Nuggets are poised for success. Even though they have stars across the board, fans should remember who has helped get them to this point.

With his hot shooting and added depth, Tim Hardaway Jr. may be the one who helps them return to the promised land.