Christian Braun earned his largest profession endorsement following his play within the Nuggets’ 122-120 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. It got here from the back-to-back MVP.
“He was good. I truly instructed him, not simply his vitality, he truly performed actually good,” Nikola Jokic mentioned after the Nuggets’ suffered a third-straight loss Sunday. “He had good minutes. He was speaking on the ground. He was operating right. Power, you want to have vitality whenever you play, particularly him. However I simply assume he had actually good minutes.”
“I believe he gained a pair issues,” Jokic continued. “I believe he is aware of. I by no means win something in my life, however I believe I do know what the mindset must be, and he has an amazing mindset.”
These “issues” Braun gained is Jokic referring to the 4 highschool state titles and 2022 NCAA Nationwide Championship at Kansas that Braun gained at Kansas earlier than arriving in Denver. They’re accomplishments that Michael Malone usually references when talking about Braun’s on-court affect too. And Braun’s successful traits as a participant once more flashed in opposition to the Nets.
“Final three video games, our protection has been non-existent,” Malone mentioned. “I’m on the lookout for guys that may guard.”
Braun didn’t play within the first three quarters in opposition to Brooklyn. However with Denver struggling once more defensively, Malone went to the rookie to open the fourth and the Nuggets trailing 98-87. He helped the Nuggets trim the Brooklyn result in only one level with 2:46 remaining within the 4th. He then made his greatest defensive play of the evening to get a key defensive cease.
The rationale why Braun hasn’t been taking part in as of late is fairly easy, from at the very least what I can collect. The Nuggets are at full well being and taking part in a nine-player rotation. And Braun is the tenth man. There aren’t any obtainable minutes for him night-to-night proper now with how Malone’s present rotation is aligned.
I do know I sound like a damaged document on this house and on the DNVR Nuggets Podcast, however that has to vary. Braun is likely one of the Nuggets’ greatest defenders. Full cease. He’s a giant physique for his place at 6-foot-6 and might guard small forwards too. He’s the kind of defender the Nuggets are going to wish to depend on within the playoffs. He’s rangy and athletic. Braun was within the strategy of increasing his offensive recreation too — in January and February when he was truly within the rotation as a result of different gamers have been out resulting from accidents.
“I haven’t performed lots of minutes these days, so it’s my job to return in there, simply give the perfect effort that I can,” Braun mentioned. “These guys don’t ask a lot from me. They simply ask me to play laborious. If I are available and play laborious, attempt to get a few additional possessions for Nikola, do issues like that. That’s actually all that they ask.”
Calvin Sales space drafted Braun twenty first total final summer time as a result of he match the archetype of participant that he needs to encompass Jokic and Denver’s core with. However Sales space additionally mentioned on draft evening that he thinks Braun can compete for a rotation spot instantly. The Nuggets’ entrance workplace has all the time believed that he may play instantly, and what Braun has achieved this season when he’s been given an opportunity has confirmed that they have been proper.
Braun shouldn’t be an end-of-bench, last-resort possibility who the Nuggets solely go to after they can’t get a defensive cease all recreation, which is the function he performed vs. Brooklyn. He’s too good to be in that spot, although he’s a rookie on a championship-contending group. Braun has proven time and time once more that he may be trusted.
The Nuggets want to search out methods to get him on the ground each evening. It’s well beyond due for Braun to be a lock for minutes each recreation.
“I talked to DeAndre (Jordan), talked to the blokes,” mentioned Braun. “They simply say, ‘Change the sport, change the vitality.’” So it’s simply staying prepared. You’ve bought to return in, you’ve bought to make defensive stops. It’s simply vitality, particularly at the moment of the 12 months. It’s late within the 12 months. These guys have performed lots of minutes. It’s my job to return in and alter the sport.”
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