The Denver Nuggets are shaking things up in their starting lineup, with Bruce Brown set to join the first unit. The move is part of an effort by the Nuggets to find the right combination of players as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Brown, who was acquired by the Nuggets in a mid-season trade with the Brooklyn Nets, has been a solid contributor off the bench, averaging 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in just over 20 minutes per game. But with the Nuggets struggling to find consistency, head coach Michael Malone is hoping that Brown can provide a spark from the starting lineup.
The move comes at the expense of Will Barton, who has been starting at shooting guard for the Nuggets. Barton has been struggling with his shot in recent games, shooting just 36.2% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc over his last five outings.
Brown, on the other hand, has been shooting the ball well of late, hitting 45.7% of his field goal attempts and 40% of his three-pointers over his last five games. He’s also been a tenacious defender, averaging 1.3 steals per game and providing the Nuggets with some much-needed energy on that end of the floor.
The move to start Brown is not a permanent one, however. Malone indicated that he will continue to tinker with the lineup as the season progresses and that he’s open to making changes based on matchups and other factors.
The Nuggets are currently in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference standings, sitting in seventh place with a 36-27 record. They’ll need to string together some wins down the stretch if they hope to climb the standings and secure a favorable playoff matchup.
Whether or not Brown’s move to the starting lineup can provide the spark that the Nuggets need remains to be seen. But with his energy, defense, and shooting ability, he certainly brings a lot to the table and could be a key piece for the team as they make their final push towards the postseason.
