The Denver Nuggets’ preseason second unit has turned heads for all the right reasons, and it has done so without Spencer Jones in the mix. That should change by the season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when Jones is expected to return and give an already promising bench defense another layer.
Jones missed the entire preseason after suffering a hamstring injury in the opening days of training camp, but that issue is now behind him. His return brings back the kind of 3-and-D presence and physical edge the Nuggets will welcome on the wing and in the front court.
At the same time, it gives head coach David Adelman one more tough call when it comes to trimming the rotation. Rookie Trevon Brazile has impressed at backup four and has made a case for minutes, but Jones already earned his place with what he did last season.
Even before Jones is back, the Nuggets’ reserves have looked sharp defensively. Marvin Bagley III has brought a new level of mobility and athleticism at backup center, something Denver has not had much of at that spot in years. Alpha Diallo has also stood out, leading the team in steals and showing exactly what a “menace” on defense looks like.
Add Jones into that mix, and the bench defense gets even more interesting. He may not be the kind of player who jumps off the screen, but that is not his game.
His quick feet, lateral movement and willingness to bang with bigger bodies make him useful in exactly the kinds of situations a second unit has to survive. He is not a rim protector, but he did average 0.8 blocks per game last season and matched that with 0.8 steals.
Jones also gives the second unit something useful on the other end. His shooting form may look unusual, but the production is real.
He shot 39.6% from three last season and reminded everyone in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves that leaving him open is a bad idea, knocking down 9-for-13 from deep for 69.2%. That kind of spacing should help DeMar DeRozan operate in the mid-range without extra bodies crowding him.
The main question is how quickly Jones can get back into game rhythm while adjusting to a new-look second unit. But once he settles in, he should slide in as the backup four behind Aaron Gordon and strengthen what has already been one of the preseason’s biggest surprises.
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