Pine picker-uppers
DENVER — Earl Boykins darts through traffic, scoring in bunches and at big moments. Eduardo Najera knifes his way inside, tapping the ball above the rim until teammates get it.
Wesley Person drops in 3s from all angles and distances. Greg Buckner shadows the best shooter. Nene bulls past anyone in his way.
A cohesive blend of grit, grace and guile, Denver’s bench keeps the Nuggets in the game when the starters leave.
“I have a lot of ways to go,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “It’s fun to coach a team that will let me deal some cards.”
The starting five features former All-Stars Kenyon Martin and Andre Miller, star-in-the-making forward Carmelo Anthony, versatile center Marcus Camby and streak-shooting DerMarr Johnson. When they need a break, the subs are ready.
On Saturday night against Seattle, the starters opened a 12-point lead midway through the first quarter. Three minutes into the second, the reserves had it up to 22, leading to a 16-point win.
“They are such a deep team because of their bench,” Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. “It gives them versatility. When they want to run more and pick up the tempo they have the guys on the bench. When they want to pick up defensive pressure they can do that.”
It’s been that way since the All-Star break. The Nuggets weren’t big players at the trade deadline, adding Najera and Person, but the moves were just right.
With Karl’s substitution pattern resembling those of a hockey coach, Denver’s bench has averaged 43 points the past 18 games. The subs scored 63 points in a win over Washington on March 22 and nine players have played at least 20 minutes in the same game six times.
Thanks to its bench, Denver has averaged nearly 110 points the last 13 games, eclipsing 120 three times. The Nuggets also have won 21 of 23 games for their best stretch since the early ABA days and are within a game of reaching the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1995-96.
Not bad for a team going nowhere a little more than two months ago.
“We just try to provide energy for the team,” Boykins says.
Boykins — the league’s smallest player at 5-foot-5, 133 pounds — pushes the pace and probes the defense. He set an NBA record with 15 points in overtime against Seattle on Jan. 18.
“He shoots over a hand 90 percent of the time, and in my opinion he’s our best open shooter,” Karl said.
Najera came from Golden State in a trade-deadline deal. He averages about eight points and eight boards but provides much more with scrappiness, defense and an ability to keep offensive rebounds alive.
Person was released by the Heat on March 1 — a big break for Denver. He has given the Nuggets the outside shooting they had been missing since Voshon Lenard was lost for the season in the opener. Person has opened up the inside and improved Denver’s 3-point shooting.
Nene has become stronger the last month after going on and off the injured list early in the year. He’s averaged 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds as a starter, and he played so well last week that Karl had Martin come off the bench for three games after he missed four with a bruised chest.
Buckner has always been a superb defender and has filled that role nicely for the Nuggets.
Throw in Francisco Elson, a rugged defender who can play forward or center, and Bryon Russell, a veteran who can knock down 3s and tighten the defense, and the Nuggets have one of the deepest teams in the NBA.
“The bench is part of the right chemistry, the right personality,” McMillan said. “The bench gives them scrappers, rebounders, defenders and shooters and scoring balance. They’re playing well.”