Outside Nuggets Practice where we just got some reactions to Jaden McDaniel's comments, a Peyton Watson update, and the points of emphasis here as the Nuggets get ready to head to Minneapolis for games 3 and 4. But before we get into practice updates, I want to give you a reminder to like and subscribe to this channel. Got you covered all things Nuggets here through the playoffs from practice updates to live shows, from some X's and O stuff from Atomata. As you want to subscribe, you want to have it all, and you can when you're following DNVR. Let's get into these practice notes here. A lot of questions about Jade McDaniel's comments when he referred to the entire team as bad defenders. I think the Nuggets did their best to shrug that off today and not return fire with Bolton board material. They certainly heard it though, and I do think they took it some type of way.

David Alderman was asked about it and he said, quote, I can't wait for his podcast, end quote,

before challenging us, saying it's a bit of a lazy society. Does anyone know what Denver's

defensive rating is at this point in the

playoffs? He was given the number, 109. He asked us how good that is. It's about sixth best

in the playoffs right now. Adelman said six best. All right. So they don't think the defense has

been too bad, actually. Christian Brown said, I think that's part of the rivalry, part of the series.

He's just speaking his truth. It's what he believes. When asked if it's going to light a fire under Denver, Christian shook his head and said, you shouldn't need a fire lit under you in the playoffs. Cam Johnson didn't seem to love the comments, but the actual quotes he gave were benign enough. I'm not entertaining it, he said. He eventually admitted they've been saying a lot

all season, all series. Let him talk. Let him get it off their chest. I'm cool with it. He did admit it's

been a heated rivalry already before saying, I've been in some really heated series. My first one was

against L.A., and there was actually probably more talking about that in that one than there was in this one.

As far as the actual defense itself, the Nuggets feel it's been okay, it's been solid.

They're more concerned with their defensive rebounding.

David Adelman said, quote, I think our half court defense has been okay.

It's just about finishing possessions.

You give them credit.

They got more second chances.

Christian Brown said, look,

when he was asked about the balance of leaking out in transition, we know he's Denver's

transition scorer versus getting into the fray and helping out in rebounding. And Christian

said, there is no balance. I have to be in their rebounding. And that was definitely a focal point.

The Nuggets really feel like that loss came down to controllable factors.

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