I'm outside ball arena where we just wrapped up Denver Nuggets practice and we got an update on Peyton Watson. We got some insight into what the team is thinking about some of these late game tough losses, all of that and more. But first, make sure you like and subscribe so you catch all of our Denver Nuggets News, podcasts, and analysis. I'm going to start with what AG said. This was a mental practice, but it was really good because it was a regrouping. The team has been on the road a lot.

They played more road games than anybody in the NBA to this point. Very home-heavy part of the schedule after this. So he called it a regroup chance for them to get ready and focus for what will be the end of the season. He also talked about his health very briefly. He was asked how he feels. Of course, he's been dealing with these soft tissue injuries, and he didn't really want to comment on it. He said, I feel fine. End of story. Take that for what you will. Obviously, the team is trying to limp across the finish line right now. I'm so interested about toughness and connection, because I think they're essential ingredients for a team winning the championship. They had that in 2023. I asked both David Adelman and Christian Brown about that.

They both agreed that team was special because of that, but they both cited that those things

arrive late and they come from the confidence you get from winning tough games. Right now, Denver's

been dropping them, but they said they believe the team is rounding close to those two things. The resiliency it takes to win in the clutch,

but the connection that comes not from going just winning games, but from the adversity it takes

to overcome and then becoming a winning team. They both felt like Denver was going through a

process that was essential for them to come out the other side a better team.

So I know the stretch is hurt. Denver is treating it like it is a positive in the making.

Everybody's looking at the standings. I know you are. The Denver Nuggets players are. Christian Brown said you're lying if they tell you

that they're not looking at the standings every night. David

Adelman said, I of course know what it means when we lose. I know what it means when Houston

or Minnesota lose to somebody. We're watching every single night. This is the time of year.

That takes front and center. So everybody on standing walks right now. Again, make sure you

hit the like button. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any of these notes.

CB said that it was his job to get the defense organized. I asked him, what's the most important thing you want to accomplish personally here at the end of the season? He said, it's getting the defense organized and on the same page. That's my job. He said, I got to play defense better and I got to make shots, but it's getting everybody organized. Everybody feels really confident about the stretch of games. 14 games to go. 10 of them at home. That's a lot of home games, the most of the NBA over the final stretch. They feel

really good that right now is the moment to turn things around. And finally, we saw Peyton Watson

today going full contact in three-on-three with some of the coaching staff, Jalen Pickett as well, Zeke Naji, Julian Strother, Tice Jones, David Roddy. Those guys were playing some three-on-three today.

And it looked like he was going about three-quarter speed, not necessarily had a great sweat going on, but he was working out. We asked David Adelman about an update on his status and David

Adelman made it sound like he's hoping for this weekend. That would take him out of Tewt tomorrow's game. That would take him out of Wednesday's game at Memphis. So my hunch is that he's not returning until the end of this week. That would be on the long end of his expected timeline. Denver is very excited to get him back.

I think it'll be a boost to the system when he comes back.

But based on what I saw and heard of practice today, he might be a few days away.

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