Nuggets intend to ditch shootaround for remainder of season

Brian Shaw is experimenting with something different. 

The Denver Nuggets' head coach and members of the team's front office have decided, at least temporarily, to ditch traditional shootaround on game days, according to Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post. 

Shaw wants to increase his team's focus on preparing for each opponent, which means more video and less jump shots. 

So far, Shaw's decision has paid off. Denver scrapped shootaround Saturday before demolishing the Memphis Grizzlies by 29 points. 

Shaw plans to pay close attention to how his players physically react to the move, and is less concerned about how the unique measure will alter the team's place in the Western Conference standings. 

One reason why he's apparently chose to scrap shootaround is because the Nuggets believe in sleep studies that have proven additional uninterrupted rest has a positive impact on a player's attention and energy.

The second reason appears to be Shaw catering to his players' off-the-court lifestyle. 

"When you have a young team, you know, guys like to go out as well," Shaw said. "Am I torturing them by making them get up in the morning when they can be sleeping? And whatever it is they did the night before, maybe they have more time to recover as well."

Shaw continued by saying it's an experiment he hopes will help his players focus and sharpen the team's collective attention span, which he admits isn't always the best. 

"When we do stuff in the morning, sometimes it's in one ear and out by the time we come back that night," he said. "So the closer we can do everything going into the game, hopefully it will be better for us."