Nuggets' Faried sounds pretty happy about coaching change
The Denver Nuggets opened their 2015-16 training camp not only with the usual optimism that comes with a fresh start for the season, but also the benefit of a new man behind the bench and, they hope, an overhauled locker-room culture.
A moribund team last season as Brian Shaw lost the room and Melvin Hunt didn't have the requisite time to fix it, the Nuggets turned to Mike Malone to right the ship. The organization also made moves to add leadership and character while also adding to their young core through the draft, and the hope is that Malone can help get more out of what is a quality roster on paper.
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It's not necessarily Malone's commitment to a faster pace - a must at high altitude - or defense that's winning players over but, in at least one case, his belief in them.
"If you don't have a coach that believes in you, then what's the point of going out there and playing?" Kenneth Faried said this week. "If your coach doesn't have faith in you and puts you out in the fire against all these great players, you're going to get torched."
Faried's season could dictate how close the Nuggets come to a playoff spot. His development appeared to stall under Shaw, a disappointing outcome after he received a four-year, $50-million extension before the season and showed appreciable second-half growth the year prior.
Instead of building on that progress - and the franchise's apparent belief in him - the 25-year-old regressed some as a scorer, stagnated as a rebounder, and didn't take the steps on defense he hopes to eventually take. A fresh start with a new coach may be what Faried needs to deliver on the promise that warranted such an extension at this time last year.
In 75 games last season, Faried averaged 12.6 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 50.7 percent, and Denver was 5.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. Over four years with the Nuggets, the former No. 22 overall pick has averaged 12.2 points and 8.7 rebounds with a 54.1 percent mark from the field.