The Nuggets’ struggles are a source of frustration for Darrell Arthur, but his performance has been a boon for the team. And, if he’s able to keep it up, he stands to benefit long term.
Arthur, a backup 6-foot-9 forward, is off to one of the best starts of his six-year NBA career.
“There’s no question about it, he’s our best defensive big — in the post as well as in pick-and-roll situations,” Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said. “And he’s versatile. … If we need him to switch, he can stay down and guard a smaller, quicker guy. And he’s rebounding the ball.
“At the offensive end, he’s a threat from the 3-point line. He’s one of our best screen setters as well. I understand that’s the value he brings to our team, and in that situation he’s going to be out there on the floor.”
How valuable has Arthur been defensively? When he’s on the court, opponents are averaging 97.7 points per 100 possessions, according to Basketball Reference. When he’s not playing, that average balloons to 114 points.
With his average of 17.9 minutes per game, Arthur is averaging 7.8 points (the second-best production of his career) and 4.1 rebounds. He is transforming his game from strictly being a power forward, which he was when he arrived in Denver in 2013, to a slimmer athlete who has been getting a big chunk of his playing time at small forward. (He’s gone from having 13 percent body fat at the start of training camp to having 7 percent.)
Arthur said the transition to playing small forward has been challenging.
“I just do the little things,” he said. “Try to steal extra rebounds, post up smaller defenders — and just try to use my length and my toughness to go out there and switch ball screens and try to get extra rebounds. But it’s still a process for me. I’m still learning every day.”
The Kansas product said teammates Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari have helped, “telling me the position that I need to be in, and that’s what I need.”
Arthur is playing out the final season of a three-year contract worth $9 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent after the season and, judging by the number of calls the Nuggets (10-15) have received asking about his availability in possible trades, his value will be high.
Arthur has said on multiple occasions that he would like to stay with the Nuggets.
For now, he is determined to work hard, play well, get more time on the court and stay healthy. He was scheduled to get a day off from practice Thursday because of the 28 minutes he played against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, but he was back on the practice court at the Pepsi Center.
“He’s a great asset for us. We play very good when he is on the floor, especially our defense,” Gallinari said. “It’s great to have a player like him that brings that effort, especially on the defensive end.”
Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or
L.A. CLIPPERS AT DENVER
7 p.m. Friday, ALT; 950 AM
Spotlight on DeAndre Jordan: Last season, when Jordan grabbed fewer rebounds and scored more against the Nuggets, the Clippers were worse off, losing both games. In the Clippers’ wins against the Nuggets last season, Jordan averaged 14.0 rebounds, 10.0 points and 2.5 blocked shots per game. Boxing out the ultra-athletic Jordan is a must for the Nuggets to maintain some control of the pace and the game.
NOTEBOOK
• Nuggets: Forwards Danilo Gallinari (knee) and Kenneth Faried (ankle) made it through Wednesday night’s overtime loss to the Houston Rockets — a return for both after missing games because of injuries — and participated in Thursday’s maintenance practice. They will be ready to play against the Clippers. Faried had some of his best games last season against Blake Griffin and the Clippers, averaging 17.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
• Clippers: Center Spencer Hawes is doubtful to play because of a knee bruise. … The Clippers are 8-4 on the road but have lost their past two games away from home. … Griffin comes into Friday’s game on the heels of scoring 31 points with 16 rebounds and five assists in a 102-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
— Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post
