always saw his spot in the starting lineup as simply being held until he got back, rather than a permanent removal. So when he was told his new role was coming off the bench, he admittedly didn’t take it well but he also focused in on the one thing that he figured would get his job back.
Being himself.
And Faried has been the best basketball version of himself, maybe ever, to start this season. Offensively he has been solid, always a player that makes the most of a limited number of plays called for him. In his last two games, he has averaged 19.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, numbers more than adequate enough for a starting power forward. Overall, Nuggets coach Michael Malone has called Faried’s start this season “amazing.”
But itap his defense that has stood out.
“I call them game-changing plays, winning plays,” Malone said. “Whether itap a blocked shot in New Orleans against Anthony Davis; whether itap getting on the floor for a loose ball; whether itap being in a stance and knowing who you’re guarding, I think his discipline is catching up with his athleticism, and thatap scary. I think he has all the tools to be a multidimensional, versatile defender if he commits to doing it. And I think his discipline has gotten better in that regard.”
Faried is tied for the team lead with rookie in charges taken with six. All of them have come in the second half and four of the six have come in the fourth quarter, most in instances when the Nuggets have needed them.
He’s tied for the team lead in blocked shots (15), he’s leading the team in defensive rebounds (61) and he’s second on the team in steals (13).
“I know down in New Orleans, I said after that game we don’t win that game without him,” Malone said. (Wednesday) I feel the same way. I thought his energy, his getting us extra possessions, making plays that most guys in this league can’t make. Kenneth has been amazing with his game-changing plays.”
Part of Faried’s motivation for improved defense has been because of critics.
“For me, a lot of people in this league and a lot of the media has been disrespecting me saying ‘Kenneth’s defense,’ ” he said. “Even past coaches say ‘Oh, your defense is suspect.’ But thatap what I predicate myself on, thatap how I got into this league. So I just find that as disrespect and I just want to shut everybody up, not by saying it but by doing it.”
Faried was re-installed as the starting power forward against Detroit on Nov. 12, and in three games he has shown no intention of giving it up.
“Thatap my spot, thatap my spot,” Faried said. “I don’t like people taking my spot. I didn’t take kindly to that – coach knew that; my teammates knew that. I was outspoken about it. I was really upset. But I wanted it and I worked for it. Thatap what I wanted to get back. When I came out of that starting spot, it was kind of gave me a wake-up call like ‘Hey you need to get back to who you are.’ ”
TORONTO AT DENVER, 7 p.m. Friday, ALT, 950 AM
Spotlight on Kyle Lowry: In the first meeting between the Nuggets and Raptors, it was DeMar DeRozan that did the bulk of the damage in Toronto’s victory, but it was Lowry who closed out the game with a flourish. The all-star scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Raptors outlasted the Nuggets. Lowry has been overshadowed by DeRozan’s hot start, but he has been solid with averages of 18.9 points and 6.8 assists. He hasn’t shot it well from the field overall, but in his last two games he averaged 26.0 points and made seven 3-pointers.
Nuggets: Denver is coming off its first home win of the season, 120-104 over Phoenix on Wednesday. The Nuggets did not have shooting guards (ankle) or (foot) and they are not expected to have either one against the Raptors, either. The Nuggets have gone with a starting backcourt of and in the last two games. Against the Suns, that duo combined for 32 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Raptors: This is the start of a five-game road trip for Toronto, which has the fifth-best road record in the NBA over the last three seasons. Toronto is 49-37 (.570) away from home in that span. The Raptors enter Friday’s game without the services of Jared Sullinger (foot) and Delon Wright (shoulder).
