When Richard Jefferson posts Malik Beasley up inside, Darrell Arthur begins barking commands at the second-year guard suddenly matched against the 6-foot-7, 17-year veteran.
“By yourself, Malik!” Arthur hollers. “One hand up!”
This moment is part lesson, part competition, part conditioning for Beasley within the loose structure of a 4-on-4 pickup game. Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried, Juancho Hernangomez, Tyler Lydon and Monte Morris are the other Nuggets still on the Moda Center floor in Portland, long after a bus has taken most of the team back to the hotel to rest up for a recent matchup against the Trail Blazers.