LAS VEGAS — In today’s NBA you rarely see teams full-court press one another 94 feet. Ball-handlers are simply too quick with their handle and defenses aren’t quick enough to effectively trap world-class athletes who thrive in transition.
But at Summer League, where most of the talent on the floor won’t be on an NBA roster next season, there’s more room for experimentation.
Enter Nuggets’ Summer League coach Micah Nori, who saw Friday night’s opener as a chance to deploy what Denver is calling their “Diamond” full-court press. Nori was hoping it would switch up the game’s tempo while creating more opportunities for deflections and turnovers.