Julian Strawther’s first career NBA start was a box-score dud, but coach Michael Malone was more concerned with how Strawther reacted to it.
“I felt he was being overly hard on himself and allowing his lack of shot-making (to affect his body language). … I don’t want to see that,” Malone said last Thursday at Ball Arena, where Denver had just crushed Orlando. “He’s gotta have a next-play mentality. Because he’s competing. He’s trying on the defensive end. He’s battling.”
Strawther’s 1-for-8 outing didn’t matter in the grand scheme. But for a young guard who earns his minutes by giving Denver a scoring jolt off the bench, it was a disappointing night nonetheless.