Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

Tim Hardaway Jr. is bringing a lot more to the Nuggets than a lethally quick trigger.

“Tim has been so good for us in the locker room, too,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said after Tuesday’s practice at Ball Arena. “There’s a veteran leadership thing there where the energy doesn’t change day to day. He’s been everything we thought he would be and more.”

Hardaway signed with the Nuggets on a veteran minimum contract after spending last season helping the Pistons with their turnaround. Prior to that he spent time with the Knicks, Hawks and Mavericks. He started all 77 games he appeared in for Detroit last season but has spent this season almost exclusively in a reserve role where he and Jonas Valanciunas are solidifying Denver’s second unit even as injuries to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun have messed with Adelman’s rotations.

“That’s what us veterans are here to do and provide. We’ve been in so many situational games and positions, while we’ve been playing in our career,” Hardaway said.

“We’re used to that. We know what it takes. We’re trying to do whatever we can to make life easier for our coaching staff and our teammates.”

Hardaway is doing his part. He’s making the most of the looks provided by Nikola Jokic to the tune of a career-high 42.5% from 3-point range on 5.8 attempts per game. Only Jamal Murray is taking more 3s per game on the team.

“Just the threat of what Tim can be nightly is an intangible, man,” Adelman said. “I can’t imagine scouting us, because you have to talk about him, just how dangerous the guy is.”

Hardaway, who has scored in double figures in the last seven games, also got a nod from his coach for his defensive performances in Atlanta and Charlotte, specifically against Hornets wing Brandon Miller. The tangible stuff is just part of the package.

“The competitiveness, just going through all of the things he’s been through in his career translating to our locker room has been such a big deal,” Adelman said.

What I’m Thinking

The trend that is making the NBA offenses as high powered as ever is the same thing that has injuries piling up at a higher rate.

It’s pace, which in the basketball world, is defined by the number of possessions in a game. Heading into Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinals, the Heat have the league’s highest pace, 107.9, according to ESPN’s metrics. Boston owned the league’s lowest rate at 98.8.

A decade ago, Sacramento’s 102.2 rate led the league, while Utah’s 93.3 was the lowest.

“Trends come and they go. Right now, teams have really tried to pick up and make things faster,” the Nuggets’ coach David Adelman said. “It makes sense with some of the rosters and how teams have downsized. So, you’re trying to use that to your advantage.”

The Nuggets aren’t exactly one of the teams that have downsized. Between Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas, Denver almost always has a true center on the court. Denver’s pace, 101.5, ranks 19^th alongside the Lakers. Last season, Denver was 10^th at 102.2, and Adelman would like his team to play a bit faster as long as they’re without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun.

“I would like to be a team that can play fast for a while and then slow down and execute when you need to,” Adelman said. “We have to get better at that.”

Couple the increased speed of the game with more skilled players, and the offenses have exploded. Denver’s 124 offensive rating, or points scored per 100 possessions, doesn’t just lead the NBA, it’s on pace to be the highest offensive rating in NBA history. The Rockets, Knicks and Celtics are also on pace to have historically good offenses. The oldest member of the Nuggets chalked it up to younger players spending more time with individual trainers who maximize ball-handling and scoring skill development.

“Obviously, the 3-point line plays a huge role in today’s game. A lot more 3s are being shot, a lot more fast break, a lot more athletic guys,” Hardaway said.

“It’s tougher for defenders to stay in front, especially when guys now have so much creativity handling the ball.”

More pace makes for an entertaining watch but demands more of the players’ bodies. NBA teams are investing more and more in sports science and take maintenance as seriously as ever, but there’s a growing number of high-usage players suffering soft-tissue injuries, including Denver’s Aaron Gordon.

Everything comes with a cost.

What They’re Saying

David Adelman provided injury updates on Gordon, Braun and Julian Strawther. Strawther was playing some half-court 3 on 3 after Tuesday’s practice.

“Jules looks all right. Aaron and Christian … it’s a slow process. I would imagine they celebrate the holiday without playing, but we’ll see. Maybe on that trip we get them back, maybe we don’t, but they both seem good. Christian’s in a good spot. He’s moving around more, and Aaron’s working his way through it. Aaron’s injury is one of those you’ve got to (have) kind of a tedious build-up. You have to be careful with what could happen to the same injury, not to mention other things,” Adelman said. “I’m excited to get both guys back. In the meantime, we have to hold it down for those guys until we get them.”

Jamal Murray offered his opinion on why the Nuggets have been so good away from Denver during a franchise-record streak of 10 consecutive wins away from Ball Arena.

“I just think we’re really together, bringing our own energy for the most part,” Murray said. “It doesn’t matter where we go, what arena we’re playing in or who we’re playing against. We’re just bringing our own energy to the building and sustaining it. I think that’s been the best chemistry.”

What I’m Following

• Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty to charges he provided information to sports bettors on Monday in federal court. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 3.
• Magic forward Franz Wagner escaped a scary fall against the Knicks on Sunday with nothing more than a high ankle sprain. Medical imaging performed Monday showed no structural damage to his left leg.
• Desmond Bane’s decision to put a little extra heat on the ball when he threw it at Knicks forward OG Anunoby, who was lying out of bounds, cost the Magic guard $35,000. The NBA announced the fine Monday.