Adam Mares

You know, I, we, for our team to be fully successful, I need Aaron Gordon on the court.

I need him fully, you know, engaged physically.

This is the stammering of a man that is like, oh, God.

God, you know what I mean?

When you say sounds nervous, that is like the most I, I mean, we, all of us.

This time of year, man, it's really tough.

But let's just quickly, before we get to the other practice notes, Peyton Watson, Kevin Durant's the number one matchup for him if you talk about the playoffs.

I think Wemby is maybe number two.

When you just talk about specifically you want him for this, we keep calling this a measuring stick game for Denver.

It still is in terms of effort.

Jokic vs. Wemby, Jamal vs. all of their guards, Denver's defensive energy and effort output.

But if you tell me that Peyton Watson's not in this game, Spencer Jones is not in this game, Aaron Gordon is banged up and maybe shouldn't play but will play, and Tim Hardaway Jr.

It sounds like Tim Hardaway Jr.

is going to play.

That would be my prediction.

But no Peyton, no Spencer, and a hobbled AG.

I just look at this one now and I'm like, is it even realistic?

Denver needs to go out and compete.

I'm not letting them off the hook.

But at the same time, it's not really a measuring stick game if your key defenders are out or banged up.