Alright, let’s be honest. The Nuggets have been all over the place lately. With Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth out and David Adelman stepping in as the new coach, things are getting pretty wild. But the drama doesn’t end there—now we’re talking about David Adelman pushing back against how the media is treating Russell Westbrook.

Now here’s a little context. The story kicked off when people started saying Westbrook was being benched or left out under the new coach. The media ran with it, and the headlines didn’t really paint Russ in a good light. But here’s the thing: Adelman isn’t having any of it.

And when Adelman was asked about it after the Nuggets’ win over the Grizzlies, what did he do? He shut it down, big time. “Mistakenly, people said I didn’t play Russ in Sacramento. That wasn’t the case. I played the five people I thought could win the game,” Adelman stated, clarifying things once and for all.

And in good taste, too. In Sacramento, Russ wasn’t it, with him only scoring 5 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. Clearly, the coach’s judgment was on point. But fast forward to today, Adelman added, “Russ played pretty well tonight, so who finished the game? Russ.”

Against the Memphis Grizzlies, Westbrook dropped 14 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds in just 27 minutes. He was one of the key for the Nuggets’ win, showing that when Russ is playing well, Adelman keeps him on the court. But this isn’t just about standing up for Russ.

David’s response to the media shows he’s calling the shots and not letting the noise from outside mess with his team. Especially when it comes to a guy like Russell Westbrook, who gets picked apart way too often.

But here’s what matters: the bond. Adelman has quietly built trust with his squad. Clear roles, honest coaching, and support when it counts seems to the theme in Denver. And that’s huge! Just look at the Phoenix Suns. They’ve got stars, no doubt, but things haven’t clicked because the chemistry’s off.

The Nuggets? They’re keeping it tight. Adelman values performance over politics. If Russ plays well, he plays more. Simple as that! So now the real question is: Can Russ ride this wave and stay locked in for the playoffs? Time to find out.

Russel Westbrooke’s Role in Denver’s Success

The Nuggets have officially locked in their playoff spot, with the regular season wrapping up tomorrow. Now that the pressure’s off in terms of securing their place, the real focus shifts to making a deep run in the postseason—and for that, they’ll need all hands on deck. That includes Russell Westbrook.

Sure, Russ might not look like the MVP he once was every night, and some folks have written him off over the past few seasons. But let’s not forget. This is the same guy who holds the NBA record for most career triple-doubles (We’re talking 216 and still counting). He’s been there, done that, and still has the fire to show up when it matters most.

So what does this mean for the Nuggets? Easy: they need all hands on deck. Nikola Jokic is the star, but Russ’s energy and versatility could be the X-factor. If he keeps playing like this, the Nuggets will be tough to stop, making them an even more dangerous team in the postseason. Let the playoff run begin!