Lyles’ aim looks sharp
BERKELEY, CALIF.» Long after the Nuggets had finished Monday’s shootaround at the University of California’s Haas Pavilion, Trey Lyles was still on the floor.
He sank between five and 10 attempts from various midrange spots and around the 3-point arc. Then he moved on to at-the-rim finishes with both hands. He finished by shooting free throws.
This has long been Lyles’ daily shooting routine that sharpens technique and builds confidence. And it’s contributing to terrific results, as Lyles entered play Monday with 11 consecutive doublefigure scoring outings and ranked second in the NBA in 3-point fieldgoal percentage at 46.7.
“Mainly, it’s just to make sure that my touch and arc are right for the day,” Lyles said after Monday’s session. “Really, it just helps my mind-set going into the game knowing that earlier in the day, my shot was feeling fine.”
Lyles first developed the routine with his father, Tom, who trained Trey and sister Tanika as kids. Trey appreciated the structure, which helped him craft his high-release shooting form that has “been the same” since high school. That self-discipline also kept Lyles ready when he initially was not a part of the Nuggets’ rotation, before forward Paul Millsap’s serious wrist injury allowed Lyles to get heavy minutes.
“When you know what you’re supposed to do, you’re not kind of just out there floating around,” Lyles said. “That helps me out a lot when it comes to getting ready for games and workouts.”
These days, Lyles says his confidence is at an “all-time high.” The 6-foot-10 post player has complemented his smooth outside shot with authoritative finishes at the rim, sending him to a career-high 26 points in last week’s home win over Utah. He had pulled down seven or more rebounds in nine of his last 11 games entering Monday. He has played all three interior positions, displaying playmaking ability off the dribble and improved defense after trimming weight over the summer.
Lyles’ only other game day superstition? He must put his left shoe on before his right, a ritual he began as a senior in high school.
As for his shot repetition, he won’t reveal his “secret” ideal number of makes, but he’ll keep firing until everything feels right.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone does not mind making the team bus wait while Lyles remains on the court long after a shootaround on the road. With the offensive pop Lyles is providing off the bench, it would be silly to mess with his routine.
“That gives him peace of mind,” Malone said. “That brings a calm and a confidence to his approach and to his game. The level he’s playing at right now — ‘Whatever you’re doing, Trey, keep on doing it.’ ”
Malone encourages Jokic. Malone pulled Nikola Jokic aside for a meeting Sunday night, offering encouragement to the Nuggets’ young star who had missed 17 of his last 23 shots entering Monday’s game at Golden State.
“I told him, ‘I don’t care about your numbers right now,’ ” Malone said. “I care about Nikola Jokic the person before the player. And I hate to see him so down on himself and putting so much (darn) pressure on himself.
“When he is at his best, he plays with a passion and a flair and a joy. I have not seen that lately, and I just want him to get back to just playing. Take a deep breath, relax and play your game.”
Jokic has recently been starting at power forward alongside center Mason Plumlee, a new-look lineup that, entering Monday, had yielded a 5-3 record and the NBA’s thirdbest defensive efficiency rating during that span at 101.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. And during Jokic’s three-game mini scoring slump, he still averaged 8.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
“I’ve never been around one player that played great for 82 games,” Malone said. “It’s never going to happen. It’s a long season. There are ups and downs.”