DENVER – Every so often, Brian Shaw watches the Denver Nuggets revert back to their old fast-paced tendencies.
The first-year coach doesn't particularly mind or get all that miffed, realizing that all of those years of pushing the tempo under George Karl can't be changed in one training camp.
By the time January rolls around — maybe the All-Star break, at the latest — Shaw envisions his team fully embracing his system, one that hinges on half-court sets, a powerful presence in the paint and smothering defense.
Until that time, Shaw's willing to overlook some of the growing pains that go along with the transition as he steps in for Karl, who was ousted after winning a franchise-best 57 games last season only to be bounced from the first round of the playoffs for a fourth straight time.