The days leading up to the season opener are usually celebrated. As for the Nuggets, they are just trying to get to Wednesday night’s season opener without losing any more players.

For them, training camp turned out to be a survival contest. Those players lucky enough not to have suffered an injury will suit up against the Sacramento Kings to raise the curtain for Brian Shaw’s first game as an NBA head coach.

There is a good chance the Nuggets will be without three of their normal starters — point guard Ty Lawson (groin), forward Wilson Chandler (hamstring) and guard Randy Foye (hip). None of the three practiced Monday.

“I would anticipate Wilson is not going to play,” Shaw said Monday. “Ty and Randy are still a question, but my mind-set is that they are going to be out.”

Ultimately their participation — or absence — in Tuesday’s practice, and the quality of the participation, will determine their status for the season opener.

If they can’t play, it leaves Shaw with interesting decisions about who fills in. Point guard is easy: Andre Miller would get the start there. Shooting guard and small forward are more challenging. Look for Evan Fournier to likely get the nod at shooting guard, and probably Anthony Randolph at small forward.

Regardless of who plays, the Nuggets are ready to get past a long preseason of adjusting to a new coaching staff, and the growing pains that accompany it.

“Definitely ready,” center JaVale McGee said. “Really excited. It’s a new experience, new coaches, new staff, new plays, new system. We had a long preseason, so we definitely have to put things together now.”

The Nuggets ended the exhibition season with an inspired performance against the Chicago Bulls on Friday. It was the best, most aggressive start the Nuggets had in any preseason game.

Shaw said he could see a turn in the players’ level of intensity starting Sunday.

“It was definitely different,” Shaw said. “And I let them know, I said my tone is going to be different. I’m going to be a little shorter in terms of some of the mistakes that we’re making. It’s time to tighten everything up, get everything in order.”

By game time, Shaw said he will have met with every player on the team individually to outline their roles and his expectations. As a team, a couple of huge red-flag items appeared during the preseason, most notably poor shooting and a penchant for turning over the ball.

“There’s just no margin for error,” Shaw said. “If we can’t put the ball in the hole and we’re turning the ball over and we can’t make free throws when we’re getting fouled … then where is it going to come from? Obviously those things will change if and when we get some of the guys that are out on the floor. But we’ve got to figure that out.”

Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or twitter.com/dempseypost

Walking wounded

The Nuggets are likely to be missing three of their projected starters — not even including Danilo Gallinari — when their season opens Wednesday night against the Kings at Sacramento. An update:

G Ty Lawson (groin)

Filling in: Andre Miller, the veteran point guard who is more than capable of directing the first team on a spot basis.

G Randy Foye (hip)

Filling in: Second-year pro Evan Fournier is the logical choice to start at shooting guard if Foye is out. Fournier can play point, off guard and small forward.

F Wilson Chandler (hamstring)

Filling in: Chandler was subbing for Danilo Gallinari, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery. If Chandler can’t play, Anthony Randolph might start. Randolph had an impressive training camp.