The Nuggets are two wins away from the Finals and coach Michael Malone says his team is underappreciated by the national media, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Facing a storied franchise in the Lakers and their two superstars, the Nuggets believe they’re not getting enough credit for how good they’ve become.
“You win Game 1 of the (West Finals), and all everybody talked about was the Lakers,” Malone said. “Let’s be honest. That was the national narrative, was ‘Hey, the Lakers are fine. They’re down 1-0, but they figured something out.’
“No one talked about (how) Nikola (Jokic) just had a historic performance. He’s got 13 triple-doubles now — third all time (in the playoffs). What he’s doing is just incredible. But the narrative wasn’t about the Nuggets. The narrative wasn’t about Nikola. The narrative was about the Lakers and their adjustments. You put that in your pipe, you smoke it and you come back, and you know what? We’re going to go up 2-0.”
We have more on the Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray scored 23 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and he also played along with the “lack of respect” theme afterward, Marc J. Spears of Andscape writes. Murray feels he’s often overlooked in the discussion of the league’s top guards. “I don’t think I get enough respect as I should be,” Murray said. “I’m better than a lot of players in the league. Every time I see rankings of guys I think, ‘Man, that is crazy.’ Maybe it’s because I have been out for so long. But if we win the (championship), it changes everything.”
- Bruce Brown has turned into one of the key free agent signings in the league from last summer. Brown has been a defensive agitator in the postseason and a surprising offensive spark-plug, averaging 16.5 points over the last four games. “We were surprised that he was available on the second day of free agency,” Malone told Tony Jones of The Athletic. “We didn’t hesitate to try and bring him in. He’s been a perfect fit for us.” Brown signed a tw0-year deal with a $6.8MM player option for next season and is expected to hit the free agent market once again this summer.
- The Nuggets have struggled with injuries in recent seasons but continue to have good health in this postseason. They don’t have anyone on the injury report for Game 3, Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports tweets.
Nuggets better be up 3-1 heading home because Malone is poking the bear.
How so? Calling out the biased media? He isn’t saying anything that 90% of the country didn’t already know
What this fool talking about, ain’t no one talking about Nikola? He won 2 MVPs and was in the conversation to win a 3rd. Who does he think he is? Jimmy Butler and the Heat?
No, he’s right. They took game one, and all the media would talk about was how Rui slowed Joker down for 5 or 6 possessions. So they went out and won again. ESPN wants to talk about LeBron and LA because their guys don’t know much else, but they’re going to have to talk about something else once LA gets bounced.
I agree ESPN is all up on LeBron, but that’s nothing new, it’s always been that way. This fool is acting like ESPN the only media and that Jokic is a nobody. Again, Jokic 2 straight MVPs and in the conversation for a third. MVP is a media voted award. People talk plenty about Jokic and the Nuggets. Again, he trying to act like the Heat
Can’t stand this gloating being up just 2-0 in a CONFERENCE finals. Win something and they’ll talk about you. The only thing I remember Michael Malone for is clashing with Mark Jackson on the Warriors and then getting fired as head coach of the Sacramento kings. Win then you might see an article on the Nuggets outside of Denver.
Denver had the best record in the league with the 2-time (should have been 3) MVP. They were rarely mentioned all year long. They are gonna get their title. NBA gonna get Denver/Miami in the Finals and not the Celtics/Lakers battle for #18 that they wanted.
Looks like you’re correct about miami. They are impressing me big time with the grit and the defense and the ability to make plays down the stretch. Wow they are getting it done.
The most annoying thing about the Conference Finals is the commentators showing so much bias. Van Gundy and Jackson are big Laker fans. Refused to call out LeBron for flopping but will call out other players. In the other game all you hear is how great Tatum is.
They aren’t gloating though. They’re talking about the lack of recognition which is factual. Regardless of playoff success they are the number 1 seed and had excellent regular season numbers that no one talks about. That would all be true even if they got swept in round 1.
Always appreciate your posts reflect, but I’m going to disagree with you here. Win then talk. Regular season titles are worthless in my opinion. Yes Nicola jokic is one of the best players in the world and deserves any recognition in that regard. But the nuggets have not won anything so don’t cry about respect when you’re a head coach without a ring. My two cents.
I partly agree with both of you. Malone is correct and I can understand his frustration, but it’s probably not the best time to talk about that in the middle of a playoff run (or maybe he was asked a leaning question, not sure of the context).
He’s not gloating. You seem upset
Okay he’s not gloating. He’s crying and whining. Better?
That being said, and I’ll repeat this on the next Laker or nugget article, this sure seems to be the Nuggets year. Commanding 3-0 lead and looking ready to win it all.
Lakers have always gotten the press. Cause they are in Hollywood. And They started winning when TV exposure was growing. Now the media just rides the stars. And star teams for readership and numbers.
Denver just needs to Bury the Lakers and the media. By taking out the brooms. Take that dagger and END it for Bron. Yes Denver is being disrespected. So don’t cry and ask for help. Make them bow them to you. Slam that door and break LeBrons window.
You not only have a very good team. You have a very good team in their prime. Make everyone go thru Denver to win a ring. For the next 5yrs. Start by sweeping this BronGM team …… It’s all there for the taking
He is correct the national media just wants to talk about LeBron and nothing else. LeBron getting praise for Lakers like he is the best player on the team. AD has been the best player on the Lakers. It was Walker who helped the Lakers take the series against the warriors. ESPN wants it to be a Celtics/Lakers final spo they can push the 2 best franchise in history rant.
I remember a few months ago you were saying the knicks were better than the nugs lol
I can’t believe I agree with Knickerbocker 100%. Well said Al.
I agree darth. But don’t be so surprised, Al will have good posts here and there and especially I appreciate his depth of knowledge with the college kids around draft time. And I think he’s pretty fair all around unless some goofball calls him names when disagreeing.
It’s the Lakers glasses effect Denver. I have been dealing with for over 30 years. My 2 best friends, the city, that’s topped off by a suite mate that believes everything should be made just so for the Lakers and in all cases presented in the best light.
The media and many others have practiced that for over 50 years.
My main NBA rap guy Henry is the only reasonable Lakers head I have ever known.
Your dealing with a lifetime bias that will never change.
The fact that you have pushed the collective to the brink is a big deal.
They are trying to soak up as much Lakers glasses sun as they can. It’s a shaky unknown next season for them in all aspects.
Get over it and FINISH THE JOB.
Malone is a great coach. It’s not to cater to players, it’s to facilitate their best. IDK exactly what’s behind some of his more recent comments, but I suspect it’s mostly about him expressing sentiments that exist in his locker room, so his players don’t feel the need to, and just focus on the task at hand.
Like most teams, DEN’s locker room reflects the team’s recent history. They were THE ascending young team to emerge in the bubble, and haven’t been able to put anything close to their best on the court the next couple of years, finally getting back to full health this year – and kicking butt. There is no narrative out there like that about them. OK, why doesn’t Malone just tell them to shut up and play, win and the narrative will change by itself? He probably has. He’s not bashful. But the players still have to interact with the media now, and their idiotic (loaded) questions. Nothing wrong with the DEN HC putting out another narrative, particularly one that puts the media on the defensive. BTW, it’s working. So there’s that.