Head coach Michael Malone believes the Nuggets will have an abbreviated stay in the postseason if they don’t improve defensively, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.
“If we’re going to be a team that is serious about making the postseason and being a team that can win a round, win another round,” Malone said, “if we don’t start defending for four quarters, we’re never gonna get that opportunity.”
The Nuggets are averaging the third-most points in the league. However, they rank in the bottom 10 — 24th overall — in points allowed at 116.7 per game. They’re in the middle of the pack in defensive field goal percentage and 21st in defensive three-point percentage. They’re also in the bottom 10 in turnovers forced.
We have more on the Nuggets:
- Their outing on Monday was encouraging. The Nuggets sat three starters — Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun — but still ended the Warriors’ winning streak with a 114-105 victory. Aaron Gordon poured in a season-high 38 points and Russell Westbrook was solid all-around with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists and three steals. Malone had high praise for the veteran guard afterward, Tim MacMahon of ESPN relays. “I felt from the get-go Russ’ tenacity, his intensity, what he brings every single night,” Malone said. “Just being a leader in the huddles, getting on guys, uplifting guys, whatever is needed at the time. That’s why Russ has been such a great addition to us all season long.” Westbrook could be a free agent after the season — he holds a modest $3.47MM option on his contract for next season.
- The Nuggets have banked 44 victories but they’ve been in a win-one, lose-one rut most of this month. In the last three games, they sandwiched victories over the Lakers and Warriors with a home loss to the lottery-bound Wizards. “I think the entire season has pretty much been like this,” Jokic told Tony Jones of The Athletic. “We kind of don’t know what team is going to go out there. Some nights have been good, and some nights have been bad. I think the good thing is that we have actually won most of the games.”
- Gordon is listed as probable to play against the Lakers on Wednesday due to right calf injury management and a left ankle sprain, the team’s PR department tweets. Jokic (right elbow contusion/left ankle impingement), Murray (right ankle sprain) and Braun (left foot inflammation) are all listed as questionable.
So, despite having a top MVP candidate at Center, their coach thinks they might not go far. I guess having a “true center” isn’t as important as everyone says it is. Basketball is a team game. You need contributions from everyone.
The contributions from everyone comes in the form of better team defense. Having an MVP type player on your roster doesn’t mean you’re going far if the defense can’t stop other teams.
Is Russ really going to ride out the rest of his career on the Vet min? Sure the big bags are gone but you’d think he could easily get 7-9 mil a year, 2/17 or something. Can the Nuggets pay him that?
He’s made over $300 million in the league. What he hasn’t done is win a championship. It’s been almost a decade since he was even in the Conference Finals. I wonder if he’s just trying to do whatever he can to win a Championship and no longer cares about the money (to an extent).
Been getting minimum for years. He went to LA cause its home. In Denver trying to win. Still has a few years.
Without 3 key players the Nuggets showed just how big the gap is between the top and play in teams in the west…
It’s still a lot more competitive than the east… But there’s a clear difference between contenders and the others…
link to nbaanalysis.net
Why would one guy get blame for this. Now I get how a FankenStein is a Warrior fan. Kuminga is 22 yrs old. He should be backing Jimmy and learning. Not be expected to Carry Warriors. Especially a team they can’t beat. Hilarious ….
“ The last time Stephen Curry and co. registered a win against their Western Conference rivals was back in the 2021-22 NBA season. Moreover, their last home win vs the Nuggets dates back to April 23, 2021.”
Fans blaming young players is counterproductive. Especially when you had a full team playing. And Denver didn’t. FANtastic ……..
Who is NBA analysis? I don’t understand how their take is relevant to the Nuggets lose?
Another media journalist. Did you read article ??
You can look him up. Its not only story about GS fans and Kuminga. As a matter of fact. I’d say its very similar to what gets posted here.
Yep, read the article. Hard to be impressed by it. Four social media posts are hardly indicative of an overall fan base. You can find four posts about anything.
The part about Kerr scratching his head over what to do with Kuminga is pretty laughable. Kerr said last week that Kuminga will have to adjust to the changed Warriors dynamic. I’m sure Kerr is talking with him and they are working things out.
Has a happy Micheal Malone ever been captured on camera? Nuggets are tied for 4th best record in the entire league. Sheesh.
I wonder if the negativity gets exhausting for their players and fans.
They have one of the worst defenses in the league, and have fallen short against a number of top teams this season. He’s right to be critical.
But he is a guy who celebrates his players – the media team films whenever he hands out defensive player of the game in the locker room, and it’s very cool.