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 3-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, 114-105. Aaron Gordon poured in 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 $3,468,960 option on his contract for next season.
- They have banked 44 victories but they’ve been on 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.
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).
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…