The Denver Nuggets suffered their second consecutive blowout loss on Friday evening, falling 128-109 to the Portland Path Blazers in a sport that left head coach Michael Malone fuming.
“Yeah, that was embarrassing. That was only a joke. Who’re we kidding?” Malone mentioned with an exasperated tone.
“Eleven video games to go and that is the hassle we put forth. I am embarrassed by that sport, and our method and the way we performed. Six factors on the offensive glass. Rebounding is effort, rebounding is toughness, rebounding is need. They usually simply kicked our butts on the offensive glass.”
The Path Blazers dominated the offensive glass, snatching 15 offensive rebounds that led to 26 second-chance factors. Mixed with the 25 factors scored off Denver’s 20 turnovers, the Nuggets gave up a whopping 51 factors from simply rebounds and turnovers.
Defensive collapse plagued Nuggets in loss to Path Blazers
Even with out Nikola Jokic within the lineup, the Nuggets initially jumped out to an early double-digit lead. It shortly evaporated resulting from poor execution on each ends of the ground. The defensive effort was notably regarding, because the Nuggets surrendered 74 factors within the second half alone, getting outscored by 24 factors after halftime.
Associated Denver Nuggets InformationArticle continues under
Malone did not mince phrases about what he perceived as a ‘lack of satisfaction’ from his squad.
“I do not know what our guys are considering with 11 [games] to go. I problem them to have a look at the standings, take a look at our remaining schedule, and if we proceed to play the best way we’re enjoying, we shall be enjoying within the play-in match,” mentioned Malone. “Quite simple. It is simply the best way it’s, and I believe each man has received to look themselves within the mirror and begin coming to every respective sport with the correct mindset and have some satisfaction. I did not suppose we performed with any satisfaction tonight.”
When requested how he thought gamers would reply to his blunt evaluation, Malone was equally as direct in response.
“It isn’t my job to guage how they take issues. My job is to be trustworthy, and generally brutally trustworthy. And tonight it was a brutally trustworthy message,” mentioned Malone.
“The fellows which can be filled with s**t will not hear it. They will say, ‘Coach is tripping.’ And the blokes that perhaps do actually care will as a result of they do not wish to return and watch their minutes. No person watches their minutes; no one watches movie. So we’ll have to point out them the movie, and I mentioned if someone disagrees with me, please communicate up. And no one mentioned a phrase. So once more, I am not likely involved with how they took that message. My factor is being trustworthy with how we simply performed.”
With simply 11 video games remaining within the common season, the timing of the Nuggets’ hunch is especially regarding. They will must get issues discovered shortly earlier than they slide even additional within the Western Convention standings.