Michael Malone looked back on the Nuggets’ surprising playoff elimination and discussed the factors that led to their loss in the series.
Michael Malone had the opportunity to reflect on the reasons behind his Denver Nuggets team, the defending champions, exiting the playoffs prematurely. He observed that despite securing the second seed in the regular season, his players appeared fatigued during Game 7 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Malone acknowledged that his decision to overwork the players contributed significantly to their early playoff departure.
“On one hand, we got the two seed. And on the other hand, I’m watching our players play in Game 7 in the second half, and our guys looked dead tired. I think you guys probably saw the same thing. So did I run our players into the ground? I’m sure that’s definitely part of it.”
Malone and the Nuggets secured the second seed in the Western Conference with an impressive 57-25 record, matching the Thunder’s record (who claimed the first seed due to a tie-breaker). Four of the Nuggets’ starting players, including Nikola Jokic, participated in over 75 out of the 81 games, which visibly impacted their health.
The Nuggets defeated the Lakers in five games but then faced a setback, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a seven-game series and ultimately being eliminated. It was unexpected as the Nuggets had a strong home record, winning 33 out of 41 games during the regular season, yet they lost three home games in the series against the Timberwolves.
The Nuggets had a subpar showing in Game 7, with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic being the only players to score over 30 points, while no other Nugget managed to reach double digits in scoring. The Timberwolves demonstrated superior performance on the Nuggets’ home court, and fatigue was a significant factor contributing to the outcome.
The Denver Nuggets plan to adjust and reorganize for the upcoming season
The Nuggets will assess their roster thoroughly, identifying necessary changes. Questions have arisen about the composition of their roster and which players may need to be let go to comply with salary cap regulations.
Jamal Murray has the opportunity to agree to a three-year, $145 million contract extension. Although Murray and the Nuggets have not initiated discussions regarding this extension, it is widely anticipated across the league that he will sign it. Should this occur, it will pose challenges for the Nuggets in terms of salary cap management, necessitating adjustments to their roster.
Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets has been associated with the Denver Nuggets lately. Known for his exceptional defensive skills and team-oriented play, Bridges is on a contract that is favorable to the salary cap. Acquiring him could significantly enhance the Nuggets’ roster and reignite their pursuit of a championship.
No matter what moves the Nuggets make during the offseason, there is confidence that they will remain contenders for the championship next season. Despite the results of the current playoff campaign, the Nuggets are recognized as one of the top teams in the NBA, and Nikola Jokic continues to be an outstanding player capable of altering the course of games at will.
