The basketball community was left stunned and perplexed by the Denver Nuggets’ decision to dismiss Michael Malone as coach on Tuesday, with the regular season almost at its end, only three games remaining.
In their statement, the Nuggets provided some explanation, stating their goal was to enhance the team’s prospects of winning the 2025 NBA championship. Adding to the narrative, ESPN’s Shams Charania suggested that this move might serve as a motivational spark for the team, particularly as they approach the playoffs after suffering four consecutive defeats.
The decision to let go of Malone might also be influenced by the discontent of Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP, with the team’s defensive efforts this season. According to The Athletic‘s Tony Jones, Sam Amick, and Zach Powell, Jokic has been openly frustrated with the team’s level of defensive commitment and performance.
Jokic’s frustrations likely intensified recently following a series of disappointing losses. The Nuggets narrowly lost by one point to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are closely trailing them in the standings. They were also defeated by the San Antonio Spurs, a team already out of playoff contention, and suffered a 14-point loss to the Golden State Warriors, who have a similar record as Denver. Furthermore, they lost a tight match against the Indiana Pacers.
Currently, the Nuggets are ranked 19th in the league in defensive ratings with a score of 115.1. This is a notable drop from the previous season, where they ranked 8th with a defensive rating of 112.3, despite reaching the semifinals of the playoffs and having a record of 47-32 this season.
It’s crucial to recognize that Malone has been the only NBA head coach Jokic has worked under since both joined the Nuggets in 2015.
With the Western Conference playoff spots being closely contested from the third to the eighth seed, losing these four games has not been ideal for Denver as they aim to secure a better playoff position. The team’s defensive shortcomings have been a significant factor in these losses.
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