Game 20 : Utah Jazz (15-4) @ Denver Nuggets (11-8) - 3:30PM

[THE J0KER]

Unreal 1st half with Denver shooting 15-17 for three points scoring 79 points (Joker 33 alone)!?

I have some bad feeling Malone will bench Jokic when he is at 49-9 to prevent his career first 50p game and 20th in the row double-double of the season

It's all about the stats, 'bout the stats,

Just enjoy a win !!

Relax, I was joking at halftime after the perfect 1st half, it is not my fault that something similar actually really happened close to the end of the game when Malone calls time-out when Murray called 3pt action for Jokic to join 50p club. BTW 50+ points games are not stats but history.

But the real bad news for Nuggets today is Harris's injury. Barton should be redirected to the starter-SG job and MPJ to the starter SF, but who knows how Malone will handle it. We see today once again his clear intention to play Porter just 20 minutes if everything is OK, and 25 minutes if we have problems with the opponent while Barton gets 37 minutes if he playing well. And how we will develop Porter into 3rd star already for the 2021 playoff if he not playing enough and not playing against opponents' starters? Campazzo and Green were our worst players in 1st half but get some extra minutes in the 4th quarter when they were among the best.

Murray was not so good today, but at least better than Mitchell.

Jokic 47-12-5 vs 2xDPoY is out of blue numbers even for the MVP candidate.

Out of four cases so far this season when Jokic needs just one assist or one rebound for a triple-double, three times it happens with Malone benching him (too early) in the 4th quarter, and the same happens when Joker was so close to some historic achievements like a 20-assists game or 50-points game. So, if someone thinks that I'm overreacting about this issue, look at Jamal Murray's reaction who literally *navigated* Jokic at 3pt line, and in the same moment when Jamal wanted to pass Nikola for that 50p shot, Malone called timeout and benched him.

Read on Twitter

[Richard Miller]

Jokic doesn't stat pad, everybody should know that by now

[FilNugsFan]

Statement win against the league leader. Also nice to be the team that broke their streak. But they got to address these 3rd quarter meltdowns. The starters could've gotten more rest and be fresher going into that back to back had they've done a better job protecting the lead. Feel good win nevertheless.

[Richard Miller]

The starters could've gotten more rest and be fresher going into that back to back had they've done a better job protecting the lead.

Jazz is a good team though, they were not going to just give up and send their bench to play garbage time. It was getting a bit too close for comfort, but in the end they pushed it back into double digits, so that's gotta be enough. Not to mention that Gary had to leave the game early.

[skywalker33]

It's all about the stats, 'bout the stats,

Just enjoy a win !!

Relax, I was joking at halftime after the perfect 1st half, it is not my fault that something similar actually really happened close to the end of the game when Malone calls time-out when Murray called 3pt action for Jokic to join 50p club. BTW 50+ points games are not stats but history.

But the real bad news for Nuggets today is Harris's injury. Barton should be redirected to the starter-SG job and MPJ to the starter SF, but who knows how Malone will handle it. We see today once again his clear intention to play Porter just 20 minutes if everything is OK, and 25 minutes if we have problems with the opponent while Barton gets 37 minutes if he playing well. And how we will develop Porter into 3rd star already for the 2021 playoff if he not playing enough and not playing against opponents' starters? Campazzo and Green were our worst players in 1st half but get some extra minutes in the 4th quarter when they were among the best.

Murray was not so good today, but at least better than Mitchell.

Jokic 47-12-5 vs 2xDPoY is out of blue numbers even for the MVP candidate.

Out of four cases so far this season when Jokic needs just one assist or one rebound for a triple-double, three times it happens with Malone benching him (too early) in the 4th quarter, and the same happens when Joker was so close to some historic achievements like a 20-assists game or 50-points game. So, if someone thinks that I'm overreacting about this issue, look at Jamal Murray's reaction who literally *navigated* Jokic at 3pt line, and in the same moment when Jamal wanted to pass Nikola for that 50p shot, Malone called timeout and benched him.

Read on Twitter

Malone (and Joker to) are only concerned with ONE start....WINS. Why are you more concerned with his stats than Jokic is ? Seems most all Euros are overtly concerned with stats more than wins, I don't get it ?? Joker can use the rest more than the accolades IMO.

[THE J0KER]

Spoiler:

Relax, I was joking at halftime after the perfect 1st half, it is not my fault that something similar actually really happened close to the end of the game when Malone calls time-out when Murray called 3pt action for Jokic to join 50p club. BTW 50+ points games are not stats but history.

But the real bad news for Nuggets today is Harris's injury. Barton should be redirected to the starter-SG job and MPJ to the starter SF, but who knows how Malone will handle it. We see today once again his clear intention to play Porter just 20 minutes if everything is OK, and 25 minutes if we have problems with the opponent while Barton gets 37 minutes if he playing well. And how we will develop Porter into 3rd star already for the 2021 playoff if he not playing enough and not playing against opponents' starters? Campazzo and Green were our worst players in 1st half but get some extra minutes in the 4th quarter when they were among the best.

Murray was not so good today, but at least better than Mitchell.

Jokic 47-12-5 vs 2xDPoY is out of blue numbers even for the MVP candidate.

Out of four cases so far this season when Jokic needs just one assist or one rebound for a triple-double, three times it happens with Malone benching him (too early) in the 4th quarter, and the same happens when Joker was so close to some historic achievements like a 20-assists game or 50-points game. So, if someone thinks that I'm overreacting about this issue, look at Jamal Murray's reaction who literally *navigated* Jokic at 3pt line, and in the same moment when Jamal wanted to pass Nikola for that 50p shot, Malone called timeout and benched him.

Read on Twitter

Malone (and Joker to) are only concerned with ONE start....WINS. Why are you more concerned with his stats than Jokic is ? Seems most all Euros are overtly concerned with stats more than wins, I don't get it ?? Joker can use the rest more than the accolades IMO.

- From my experience, the only Europeans which obsession with stats in sports can be compared with Americans are the British (BTW did you know that Jokic is... Euro?). In the UK basketball, NFL, baseball, and Ice Hockey are not so popular sports, so I guess the reason why you have that wrong opinion about "all Euros" is me because I really often use statistics here. But that has nothing with European sports culture, I professionally working with different kinds of stats and data for 20+ years, and as a big basketball fan, I always liked to use that knowledge in my analysis and discussions here and elsewhere. So, it is just me, not "all Euros"...

- Malone is the last coach of NBA playoff level teams I would call "concerned only on winning". He is a control freak which on the other hand can't control his own stubbornness and ego. He missed the playoff for one single win two back-to-back seasons thanks to several controversial decisions which arguably damaged our winning record, and in the past two seasons where Nuggets was TOP3 team in the West, he lost more games vs lottery teams underdogs than any other TOP10 team...

[Richard Miller]

, he lost more games vs lottery teams underdogs than any other TOP10 team...

Not a particular fan of Malone, but this is simply not true, I remember those games and the Nuggets just sucked or tried to half-ass those games and in the end lost, that's not on the coach.

[NuggetsWY]

, he lost more games vs lottery teams underdogs than any other TOP10 team...

Not a particular fan of Malone, but this is simply not true, I remember those games and the Nuggets just sucked or tried to half-ass those games and in the end lost, that's not on the coach.

The way I was taught, a coach has three responsibilities:
1. Prepare the team for each game physically, mentally, emotionally.
2. Motivate the team before, during, after the game.
3. Manage the team's play.

Coaches are fired all the time because their team couldn't win against worse teams or because their team couldn't win during the playoffs.

[Richard Miller]

Coaches are fired all the time because their team couldn't win against worse teams or because their team couldn't win during the playoffs.

True, however a coach can only do so much, he doesn't play.

[skywalker33]

Coaches are fired all the time because their team couldn't win against worse teams or because their team couldn't win during the playoffs.

True, however a coach can only do so much, he doesn't play.

I agree, but ultimately, isn't it the coach's JOB to get the players prepared to play the games, regardless of the competition level ?

[Richard Miller]

Coaches are fired all the time because their team couldn't win against worse teams or because their team couldn't win during the playoffs.

True, however a coach can only do so much, he doesn't play.

I agree, but ultimately, isn't it the coach's JOB to get the players prepared to play the games, regardless of the competition level ?

Prepare yes, but I can't imagine Malone told them something like "Those Cavs/Hawks/Pistons are bums you can beat them with one arm tied on your back", how they execute on the court is still on the players.

[skywalker33]

Spoiler:

Out of four cases so far this season when Jokic needs just one assist or one rebound for a triple-double, three times it happens with Malone benching him (too early) in the 4th quarter, and the same happens when Joker was so close to some historic achievements like a 20-assists game or 50-points game. So, if someone thinks that I'm overreacting about this issue, look at Jamal Murray's reaction who literally *navigated* Jokic at 3pt line, and in the same moment when Jamal wanted to pass Nikola for that 50p shot, Malone called timeout and benched him.

Read on Twitter

Malone (and Joker to) are only concerned with ONE start....WINS. Why are you more concerned with his stats than Jokic is ? Seems most all Euros are overtly concerned with stats more than wins, I don't get it ?? Joker can use the rest more than the accolades IMO.

- From my experience, the only Europeans which obsession with stats in sports can be compared with Americans are the British (BTW did you know that Jokic is... Euro?). In the UK basketball, NFL, baseball, and Ice Hockey are not so popular sports, so I guess the reason why you have that wrong opinion about "all Euros" is me because I really often use statistics here. But that has nothing with European sports culture, I professionally working with different kinds of stats and data for 20+ years, and as a big basketball fan, I always liked to use that knowledge in my analysis and discussions here and elsewhere. So, it is just me, not "all Euros"...

- Malone is the last coach of NBA playoff level teams I would call "concerned only on winning". He is a control freak which on the other hand can't control his own stubbornness and ego. He missed the playoff for one single win two back-to-back seasons thanks to several controversial decisions which arguably damaged our winning record, and in the past two seasons where Nuggets was TOP3 team in the West, he lost more games vs lottery teams underdogs than any other TOP10 team...

“I told him a couple minutes before to go get 50, man,” Will Barton said. “But you know him, he don’t care about that kind of stuff. He’s just playing basketball, being aggressive, being who he is but we definitely wanted the big fella to get the big five oh tonight.”

https://milehighsports.com/nikola-jokic-matches-career-high-47-didnt-care-about-going-for-50/

[NuggetsWY]

True, however a coach can only do so much, he doesn't play.

I agree, but ultimately, isn't it the coach's JOB to get the players prepared to play the games, regardless of the competition level ?

Prepare yes, but I can't imagine Malone told them something like "Those Cavs/Hawks/Pistons are bums you can beat them with one arm tied on your back", how they execute on the court is still on the players.

"A coach can only do so much, he doesn't play" is quite true. But a coach that can't prepare, manage, and motivate their players is of no value.

"Regardless of the competition level" is a valid point. That's why I'm not a fan of college basketball. A few "big" schools get 5-10 potential NBA level players, a few other schools get 1 or 2 at the level while most schools do not ever see players that have NBA potential. The disparity in talent makes it difficult to win - for some schools.

However, the NBA has seen again and again that parity isn't reality but on any given night, even the worst of teams can beat the best. Denver was the first eighth seed to defeat the number one see. The Knicks did it then Golden State and then Memphis. Those were coaches that prepared their players to win, made them believe they could win, and led them to victory.

Every team has an off-night, but in the NBA winning is how teams & coaches are measured (players too but not as much). George Karl was fired after his best winning season ever - said to be because he couldn't win in the playoffs.

[Richard Miller]

I agree, but ultimately, isn't it the coach's JOB to get the players prepared to play the games, regardless of the competition level ?

Prepare yes, but I can't imagine Malone told them something like "Those Cavs/Hawks/Pistons are bums you can beat them with one arm tied on your back", how they execute on the court is still on the players.

"A coach can only do so much, he doesn't play" is quite true. But a coach that can't prepare, manage, and motivate their players is of no value.

Well, look no further than Jokic, that's the same player who once almost went the entire game without shooting (vs Memphis iirc), and now he's averaging nearly 20 FGAs per game. I doubt Malone is doing anything too differently compared to then.

[skywalker33]

Prepare yes, but I can't imagine Malone told them something like "Those Cavs/Hawks/Pistons are bums you can beat them with one arm tied on your back", how they execute on the court is still on the players.

"A coach can only do so much, he doesn't play" is quite true. But a coach that can't prepare, manage, and motivate their players is of no value.

Well, look no further than Jokic, that's the same player who once almost went the entire game without shooting (vs Memphis iirc), and now he's averaging nearly 20 FGAs per game. I doubt Malone is doing anything too differently compared to then.

Then those 3rd qtr lapses are ALL on the players, right ?

[Richard Miller]

"A coach can only do so much, he doesn't play" is quite true. But a coach that can't prepare, manage, and motivate their players is of no value.

Well, look no further than Jokic, that's the same player who once almost went the entire game without shooting (vs Memphis iirc), and now he's averaging nearly 20 FGAs per game. I doubt Malone is doing anything too differently compared to then.

Then those 3rd qtr lapses are ALL on the players, right ?

Idk, you would have to go play by play and see what went wrong in each of them. Sometimes it's nobody's fault, you do everything right and the ball just doesn't go in.

[NuggetsWY]

I seriously doubt Malone does not have the players prepared in terms of basketball.
The players seem to like him but does that mean he knows how to motivate them?
I'm not a believer in how he manages a game but I suspect that isn't the only issue for the Nuggets. Ignoring the first few years, when they were still learning how to play winning basketball; let's just look at last year and the year before (plus this year) - our play off years. The Nuggets have been inconsistent against good teams and bad. They've been inconsistent within games.

This year, they have won three out of four quarters in six out of thirteen games - less than half.
They've won 13 out of 20 1st quarters.
They've won 12 out of 20 2nd quarters.
They've won 8 out of 20 3rd quarters.
They've won 10 out of 20 4th quarters.
They've only won two of their four 1st overtimes and won their only 2nd overtime.

I'd say the Nuggets are struggling in the 4th quarter and playing their worst in the 3rd quarter. Is he over-thinking his half-time game management? Are his half-time speeches lacking in motivation? Are other coaches better at adjusting their game plan at half-time? I don't know, but there does seem to be a problem.

[Richard Miller]

I'd say the Nuggets are struggling in the 4th quarter and playing their worst in the 3rd quarter. Is he over-thinking his half-time game management? Are his half-time speeches lacking in motivation? Are other coaches better at adjusting their game plan at half-time? I don't know, but there does seem to be a problem.

Well, in the playoffs they were kicking ass in the 3rd quarters, it wasn't that long time ago, now they just need to connect everything and make one whole game played well throughout

[Mickey8]

They can't, they are not good enough.

[ForeverRDjazz]

Congrats Nugs fans. Joker looked like league MVP today. Couldn't miss a shot that first half. See you guys in the playoffs.

Thanks, think we may have a couple more regular-season games to face off but anyway...do you really want that ??

Are you sure? Think we might play 3 games and that leave one to play. Set one each so far. Always love these key games the most.