RealGM

This game should be tougher than the Golden State game - you remember that game right? The Nuggets sure want to forget it - but maybe they shouldn't forget it. They need to find some motivation to apply themselves in every game and not just at the end of the game - because that doesn't always work.

+9 on halftime, just like vs Warriors

OK, +9 is a good result, but I'm not happy what I see in 1st half with MPJ gets zero minutes vs team in 8-games losing streak and Jokic and Murray take just 10 shots both (11pts)!? When such things happen early in October and November, I just ignored it, but to see in March Jokic and Murray both out of rhythm and zero minutes for Porter is disturbing.

At halftime, I switched to watch Clippers-Rockets, so when in that game 1st half was over I was shocked to see the tied finish of this game, and I'm happy to not watched these 20 minutes of the 2nd half.

Clippers are scary good.

Jokic and Murray both have one of the career-best months in February but both not look good in the last two games vs trashy opponents. And despite there is no single news about MPJ frustration, I have feeling things going in the wrong direction. If team chemistry is broken, I know who to blame.

Squeaked by on this one, skin of their teeth !! And Malone didn't even play MPJ, maybe this will show the **** FO to replace him, he's not looking to further anything but HIS agenda.

MPJ gets benched due to defense, yet Barton who quit playing defense 2 months ago still gets 34 minutes. Porter being the scape goat is a joke, especially since we are undefeated when he plays 23 minutes in a game. Just like Beasley I guess someone has to take the fall for our bench playing like ****.

This team has a total of 4 real scorers on it 2 of which did not play last night, and a bunch of defenders, why is the only decent bench scorer being blamed for the defense? ESpecially when he is okay on defense?

Also Where was Vonleh? They obviously went and got him for nights like last night where teams are being super physical and the refs are screwing Jokic, yet he never even saw the floor. Why not through him on to be physical with as physical as the bigs for Charlotte was allowed to be last night?

We won - right now I don't care. Why? Because we are not preparing to win in the playoffs. Nope, I don't believe we are. I believe Malone is busy showing everyone who is boss. He has not given Porter a decent shot at earning minutes and I do not want to hear anything about defense. Malone came in with a reputation of being a "defensive expert" and except for the beginning of this year, our team has been in the bottom-3rd of the league in defense since he arrived. I did not go look at the numbers but I think we've been mostly in the bottom-5 overall for each year. Beasley didn't play because of "defense", or so we were told but as The Rebel said above and many have said over the years, Barton plays even with poor defense. Malone pulls Jokic at the end of games for "defensive situations" and while I'll agree Plumlee is a better rim-protector. Jokic is a better paint-protector. Frankly neither is very good on a pick-n-roll (but most centers can't cover guards anyway). So why the switching of Jokic-Plumlee? Because Malone is old school and needs a rim protector?

Part 2: It seems like the Nuggets are all afraid to shoot. Is it because Malone yanks them if they miss shots (except for Barton, Jokic, & Murray)? We know Jokic doesn't look at the basket - frustrating but that's his game.

Part 3: I am losing confidence in Malone. He has improved the Nuggets' record each year but it seems like that improvement has basically been dependent upon Jokic & Murray's improvement. The team is so inconsistent it is ridiculous and I just don't believe Malone knows how to motivate our players.

Part 4: Developing a team for the playoffs means that you have players ready to step in if there is an injury. Malone is not even giving Vonley & Bates-Diop a chance to develop any playing rythm with the Nuggets.

I've gone on too long, but I just don't believe our team is ready for the playoffs. Since the All-Star game we've played 6 games and won 3 of those games. We've only won the 1st quarter twice, so we are tending towards slow starts. We've only won the 3rd quarter once, which means our halftime adjustments are not working as well as our opponents' halftime adjustments. Those quarters, the way I was taught, our coach's preparation & adjustments.