Game 57: Denver Nuggets (25-31) @ Sacramento Kings (24-33) - 9:00 PM ET

[ducler]

[NuggetsWY]

Matchups
Center - Denver
PF - Denver
SF - Denver
SG - Denver
PG - Sacramento
Sorta the reverse of our Golden State game - you know, the one we won - sure hope we don't take this one for granted

[U hova]

Nice, a free win

[nayyyyyyyyo09]

Nice, a free win

No such thing

[NuggetsWY]

Am I wrong for wanting the Nuggets to run every play through Jokic. They started doing that but when Barton & Chandler came in, Jokic was standing to the side along the baseline - at least in the first quarter. First look at Gallinari for a while and he seemed content to play with Jokic running the offense.

When Plumlee was in for Jokic, the offense did not run through Plumlee. So we have two offenses. That leads to confusion about what players are supposed to do. Plumlee could probably run a high-post offense. He's tall, to see over everyone and he's a decent passer.

First quarter thoughts done.

[The Rebel]

Did something happen with Jokic that I missed?

[U hova]

I have never felt so angry watching the Nuggets play in the Jokic era. This team has been making sloppy passes and giving half efforts on loose balls the entire half and all of this is only magnified by the referees calling every step every screen every charge all in the Kings favor. This is the 2nd game in a row I've watched Jokic take a 3 pointer out of frustration. Seems like Malone walked in with a single game plan that went to dust the moment Joeger subbed in Evans to guard Gallo.

Though to the Kings credit, WCS looks unstoppable and Evans is active in the lanes.

I can only hope the Nuggets come back out in the 2nd half ready to play.

[NuggetsWY]

Matchups
Center - Denver
PF - Denver
SF - Denver
SG - Denver
PG - Sacramento
Sorta the reverse of our Golden State game - you know, the one we won - sure hope we don't take this one for granted

Oops, sorry Skywalker, think I jinxed us.
Had a rough day, going to watch the second half in the morning. Sure hope that if I get some rest, maybe we'll play with more energy. They're playing like a bunch of fat 60 yr olds.

[Chuck Everett]

So the Nuggets decided to remain on All-Star break. This (lack of) defense is pathetic.

[The Rebel]

The whole time I was watching Plumlee get tore up by WCS I was thinking we gave up Nurkic and a 1st for a homeless version Nurkic without the defense and cash. Yet people wonder why it is so tough to be a Nuggets fan.

[skywalker33]

Guess the trade deadline pressure got to the Nuggets, how pathetic to be beaten by a D-League team.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

This is the worst game by Denver whole year. What the **** did I just watch? Like they want to lose on purpose

[tstrick33]

The Nuggets played like they all wanted to be traded and when none of them got traded they protested by throwing away a very important game.

I also hate it when we are fully healthy. There are too many guys to play and no time to really jell on the court. Everyone looks confused and trying to do too much. Playing 12-15 guys will not work. Malone needs to figure out 8 guys to play a lot and piss off the rest by benching some guys. Hernangomez and Murray need more minutes.

[GotEm]

Did something happen with Jokic that I missed?

The hype from all the headlines about Jokic being "untouchable" and "franchise player" and all that may have gotten to his head.

I expect him to get it out of his system and get back to ballin next game itself.

[GotEm]

Nice, a free win

Don't ever count your chickens before they hatch again.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

Did something happen with Jokic that I missed?

The hype from all the headlines about Jokic being "untouchable" and "franchise player" and all that may have gotten to his head.

I expect him to get it out of his system and get back to ballin next game itself.

Don't think it's that. I think it was the coaching, almost no offense went through him after the first quarter. Actually no meaningful offense was played at all after 7-8 minutes

[The Rebel]

Did something happen with Jokic that I missed?

The hype from all the headlines about Jokic being "untouchable" and "franchise player" and all that may have gotten to his head.

I expect him to get it out of his system and get back to ballin next game itself.

You may have a point if he had went out there and was trying to showboat or do something crazy. His minutes were cut by a 1/3rd tonight, his issues were that he was not getting the ball when he was on the court, Gallo, Barton, and Nelson were back to their usual don't pass it to the actual developing superstar let's run isos and post ups. There was little movement without the ball when Jokic had it, and Malone was obviously more interested in playing a terrible Plumlee who was destroyed by WCS.

Sorry but the starting lineup with Gallo, Jokic, and Nelson all wanting the ball in their hands is not going to work, at least with Mudiay he would give up the ball, Nelson and Gallo did not seem interested tonight, it was like they forgot how easy the game could be when you give by far the best passer n the team the ball. Especially Gallo seemed more worried about building up his stats for free agency this summer.

Also Plumlee, Faried, and Jokic is not going to work as a 3 big rotation, especially with Barton getting so many minutes, there is no room for anybody to drive the lane and open up space, nowhere for cutters to go to get the easy shots, instead you have teams packing the paint and daring the Nuggets to do something about it. Hernan-Gomez or Arthur have to be out there when you are playing Barton and Murray as both of those guys like to slash, but you need smeone to open up the lane for them. I hate hockey lineup changes but reality is that is going to be the only way to make things work if you are playing Barton, he is just not a good enough shooter to spread the floor at all.

[The Rebel]

I think Malone has lost his mind, in the press conference after the game saying Jokic needs to play better defense and that is why he played Plumlee for his defense, did he miss WCS who a few weeks ago most considered to be heading for a bust going off against Plumlee?

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

I think Malone has lost his mind, in the press conference after the game saying Jokic needs to play better defense and that is why he played Plumlee for his defense, did he miss WCS who a few weeks ago most considered to be heading for a bust going off against Plumlee?

Did he say anything about soloing in the offense?

[NuggetsWY]

Malone is full of ... well ... he's full of it. Jokic's defense isn't the issue. Plumlee's defense isn't the issue. Neither is considered a defensive stalwart. Sacramento killed Denver on the fast-break - that's basically on the guards and SFs. They're the ones that are supposed to be back on defense first since the bigs are usually playing closer to the basket. Sacramento killed Denver in the paint and I will still tell you that if you watch the game, our bigs end up trying to defend two players all the time. It leads for lots of points-in-the-paint. Denver needs to have their guards & small forwards drop down into the paint to help the bigs when there's a half-court two-on-one in the paint.

I wonder if the lack of defensive effort is because they are saving themselves for offense? I'm not talking about total minutes but maybe Malone needs to shorten their shifts. If a player isn't hustling, pull him from the game for 5 minutes. Then put him back in. Hustle means more minutes ought to get these guys to hustle. If the veterans don't hustle, it's pointless for the young bucks to hustle, so they learn bad habits.