Game 64: Denver Nuggets @ Dallas Mavericks 8:30 PM ET

[ducler]

[NuggetsWY]

We beat Dallas twice in Denver in two close games. They beat us once in Dallas and it wasn't even close. Don't think the Nuggets better be assuming a win tonight.

[Mickey8]

Jokic with the one shot attempted in the first quarter, this trend continues since that game with the Clippers , Denver have one of the most offensively potent players on the roster and they continue not to utilize him correctly , its mind blowing whats going on in Denver game after game. There is no reason Burton should chucking up every shot or to take more shots than him. Jokic obviously is playing some mind games again or its a new old game plan by Malone. Jokic should be benched or he should have the same role on the team before Millsap came back , this hanging on the perimeter crap all the time and not taking shots is getting old.

[Powder Blue]

Jokic with the one shot attempted in the first quarter, this trend continues since that game with the Clippers , Denver have one of the most offensively potent players on the roster and they continue not to utilize him correctly , its mind blowing whats going on in Denver game after game. There is no reason Burton should chucking up every shot or to take more shots than him. Jokic obviously is playing some mind games again or its a new old game plan by Malone. Jokic should be benched or he should have the same role on the team before Millsap came back , this hanging on the perimeter crap all the time and not taking shots is getting old.

Bro Jokic is playing super hesitant, staying at the top of the key because the Dallas bigs are clogging the paint and he’s not taking shots outside. If dude don’t want to get into the game and establish himself others have to go score. Can’t even put it on Barton because he didn’t start with Jokic.

It’s possible to call some plays to get Jokic going but I’m telling you these Dallas bigs are throwing him off. 4 other guys on the court gotta make it happen if Jokic isn’t.

[Powder Blue]

First 2 plays of the 3rd Nuggets run a play getting Jokic the ball on the block, both times doesn’t even look to back his man down, just quickly zips the ball back out. Then he just sinks on D and Dirk nails a 3. I’m no fan of Malone but Jokic is being given the chance to score, he just doesn’t seem to want to.

[skywalker33]

Who've thought Jokic and Murray's shooting are dragging the Nuggets down ???? And against the dog-butt Mav's ??

I HATE this kinda truth.....

[SoCalNuggsFan]

Worst Jokic game I can remember so far

[Powder Blue]

$hit shooting and D...

[skywalker33]

Devin Harris has been terrible but only 18 more games of him....guy is the worst I've seen as a Nugget (except Felton a few years back )

[Mickey8]

Who've thought Jokic and Murray's shooting are dragging the Nuggets down ???? And against the dog-butt Mav's ??

I HATE this kinda truth.....

They are playing bad since Millsap return, you can take it as you want . I blame Malone, Jokic didn't forget how to play the ball in just one week , neither has Murray . Millsap is killing the team chemistry that this team have built before he returned , they were beating some quality teams , 12-5 in the last 17 games , that is why they are going to miss the play offs this season again . Malone missing a backbone, plus he is not a good in game coach either .

[skywalker33]

Yogi Frikkin' Ferrell is shooting 90%, is anyone playing DEFENSE

[skywalker33]

Who've thought Jokic and Murray's shooting are dragging the Nuggets down ???? And against the dog-butt Mav's ??

I HATE this kinda truth.....

They are playing bad since Millsap return, you can take it as you want . I blame Malone, Jokic didn't forget how to play the ball in just one week , neither has Murray . Millsap is killing the team chemistry that this team have built before he returned , they were beating some quality teams , 12-5 in the last 17 games , that is why they are going to miss the play offs this season again . Malone missing a backbone, plus he is not a good in game coach either .

Well, Millsap isn't the one shooting 22% in this game is he ?? Blame who you want, doesn't change Jokic's TERRIBLE game !!! He just didn't come to play tonight

[skywalker33]

The only good thing that SHOULD come out of this game.....Malone's firing !! Didn't have this team ready whatsoever and going into a playoff run. PATHETIC against a lottery bound team that's TANKING !!

[U hova]

18 more games.

[THE J0KER]

Who've thought Jokic and Murray's shooting are dragging the Nuggets down ???? And against the dog-butt Mav's ??
I HATE this kinda truth.....

They are playing bad since Millsap return, you can take it as you want . I blame Malone, Jokic didn't forget how to play the ball in just one week , neither has Murray . Millsap is killing the team chemistry that this team have built before he returned , they were beating some quality teams , 12-5 in the last 17 games , that is why they are going to miss the play offs this season again . Malone missing a backbone, plus he is not a good in game coach either .

Well, Millsap isn't the one shooting 22% in this game is he ?? Blame who you want, doesn't change Jokic's TERRIBLE game !!! He just didn't come to play tonight

Millsap doesn't have anything with this collapse, it is all Malone fault, and his ego and incompetence. Millsap comeback should be the best thing happen to Nuggets in March if we have a decent coach and big improvement in our defense, but it is Malone who decided to use it for "big changes", and more absurdly to send a dangerous message to his youngest two stars that teams don't need them too much. Now when team chemistry is broken is hard to back on the previous system just like that. Millsap played tonight just 19 minutes, so he is going to be next victim of this Malone's useless "blame game".

6 and half minutes before the end of the game result are 99-104, and we playing vs a TOP3 worst team which doesn't care about final result at all. But Malone doesn't back at that moment our 1st unit on the court because his decisions are based on his personal emotions, not team's interests, so he tried to win with our 2nd unit hoping that Mavs will gift us this win. When couple minutes latter opponent advantage once again goes in double digits he pushes panic button and back Millsap, then Harris, and at end Chandler into the game, but it is too late, and the team also missed Jokic and Murray which at their worst is still more useful than Plumlee or Devin Harris. How many times this season youngsters Porzingis, Embiid, D.Booker, K.A.Towns... are previously just awful coming into 4th period, but then have a big game or at least important role in teams efforts to win a game in a final quarter? But in Denver Jokic/Murray case we have coach happy to "punish" them instead to grow and build their confidence in such moments. Jokic played 25 minutes tonight, just 8 in 2nd half, Murray played 24, Millsap 19, why should I blame them for anything if they didn't get chance at the half of 4th quarter to save the game when the deficit is just -5?

[NuggetsWY]

But in Denver Jokic/Murray case we have coach happy to "punish" them instead to grow and build their confidence in such moments. Jokic played 25 minutes tonight, just 8 in 2nd half, Murray played 24, Millsap 19, why should I blame them for anything if they didn't get chance at the half of 4th quarter to save the game when the deficit is just -5?

Malone is in a situation with a game where no matter what he does, if the Nuggets lose, it's his fault and rightly so IMO. The bench closes the gap in the 4th quarter and if he pulls them out and we lose, it's Malone's fault for not leaving in the bench. If he leaves them in, and we lose, it's Malone's fault for not bringing in the starters. However, as The Joker says, if I may paraphrase, it's a must to win or lose with your best players - especially when they are young. Malone has leaned on the veterans from the beginning and he's doing it again. D.Harris has been here for eight games and is average 17 mpg - sure, bringing in a top player you play them right away and let them figure out how to fit. D.Harris is clearly not a top player and probably needs some time to learn Denver's system and how to fit with his teammates. We've played all year long with Barton playing the majority of our backup PG minutes and all of a sudden, the new guy is playing those minutes which takes away minutes not from Barton but from Lyles, another young player.

[Mickey8]

If you people don't see that team is performing badly since Millsap is back, that's on you. Look at the resume of the teams Nuggets have beaten before he came back , now this team with Milsap in the line up is getting blown by the team who is tanking hard . Millsap shadow have a negative effect on this team, not just on Jokic but some other players too , and this team is not playing better defense either . Jokic game is completely different when he shares floor with Millsap, he's camping on the perimeter, his game is not diverse, he doesn't mix up, inside and outside, he just shooting threes, from the first game in the preseason , I haven't noticed any chemistry between Jokic and Millsap, body language is just awful between them . Denver should decide either to have Jokic as a central piece or Millsap , if they are choosing Millsap , they should bench Jokic, plain and simple, thats the only hope to slavage rest of the season. Even highlight master dowtobuck have noticed that, in one of the last Jokic's highlights on his channel I have seen teams chemistry being destroyed like this in the past, I am expecting the same with the Wizards when Wall is back.

[skywalker33]

Instead of new logo colors maybe we should rename this team the Denver Jeckyll-Hydes

[Powder Blue]

If you people don't see that team is performing badly since Millsap is back, that's on you. Look at the resume of the teams Nuggets have beaten before he came back , now this team with Milsap in the line up is getting blown by the team who is tanking hard . Millsap shadow have a negative effect on this team, not just on Jokic but some other players too , and this team is not playing better defense either . Jokic game is completely different when he shares floor with Millsap, he's camping on the perimeter, his game is not diverse, he doesn't mix up, inside and outside, he just shooting threes, from the first game in the preseason , I haven't noticed any chemistry between Jokic and Millsap, body language is just awful between them . Denver should decide either to have Jokic as a central piece or Millsap , if they are choosing Millsap , they should bench Jokic, plain and simple, thats the only hope to slavage rest of the season. Even highlight master dowtobuck have noticed that, in one of the last Jokic's highlights on his channel I have seen teams chemistry being destroyed like this in the past, I am expecting the same with the Wizards when Wall is back.

Do you think Jokic gave a very poor effort tonight? I sure do. Also pretty sure the Nuggets racked up plenty of bad losses while Milsap was out. Mavs, Suns, Sixers to name a few. Lotta great D tonight with all those alley-ops and 3’s by Dallas

NuggetsWY made a good point that no matter what happens Malone is going to take some heat and that’s fine and you know maybe you do need to roll with your best players down the stretch but Jokic dogged it out there tonight. There was a play where he was guarding Dirk...only he decided to stay in the paint while Dirk was outside and nailed a 3 in his face. Jokic didn’t feel like playing D. That’s not on Malone or Milsap or chemistry or any of the other excuse...that’s on Jokic. Go ahead and defend this...

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His tendency to whine at the refs is getting annoying too. Get back on D man, don’t camp outside all game then decide to mix it up one time down low and expect a foul.

I’m not sure what’s up with Murray, maybe the long season is taking it’s toll on him as well. Probably doesn’t help that we waited till the last possible min to get a vet backup PG and he’s a bit too far past his prime thus Barton still ends up playing the point.

If the Nuggets collapse I won’t protest Malone being shown the door...but if you think he’s the only issue on this team I’m not sure what game you’re watching.

[SoCalNuggsFan]

If the Nuggets collapse I won’t protest Malone being shown the door...but if you think he’s the only issue on this team I’m not sure what game you’re watching.

Couldn’t say it better myself