Game 63: Denver Nuggets (42-20) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (17-45) - 7:30 PM ET

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[NuggetsWY]

Drummond is big enough to bother Jokic, but ...
Love vs Millsap should be interesting
Osman vs Barton should be interesting
Sexton vs Harris should be interesting
Dellavedova bothers everyone with his peskiness - good luck Murray

Individual matchups and the records say the Nuggets are better, and Cleveland is last in the East. They have nothing to lose - even their lottery slot is rather secure. The Nuggets better be careful or they might have trouble.

[skywalker33]

Afraid to watch, another trap game that Malone and Co just want to coast by......

[Manolito]

Barton 18 minutes and 13 shots at halftime...I have already watched this movie, receipt for a disaster

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using RealGM mobile app

[skywalker33]

Malone needs to be fired, Barton needs to be traded and this is just SOOO pathetic it’s pitiful

[THE J0KER]

This is ridiculous. All season long we are in big danger every time when we playing vs bottom-5 team which playing without their best or co-best player!?

[skywalker33]

Almost feels like the players are TRYING to embarrass Malone, is he losing the locker room ??

[SkillzFromThe6]

I don't understand Nuggets fans love for Will Barton. He plays like a bench player. I much rather a defender like Craig/Grant in the starting lineup instead of Will's offense THEY DON'T NEED. Someone else in the lineup can take his shots like Murray did when he was injured.

[Mickey8]

Again its a Malone and Jokic loss , your best player cant just have one or two shot attempts in the first quarter , as soon everyone came back healthy he took back seat again, its coach job to to correct that, talk with your players, tell them to involve Jokic on the offense , get psychiatrist or somebody to talk with Jokic, he's playing like a disinterested bum right now, and it will coast Denver home court advantage starts play off time.

[NuggetsWY]

One good quarter and take the rest of the night off.

8 FTA - means not even trying to score

Jokic 11 FGA & 1 FTA??? Fine, he likes assists but if that's all he can manage in a game like this; you can not build a team around him.

Millsap has an occasional nice game but 6 FGA 1 reb is pathetic

Barton was the best player - on offense

Harris hit some shots, so okay

Murray had some decent stats

Cleveland only played 7 players (plus one more for 4 minutes). They had more energy and effort than Denver. Worse still, they only had three players that had good games. Love, Osman, Sexton were easily the three best players on the floor.

Almost feels like the players are TRYING to embarrass Malone, is he losing the locker room ??

If Malone hasn't lost the locker room, he doesn't know hot to manage them.

[psimanic1]

Either Barton or Malone have to go, two of them cant coexist

[THE J0KER]

Again its a Malone and Jokic loss , your best player cant just have one or two shot attempts in the first quarter , as soon everyone came back healthy he took back seat again, its coach job to to correct that, talk with your players, tell them to involve Jokic on the offense , get psychiatrist or somebody to talk with Jokic, he's playing like a disinterested bum right now, and it will coast Denver home court advantage starts play off time.

In normal circumstances you are right, but losing vs worst-ranked Western team GSW and worst ranked Eastern team Cleveland in just a few days have nothing with Jokic, it is team *efforts*. The other contenders would use such games to rest their best player and still won that game routinely! And opponent starting center Drummond not even played. If Jokic played a little bit better (with more intensity) against Cavs I agree, we would win, and overall scandalous team efforts would be only masked.

Talking about Joker's passivity this month so far (down from 26ppg in February to just 15ppg so far in March, 12.7 in past 3 games), I can't remember such a thing ever happened before. He has these *I'm on shooting vacation* episodes every season, but in October, November or early December, never in March where the team is in 'war-zone' mode fighting for a better position. Considering Jokic is in his physically best shape and previously has great February, something really sucks there.

But I don't think players intentionally losing these games to undermine Malone, we have this big issue vs underdogs since very first week this season. But also, except Barton and Murray, I don't see any other player being happy on the court with his role, status, minutes, etc... and that is a disturbing just month before the playoff.

[The Rebel]

One good quarter and take the rest of the night off.

8 FTA - means not even trying to score

Jokic 11 FGA & 1 FTA??? Fine, he likes assists but if that's all he can manage in a game like this; you can not build a team around him.

Millsap has an occasional nice game but 6 FGA 1 reb is pathetic

Barton was the best player - on offense

Harris hit some shots, so okay

Murray had some decent stats

Cleveland only played 7 players (plus one more for 4 minutes). They had more energy and effort than Denver. Worse still, they only had three players that had good games. Love, Osman, Sexton were easily the three best players on the floor.

Did you watch the same game I did? Jokic and Millsap were absolutely mauled every time they touched the ball, for the 3rd game in a row. Of course the coaches and front office will never say anything, but it is an embarrassment for the NBA that the refs can be so one sided against a team and/or player. I hate to say it but when it is a black man reffing the game I know Jokic will get screwed before the game even starts.

I will say that it may be time for a lineup change with Grant starting and Millsap coming off the bench, hell in a perfect world I would bring Barton and Millsap both off the bench with Grant and Craig starting at PF and SF.

Why is it that when Barton has a decent game on offense Jokic does so bad? Also Barton is like the contract year player, he only does **** that shows up in the stat sheet, last night he was under the rim waiting on rebounds more than he was guarding his guy.

Almost feels like the players are TRYING to embarrass Malone, is he losing the locker room ??

If Malone hasn't lost the locker room, he doesn't know hot to manage them.

I am not sure that he has lost the lockerroom but the team has been in a bad funk the last couple of weeks. Oddly it doesn't look like anybody is having fun out there, which is bad for this roster. Malone has seemed to be different as well, almost like he has no idea what to do. Maybe the pressure is getting to them?

[Maf]

Opened this thinking- is there any way some of the guys here can blame this loss on Barton as usual? YES, THEY CAN! Even this game.

[Mickey8]

Again its a Malone and Jokic loss , your best player cant just have one or two shot attempts in the first quarter , as soon everyone came back healthy he took back seat again, its coach job to to correct that, talk with your players, tell them to involve Jokic on the offense , get psychiatrist or somebody to talk with Jokic, he's playing like a disinterested bum right now, and it will coast Denver home court advantage starts play off time.

In normal circumstances you are right, but losing vs worst-ranked Western team GSW and worst ranked Eastern team Cleveland in just a few days have nothing with Jokic, it is team *efforts*. The other contenders would use such games to rest their best player and still won that game routinely! And opponent starting center Drummond not even played. If Jokic played a little bit better (with more intensity) against Cavs I agree, we would win, and overall scandalous team efforts would be only masked.

Talking about Joker's passivity this month so far (down from 26ppg in February to just 15ppg so far in March, 12.7 in past 3 games), I can't remember such a thing ever happened before. He has these *I'm on shooting vacation* episodes every season, but in October, November or early December, never in March where the team is in 'war-zone' mode fighting for a better position. Considering Jokic is in his physically best shape and previously has great February, something really sucks there.

But I don't think players intentionally losing these games to undermine Malone, we have this big issue vs underdogs since very first week this season. But also, except Barton and Murray, I don't see any other player being happy on the court with his role, status, minutes, etc... and that is a disturbing just month before the playoff.

Just look how many times Jokic was put in pick and roll or pop action in the last few games , all they try with him is posting him up where hes double or triple teamed . He can score in many different ways and Nuggets are at their best when they have all around Jokic, Its on the coach to diversify team offense , right now the Nuggets are boring to watch , Malone and Jokic shares most of the blame. Jokic needs to grow up and he has to take responsibility , he needs to start calling shots on this team, him being just a pick setter wont work.

[Mickey8]

One good quarter and take the rest of the night off.

8 FTA - means not even trying to score

Jokic 11 FGA & 1 FTA??? Fine, he likes assists but if that's all he can manage in a game like this; you can not build a team around him.

Millsap has an occasional nice game but 6 FGA 1 reb is pathetic

Barton was the best player - on offense

Harris hit some shots, so okay

Murray had some decent stats

Cleveland only played 7 players (plus one more for 4 minutes). They had more energy and effort than Denver. Worse still, they only had three players that had good games. Love, Osman, Sexton were easily the three best players on the floor.

Did you watch the same game I did? Jokic and Millsap were absolutely mauled every time they touched the ball, for the 3rd game in a row. Of course the coaches and front office will never say anything, but it is an embarrassment for the NBA that the refs can be so one sided against a team and/or player. I hate to say it but when it is a black man reffing the game I know Jokic will get screwed before the game even starts.

I will say that it may be time for a lineup change with Grant starting and Millsap coming off the bench, hell in a perfect world I would bring Barton and Millsap both off the bench with Grant and Craig starting at PF and SF.

Why is it that when Barton has a decent game on offense Jokic does so bad? Also Barton is like the contract year player, he only does **** that shows up in the stat sheet, last night he was under the rim waiting on rebounds more than he was guarding his guy.

Almost feels like the players are TRYING to embarrass Malone, is he losing the locker room ??

If Malone hasn't lost the locker room, he doesn't know hot to manage them.

I am not sure that he has lost the lockerroom but the team has been in a bad funk the last couple of weeks. Oddly it doesn't look like anybody is having fun out there, which is bad for this roster. Malone has seemed to be different as well, almost like he has no idea what to do. Maybe the pressure is getting to them?

I guess refs wont award you if you are there only to set picks, its a scorers league . He is treated unfairly compared to other stars but he needs to be aggressive on the offense, looking to score the ball.

[NuggetsWY]

Opened this thinking- is there any way some of the guys here can blame this loss on Barton as usual? YES, THEY CAN! Even this game.

Of course we can blame him even when he's having a great season. This game was one of his better ones and he was the #1 scorer for us. But when he takes the most shots is when Jokic tends to take fewer and that's not good. I do believe Barton is doing his best to fit on this team but when they play like last night, no doubt he gets frustrated and becomes more assertive.

Did you watch the same game I did? Jokic and Millsap were absolutely mauled every time they touched the ball, for the 3rd game in a row. Of course the coaches and front office will never say anything, but it is an embarrassment for the NBA that the refs can be so one sided against a team and/or player. I hate to say it but when it is a black man reffing the game I know Jokic will get screwed before the game even starts.

This goes back to that "soft" reputation. The Nuggets accept that play, coaches and players, so why shouldn't other teams get rough with them? Jokic doesn't help himself with his constant exaggeration of each hit - throwing his head back and so forth. The refs are so used to ignoring him getting hit because of his theatrics that they ignore the actual fouls (my opinion).

But Mickey8 probably hits the point exactly.

I guess refs wont award you if you are there only to set picks, its a scorers league . He is treated unfairly compared to other stars but he needs to be aggressive on the offense, looking to score the ball.

[Maf]

NuggetsWY: Fun fact. On the game Barton took the most shots this season Jokič went for 47 points.

So, for the fun of it, let's look if it goes reverse, too. What happened when Jokič went extra passive.

Spoiler:

Games Nikola took fewest shots

4-8 against Mavs, WB 8-16 for 19-11
4-8 (20rebounds!) against Wizards, WB 7-13 for 17+8+8
5-8 against Lakers, WB just 4-12, 14+13+5
5-8 against Pistons, WB only 1-3
6-8 against Spurs, WB DNP
7-8 against Kings, WB 8-14
3-7 against Knicks, WB 6-9
4-7 against Grizzlies, WB 2-6
5-6 against Pels, WB DNP

IDK, doesn't seem like WB hijacking the offense, right?

You know (I guess you do) I don't wish WB to take most shots on team. I believe we all would like Jokič to be 1st All-NBA team again. And if I forget last couple of games he still could or should if you don't switch PF Davis to C. But we shouldn't make excuses for guy we feel deserves to be All-NBA and top five MVP candidate for showing 8 points, 4 TOs like it is someone else's fault.

Also this last game. Kevin Love was smiling whole game watching how softly he was guarded. That Sexton kid did and went everywhere he wanted without being bothered. Sure, Barton's fault too. Like I hate how he is so selfish and lazy he won't guard all five opponents at the same time. (It is not response to only you, not saying those are your words)


But I'll be honest. You all will probably hate me next season when Jamal's new 170mils/5ys contract goes up. I'll be over his ass very, very often.

[skywalker33]

Either Barton or Malone have to go, two of them cant coexist

Get rid of Malone and Barton goes to the bench where he deserves to be

[NuggetsWY]

NuggetsWY: Fun fact. On the game Barton took the most shots this season Jokič went for 47 points.

So, for the fun of it, let's look if it goes reverse, too. What happened when Jokič went extra passive.

Spoiler:

Games Nikola took fewest shots

4-8 against Mavs, WB 8-16 for 19-11
4-8 (20rebounds!) against Wizards, WB 7-13 for 17+8+8
5-8 against Lakers, WB just 4-12, 14+13+5
5-8 against Pistons, WB only 1-3
6-8 against Spurs, WB DNP
7-8 against Kings, WB 8-14
3-7 against Knicks, WB 6-9
4-7 against Grizzlies, WB 2-6
5-6 against Pels, WB DNP

IDK, doesn't seem like WB hijacking the offense, right?

You know (I guess you do) I don't wish WB to take most shots on team. I believe we all would like Jokič to be 1st All-NBA team again. And if I forget last couple of games he still could or should if you don't switch PF Davis to C. But we shouldn't make excuses for guy we feel deserves to be All-NBA and top five MVP candidate for showing 8 points, 4 TOs like it is someone else's fault.

Yeah, I know the correlation isn't exact. Sometimes it's Barton's fault for trying too hard (can't say that of many Nuggets this year). Sometimes it's Jokic's fault because he goes into this "no shoot" mode.

I've said repeatedly that Jokic needs to shoot more. It will open up the offense more. Right now, every team is playing Jokic to pass and they aren't worried about his shot. He only shoots 15 shots per game and most teams don't worry about guys until they're taking around 20 shots (and making close to 50%). Adding in a couple more free throws based on more shots and it's only around 10 more points but the difference between 20 points (top player) and 30 points (elite) is rather significant.

Beyond that, the entire team tries to over-pass and opponents are playing for the steals. Statistically in terms of number of steals, we're fine. I just believe we'd have slightly fewer steals of our ball and slightly more points if Jokic (and other players when open), would take the shots. To use a hockey term, you can't score if you don't put it on the net.

Also this last game. Kevin Love was smiling whole game watching how softly he was guarded. That Sexton kid did and went everywhere he wanted without being bothered. Sure, Barton's fault too. Like I hate how he is so selfish and lazy he won't guard all five opponents at the same time. (It is not response to only you, not saying those are your words)
I hear you loud and clear. I'll repeat; I think Barton is trying hard to fit in and his defense has improved to at least NBA average or maybe slightly, every so slightly better. I still don't think Barton fits in our system and like Beasley, if he were traded I think his game would shine.

Let me put it this way, if I had to pick the Nuggets MVP this year, it would be a toss-up between the obvious Jokic and Barton. I don't think Jokic is playing his best game but he's still the center of our team. On the other hand, Barton is at least MIP for our team and that's just based on his defensive effort. I respect that. (But I guess I'd vote for Jokic.)

But I'll be honest. You all will probably hate me next season when Jamal's new 170mils/5ys contract goes up. I'll be over his ass very, very often.

If I'm complaining about Jokic this year; and thinking about ramping up my complaints about Murray based on his inconsistency, you've got to figure my patience with his inconsistency is nearing it's end. (Oh yeah, "inconsistent" is the word that describes Murray's game and Jokic's game and the Nuggets.)

I wish the NBA paid with some formula based on statistcs times wins.