Game 53 : Boston Celtics (27-26) @ Denver Nuggets (34-18) - 3:00 PM

[NuggetsWY]

Boston bench beat Denver bench --- 19-14 --- This loss is not on our bench, but they certainly didn't help much.

Denver had a nice first quarter and then played without intensity during the second and third quarters before taking the fourth quarter off.

This is the result of the way they play: failure to hold leads, allowing teams to make comebacks. Boston was too talented for them to allow that.

Defense did not lose the game; Boston only scored 105 points.
Offense lost the game; Denver only scored 87 points. When 3pt shots are not falling, it's time to change the offense. Perhaps giving Jokic the ball at the top of the key and then having everyone cut towards the basket, using back picks, etc.

Did you notice that Campazzo was the only Nugget that shot over 50% from the field?

Lately Malone has played only nine players in most games and the Nuggets have been winning. In this game he used thirteen players - why such a drastic change? That's a unique approach; take a winning formula and make major changes in order to lose.

[skywalker33]

Boston bench beat Denver bench --- 19-14 --- This loss is not on our bench, but they certainly didn't help much.

Denver had a nice first quarter and then played without intensity during the second and third quarters before taking the fourth quarter off.

This is the result of the way they play: failure to hold leads, allowing teams to make comebacks. Boston was too talented for them to allow that.

Defense did not lose the game; Boston only scored 105 points.
Offense lost the game; Denver only scored 87 points. When 3pt shots are not falling, it's time to change the offense. Perhaps giving Jokic the ball at the top of the key and then having everyone cut towards the basket, using back picks, etc.

Did you notice that Campazzo was the only Nugget that shot over 50% from the field?

Lately Malone has played only nine players in most games and the Nuggets have been winning. In this game he used thirteen players - why such a drastic change? That's a unique approach; take a winning formula and make major changes in order to lose.

Our bench shot 6 for 28, under 25%...that's pathertic.

[Mickey8]

Of course its Malone's loss, one of many this season, like any other season. Why he has to always stick to unwritten rule to rest Jokic and other starters, when the bench is not playing well Jokic had the rest of two minutes in the third quarter plus , time between the end and the start of the quarter ,sometimes you have to play your star heavy minutes.

[GeorgeSears]

Of course its Malone's loss, one of many this season, like any other season. Why he has to always stick to unwritten rule to rest Jokic and other starters, when the bench is not playing well Jokic had the rest of two minutes in the third quarter plus , time between the end and the start of the quarter ,sometimes you have to play your star heavy minutes.

I noticed recently that he's taking Jokic out for the last two minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarters. He used to play him the entire 1st and 3rd quarters, unless Jokic was in foul trouble.

[Maf]

Frustrating loss. At first I wanted to go all over bench being terrible, Malone for not putting all of them out earlier, Jokič stop playing in fourth focusing only about arguing with refs, Porter 23 shots 0 assists...

On the other side- this loss sucks, that's a keeper. But I can't say bench played THAT much minutes, they just achieved to suck mightly in very limited minutes. Would it be really wise to put them out sooner to stop Celtics run, play starters for 40 minutes where we play B2B against GSW today so we get one April win against eastern team? Would subbing in guys like Bol or Čančar for Green and Millsap helped? Possible but not likely.

Since the trade Nuggets brought nothing but joy to us so I'd say give them pardon for tonight and let's hope tommorow we will be in great mood again.

[psimanic1]

It also doesnt help using Barton in Murray role when Jokic is resting tbh, Barton is not someone who you want orchestrating your offense, thats what we missed with bench unit.. I would much rather see Gordon with bench unit in those few minutes if Murray is not available

[Richard Miller]

Boston bench beat Denver bench --- 19-14 --- This loss is not on our bench, but they certainly didn't help much.

Bench was like -25 in their minutes, absolutely it's on them (and Malone). Green-Sap-Nnaji was like wtf, and he went back with them (minus Zeke) and they sucked again.

[Manolito]

I liked yesterday´s loss. The more painful and obvious, the better, this is really the way how you learn anything out of it. Team was in a clear winner dynamic and you could see in last games a relaxed attitude during many minutes, a loss was about to come.

Nevertheless, bench clearly is not working, and I don´t see a clear solution this season because we might not have the right pieces. You already addressed most of the points, I will only comment two more:

1. IMHO Millsap is completely washed. He should be 3rd center behind McGee and no minutes at all as PF. Nevertheless, we all know Malone´s behavior to his favorites and how stubborn he is.

2. During PO, one of Jokic and Murray must be on the court during the whole game. In case both are resting, Monte + Gordon + MPJ should be on the court. A full bench lineup is not going to work.

[NuggetsWY]

It also doesnt help using Barton in Murray role when Jokic is resting tbh, Barton is not someone who you want orchestrating your offense, thats what we missed with bench unit.. I would much rather see Gordon with bench unit in those few minutes if Murray is not available

Sure, everyone knows Barton is not a good choice to be a point -- everyone except Malone & Barton.

[Mickey8]

Watch on YouTube

What a shameful post game interview , he took Jokic out of the game because team was down 12 points at that point and he wanted to try something new He didn't try something new when the bench was wasting the lead and got down five points If I am Jokic I am pissed at this clown , which he probably was , judging by that picture He pulled him out to make an example , it looks like that, like it was Jokic's fault that the team went from plus 10 to minus five in the span of 4,5 minutes . I mean, I am the biggest critic of Jokic here and I criticized him again for the performance in the first half of the game , but he was far from being the one to blame for this loss and even when he was arguing with the refs, Malone should have stuck with Jokic and even take another tech and at least got himself out of game for doing lousy coaching job in this game. Jokic is disrespected by the refs and even by his own coach, this guy is lucky that he has the star with the personality like that , with any other superstar in the league he would have been on the hot seat, long time ago.