Game 32: Denver Nuggets (21-10) @ San Antonio Spurs (18-16) - 8:30 PM ET

[ducler]

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[U hova]

rough game

flashes of great things from Juancho

[THE J0KER]

Despite Murray 9-5-2 (FG 4-19) numbers are much worse than Jokic 4-4-10 (FG 1-5), it is Jokic who should be blamed for this loss more because at least nobody can say that Murray didn't try. Of course, the key moment was in 4th quarter when Denver take lead but Spurs make 15-0 run.

Juancho has one of the career-best games with 27-12 impressive numbers, Morris has another efficient game, and Beasley was great at the end of the game scoring 3x3pt in the row. But we don't have any chance at the end despite these three threes from Malik, because Malone is the only NBA coach which gave up at -10 more than 2 minutes before the end (we see it already vs Atlanta) so we played with Welsh and Lydon vs DeRozan and Aldridge, and even when we have possession at -6 Malone didn't back at least Juancho or Plumlee of starters.

[Richard Miller]

Despite Murray 9-5-2 (FG 4-19) numbers are much worse than Jokic 4-4-10 (FG 1-5), it is Jokic who should be blamed for this loss more because at least nobody can say that Murray didn't try.

Trying doesn't mean much though, Murray is currently shooting 3s under 30%, bottom of the league stuff, and shooting the ball is supposed to be his strength. Never thought I'm going to say it, but Barton can't come back soon enough, and of course Gary and the others too.

[NuggetsWY]

rough game

flashes of great things from Juancho

Flashes? 13 rebounds from a small forward who made 6 of 7 3pt shots? If that was a consistent, he'd be a certified All-Star Hall of Famer!

Jokic has stepped up in last few games but decided to take the night off. I do not object to him distributing and his 10 assists is nice, but he absolutely must take more than 5 shots in a game even when we are at full-strength. But I won't blame the whole game on Jokic, I'll go back to my same old complaint: not enough motion. There's no excuse for the Nuggets' offense to be so pathetic. The principle is simple: pass the ball to Jokic and cut, move, drive, run the baseline. We've turned into a team that likes to stand outside and wait for a 3pt shot. We had 40 3pt shots last night and only Houston averages more 3pt shots per game. Sure, we had some nice 3pt shooting but the problem is, that sucks the motion right out of our offense and that motion is what brings the high powered offense.

Speaking of motion, our defense was also terrible. We allowed 111 pts and that's around the league average. Last year we would have loved to have a league average defense but this year we've had so much better. Defense is certainly about hustle along with the approach on pick-n-roll and close out approach on 3s and switching and helping.

[The Rebel]

Beasley needs to start the next game and bring Craig off the bench. Craig has his uses, especially against smaller quicker guards but he and Plumlee not demanding attention from defenses just clogs up the paint and allows teams to double and triple team JOkic and Murray.


Lyles seems to be losing his minutes, which is not the worst thing in the world, but we need to play Lydon or Welsh more as I am not a fan of going small 20+ mpg. Although I guess if Barton gets back soon than Juancho can play 15 mpg at PF and 15 mpg at SF with Barton getting his 30 mpg at SF as the SG rotation of Craig/ Beasley/ Murray has been doing well when Malone plays the matchups right.

[Mickey8]

Jokic again with the bad attitude , he simply refused to shoot again , it wasn't some Popovic grand scheme to limit Jokic like Denver media is trying to spin it , he had opportunities to score but his body language was horrible yet again , he was looking just to rid off the ball, some ridiculous attempts to pass the ball which have turned into instant turnovers , like he was trying to prove the point after he was ejected but to whom Just when you think he was starting to be serious again he's pulling the same old crap , what a frustrating player to follow and root for. Also Malone is starting to mess with Jokic substitution pattern and minutes again, what a bonehead

[The Rebel]

Jokic again with the bad attitude , he simply refused to shoot again , it wasn't some Popovic grand scheme to limit Jokic like Denver media is trying to spin it , he had opportunities to score but his body language was horrible yet again , he was looking just to rid off the ball, some ridiculous attempts to pass the ball which have turned into instant turnovers , like he was trying to prove the point after he was ejected but to whom Just when you think he was starting to be serious again he's pulling the same old crap , what a frustrating player to follow and root for. Also Malone is starting to mess with Jokic substitution pattern and minutes again, what a bonehead

I have a feel that the person he is trying to prove the point too is the same person that refuses to defend him in the media and said something to the effect of ask Jokic why he was ejected during the last game.

I understand Malone wanting to hold guys accountable, but he very rarely seems to stand up for guys in the media. We all know that Jokic is being beat to hell in the paint and is called for ticky tack crap on the other end, I would not blame him if he is tired of his coach and front office refusing to stand up for him.

[NuggetsWY]

Jokic again with the bad attitude , he simply refused to shoot again , it wasn't some Popovic grand scheme to limit Jokic like Denver media is trying to spin it , he had opportunities to score but his body language was horrible yet again , he was looking just to rid off the ball, some ridiculous attempts to pass the ball which have turned into instant turnovers , like he was trying to prove the point after he was ejected but to whom Just when you think he was starting to be serious again he's pulling the same old crap , what a frustrating player to follow and root for. Also Malone is starting to mess with Jokic substitution pattern and minutes again, what a bonehead

Jokic had 36 minutes so I'll cut Malone some slack based on Jokic's game - and you know I'm not a Malone fan!

Jokic had 1 foul and that was one of his "stupid" fouls committed because he was upset over a non-call. If he's playing serious, he gets fouls, we've all seen that. He had 2 steals which is nice and he had 10 assists with 5 turnovers - so that's not terrible. But only 4 rebounds and only 5 shots? That's ridiculous for a guy playing 36 minutes. If he can't get motivated to play - he shouldn't play. If he's going to play like that, let him come off the bench for 15 mpg.

This wasn't a one time deal, we saw it earlier too. The Nuggets and their fans deserve a better effort from him - every game.

[Mickey8]

He was substituted 3 minutes into the third quarter , he wasn't in the foul trouble, you don't do that to your star player , you are killing the rhythm of your best player, even though if I was the coach I would have sent him to the locker room in the first quarter, he was pathetic

[NuggetsWY]

He was substituted 3 minutes into the third quarter , he wasn't in the foul trouble, you don't do that to your star player , you are killing the rhythm of your best player, even though if I was the coach I would have sent him to the locker room in the first quarter, he was pathetic

Except he still got 36 minutes - but yeah, not in "rhythm".

[Darklight]

Man, it's games like this that Jokic pisses me off and I am a massive fan but it's becuase of games like this I am not ready to call him a top 10 player but rather top 15. He needs to drop that pussy ass mentality it's been so frustrating at times watching him this season, he is just waaaayy to passive and should have already realised that this team needs his scoring and when he is aggressive it opens up space/passing lanes for him even more. He needs to find a balance between his amazing playmaking skills and scoring.

I know it's just not in his nature to be aggressive but it's something he has to learn, honestly it reminds me of when Shaq spoke about when he and the rest of the team (heat) had to tell wade to be more aggressive and shoot it more and that it's his team and Shaq is there to help him, Millsap would be Shaq in that convo and funny enough it's what millsap has been telling him in the offseason.