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One thing very curious occurred this previous weekend through the preseason match between the Nuggets and Suns at Ball Enviornment, when coach Michael Malone deliberately put his pupils to the check to problem their present physique. The tactician performed his 5 starters for all the third quarter with none relaxation.
That’s what preseason video games are for, proper? To get again in form and check out new methods. Though Denver misplaced 118-114, they took out quite a lot of optimistic conclusions from that conflict between two nice Western Convention groups.
“[I] tried to push their envelope just a little bit,” Malone defined after the competition. “That was in all probability just a little bit exhausting on a few of these guys. After which in observe, I feel we will rise up and down extra. … The league has gotten so comfortable; everyone’s afraid to situation and run. We now have to.”
Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone Is Already Calling Out His Personal Gamers For Being Delicate And Out Of Form https://t.co/Cpg99MRgG7 pic.twitter.com/c7CIDtABvD
— Barstool Sports activities (@barstoolsports) October 14, 2024
As soon as once more, the Nuggets are set to enter this subsequent marketing campaign as one of many favorites to win the West. Nevertheless, if you wish to prolong your success all all through the postseason, a roster must have sufficient conditioning to take care of high-intensity basketball within the ultimate phases of the competitors.
For this reason Malone desires to get the very best out of his gamers. “I don’t assume we’re in nice situation proper now, and that’s one factor we talked about as coaches through the recreation,” he assured. “Appeared like some guys are simply winded and just a little drained on the market. In order that’s one thing that we will attempt to enhance upon.”
The Colorado membership nonetheless has two extra tuneup matches earlier than they begin the season on October 24 in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis. This Thursday night, they’ll conflict in opposition to the Timberwolves at Minnesota’s Goal Heart.
Though the Nuggets haven’t gained a recreation for the reason that preseason started, their coach is satisfied that they’ll shake off final marketing campaign’s disappointment. “Clearly yearly is a brand new journey, a brand new alternative,” Malone mentioned. “You’ve gotten the very best victory, first franchise championship in 47 years. Disappointing loss final yr. So now that motivates you to return again even higher.”
The Nuggets coach explains why he doesn’t wish to take Jokic’s greatness with no consideration heading into this upcoming 2024-25 marketing campaign
If one factor is for positive, is that Michael Malone is aware of he has a shinny jewel in his roster that has impressed and led the squad into greatness. Not solely did they conquer the 2022-23 title collectively, however Nikola Jokic has earned three league MVP awards with the identical coach on the helm.
“I grew up on this enterprise,” the Denver tactician mentioned at the beginning of the month, explaining how he’s used to being round nice athletes. “My father was a coach and if you’re round greatness like that, they don’t come alongside fairly often.”
Malone believes that consistency is what really makes the distinction. “I’ve been blessed in my NBA profession to be round nice gamers like Nikola, Steph Curry, LeBron James. Now a man like (new signing) Russell Westbrook, a future Corridor of Famer, and also you admire their greatness, their consistency.
“However the one factor I’d say for everyone with Nikola: he’s a good higher individual. He’s by no means modified. The MVPs, the championship, he’s nonetheless the identical man. I really like his humility and I really like how he involves work each single day to attempt to get higher,” he anticipated this week.
