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The Denver Nuggets (41-20) currently sit in the no. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture and have won six of their past 10 games. Still, head coach Michael Malone is not satisfied with the team's recent play—and voiced his displeasure with their defensive effort in the wake of a 116-100 home loss to the league-worst Golden State Warriors in a game in which the Dubs shot 51.2%.
Michael Malone wasn't nearly as mad, but he turned all Jack Nicholson at pregame:
"I'm going to keep talking about (the defense). I'm gonna treat these guys like grown-ass men, which they are. And if they can't handle the truth, then they're in the wrong business." pic.twitter.com/aEiDhaDZrG
— Mike Singer (@msinger) March 5, 2020
For the season, the Nuggets are 12th in the league in Defensive Rating (109.0), and have surrendered the 8th-fewest points per game. However, the team's defensive execution has slipped recently. They've been amongst the worst defensive units in the Association since the All-Star break—an issue Malone reportedly tried to diagnose with a thorough film session.
Michael Malone said the Nuggets had a "very honest film session", not just about the Golden State loss, but about the six games since the break. Denver has the 27th ranked defense over that time.
— Mike Singer (@msinger) March 5, 2020
It's not the first time Malone has criticized the Nuggets for their lack of defensive effort in 2020. He said their “defense sucks” after a loss to the Washington Wizards in January, and also ripped his team after a 132-103 loss to the L.A. Clippers on Feb. 28, calling his squad “soft..from beginning to end.”
Malone is clearly not satisfied with his team, but he's also looking to prevent any complacency and bad habits from forming in the weeks before the playoffs get underway.
The Nuggets will have an opportunity to respond to Malone's motivational tactics on Wednesday as they travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets (21-40), who boast the league's 29th-ranked offense this season.
