Nuggets center Nikola Jokic put up numbers reminiscent of Wilt Chamberlain on Sunday night, but it’s concerning that Denver needed that type of production to get by the Hornets, writes Mike Singer of The Denver Post. Jokic had one of the best games of his career with 40 points, 27 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals, a line that hasn’t been seen since Chamberlain did it in 1968.
Singer notes that Jokic’s efforts were needed because of the continued struggles of the team’s bench. Denver’s reserves were outscored by Charlotte’s, 46-18, and Jokic had to cut short his rest in both halves.
“Our bench wasn’t giving us anything,” coach Michael Malone said. “… When you’re coming off the bench, you have an obligation. Guys get pissed off when they come out of a game. Well, if you’re playing better, you’re not coming out of a game. Simply stated.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Donovan Mitchell is ready to face the Jazz Monday night for the first time since his trade to the Cavaliers, notes Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune. Although Mitchell’s recent comments about “having fun again” angered some Utah fans, his former teammates aren’t taking offense. “I don’t really interpret it in any bad way at all,” Mike Conley said. “I think when you’re winning and you’re successful, when you have a career year and you’re playing well, you’re having fun. And I’m sure he had that same fun when we were playing really well, like we all did. So, you know, we’re all having fun now. I think everybody who’s been moving around and in different locations or the same location, we’re all having a good time, we’re all enjoying basketball.”
- The Thunder picked up a three-point specialist when they signed Isaiah Joe after the Sixers waived him in training camp, per Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. Joe has claimed a rotation spot by shooting 46% from beyond the arc, and he was 5-of-8 in a career-high 23-point game Saturday night. “I’m definitely more than just a shooter,” Joe said, “and that’s gonna come out over time, but right now I just feel like this is what the team needs, and I’m going to aspire to be the best at it.”
- Thunder point guard Tre Mann is taking a positive approach toward his G League assignment, Mussatto tweets. Mann plans to focus on his catch-and-shoot game while he’s with the Oklahoma City Blue. “My mindset is do whatever I’ve gotta do to be the best player I can be,” he said. “That’s what we feel is best for me — me and the coaches. I understand it. I’m gonna go down there and get better.”
I think Malone will be in the hot seat before long.
MPJ’s fragility and Murray’s struggles notwithstanding, Malone’s coaching and substitutions are stale, predictable and loyal to a fault.
He’s a great guy and a good communicator but the team seems to have tuned him out with regards to effort. Moving him into an office role and shaking the bench up could be what takes the Nuggets from perennial ‘meh’ to serious contenders.
Similar to Kerr taking GS over the top.
Jokic is insanely good and they have some great pieces around him. Time to get serious.
Agree 100%. Malone is not a championship head coach. He’s in the same boat with coach Bud in Milwaukee and McMillan in Atlanta. They’re all terrible at making in-game adjustments and are at best assistant coaches on championship-level teams.
Uh, Bud did in fact win a championship…
Because of Giannis’s greatness. Not because of his coaching.
Nah, the Nuggets just need to stay healthy long enough to develop long-term chemistry. Their starting lineup keeps changing every 5 minutes. Plus, their bench is very inconsistent. Bones needs to be scoring more every game, like he does against the Jazz. Lol
Many teams’ fans, including some Jazz fans have emotional trauma issues they need to get over. They react to every little thing like it’s a slight against them personally.
Truth is, Donovan has always said he just wants to win. The Jazz had some major struggles in the second half of last year, including the playoffs. That would be frustrating, and not fun. Even the coach stepped down by being burned out from it all. That should tell you something.
I’m glad it all worked out the way it did. The team needed a big painful reminder that it wasn’t working. Breaking it up was the right thing to do. This year’s team is so much more fun to watch. They look like they’re having fun. Donovan is just saying he’s having fun as well.
Rudy is more of a serious guy, but I’m sure he likes his new challenge. They just need a Joe Ingles type of veteran to lighten those guys up. They have the talent. They’ll be fine, eventually.
Malone has been playing lineups with 3 guards for 48 minutes a game. This is causing all sorts of problems and making the team play much worse than they are…especially defensively…ie worse rebounding/worse interior defense…without providing any of the typical offensive benefits that teams get by playing small…ie better ball handling, less turnovers, taking lots of 3 point shots. Maybe Malone is getting his small ball lineups more practice in anticipation of the playoffs? All I know is that Nuggets looked a lot better earlier in the season when they were playing their forwards more. They are a better team when they play a traditional 3 bigs and 2 guards.
A rest game for Murray forced Malone to play a standard 3 bigs and 2 guards lineup last night against Memphis. And the Nuggets looked very good…defense looked great…bench played much better than usual…even the offense looked better/at least less messy. And the Nuggets solidly beat a top team. My advice to Malone remains the same: play a standard lineup 3 bigs/2 guards.