The Nuggets were headed in the wrong direction when they made the controversial decision to fire head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with three games remaining in the regular season, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. They had just lost four in a row and were in danger of dropping into the play-in tournament. Now they’re headed to the second round of the playoffs after destroying the Clippers in Saturday’s Game 7, and Nikola Jokic believes the changes paved the way for playoff success.
“I think the owner … wanted to change something, to change the energy, and probably he did,” Jokic said. “He got the result he was looking for.”
Malone and Booth had a contentious relationship for years and were locked in an ongoing battle of basketball philosophies. Malone preferred to rely on experienced players who had earned his trust, while Booth wanted him to give more minutes to the young talent he drafted and signed. Numerous reports stated that their bickering brought a negative energy to the organization, and they were both likely to be let go after the season ended.
“If we don’t make the changes, there’s no way we’re even in a Game 7,” one Nuggets executive told Shelburne.
There’s more from Denver:
- Saturday’s victory was satisfying for former Clipper Russell Westbrook, who contributed 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in 27 minutes, Shelburne adds. As they did throughout the series, L.A.’s defenders backed far off Westbrook and dared him to shoot from the outside. He promised after Game 1 to discuss the strategy when the Nuggets “took care of business,” and Saturday night he did. “I think they believed that that was their best bet of stopping me or taking me out of this series,” Westbrook said. “But one thing that nobody knows is that I work my ass off. So regardless of what anybody does, I’m always prepared and I’ll be prepared for anything because I prepare myself for everything. And like I said, after Game 1, if they continue doing it, I’m going to make ’em pay. I don’t know what I shot for the series.” When informed that he made 42% of his three-pointers, he smiled and said, “Damn, that’s solid. I guess it didn’t work out so well for them.”
- Christian Braun got a chance to erase the bad memories of last year’s Game 7 loss to Minnesota, notes Luca Evans of The Denver Post. Braun was limited to five points in 19:46 as the Nuggets were eliminated in 2024, but he was crucial to this year’s victory. He played tight defense on James Harden throughout the series, and kept the Nuggets from falling too far behind by scoring nine of their 21 first-quarter points on Saturday. “I wanted to be more,” Braun said, referencing the loss to the Wolves. “And everybody wants to play more. But I just thought that in that game, I felt like I was playing well and wanted to play more minutes. And everybody wants that, everybody in the league wants that, and I got that. That’s exactly what I wanted, and those guys trusted me — they have all year — but they trusted me in that moment. So, this is the exact moment I was looking for.”
- The Nuggets should remove head coach David Adelman’s interim tag as soon as their playoff run ends, contends Troy Renck of The Denver Post. Renck states that ownership is leaning toward giving Adelman the job on a permanent basis, and he proved he’s worthy with his performance in the first-round series.
Was anybody really shocked Harden didn’t show up in game 7 for clippers. That dude is the Tin Man no heart. Put money on nuggets last night===easy money. Thank u Harden
@13Morgs
It wasn’t just Harden, he got 13 ast even with the rest of the team missing shot after shot. I agree it was easy money though, Nuggets at home barely favored against a Clippers team that hasn’t won a playoff series in years.
Now they’re in a road series against the best team in the league that finished 18 games ahead of them. Their only chance it to steal game 1 against a well rested but possibly rusty OKC team that hasn’t played since April 26th.
The Clippers didnt need 13 assists, they needed someone to takeover the game and score. Harden didnt even try. Terrible game, zero positives from him
I really wanted to believe it was just bad luck or injuries but at this point I can’t deny it anymore. He’s done it too often, on too many different teams.
One things for sure, Westbrook is a game-changer.
Sometimes that’s good news… sometimes bad news.
@ jump shot
Anyone that knows basketball is surprised at Westbrooks 41.9% from three in this series – his previous best in a long career was 41.7% in his 2nd season in 2010, and he’s been as low as 13.6% (in the 2012 Finals).
At least the dumb “Jokic’s Nuggets never beat a 50 win team in the playoffs” narrative is now history.
@nba is ok
Im still learning the game but Im not (too) surprised that a guy as skilled as him can have all the stars aligned to where he can miss almost 60% of his threes for a week and a half – especially when he’s not a high volume 3ball shooter (attempts) like a Curry, Dame, me, etc…
I’d be more surprised if he could shoot it that “well” in another series.
Denver is playing well – looking forward to the next round!
I would love to see Russ win a ring…but I am an OKC fan first so I want them to win of course. The series is every other day so OKC with rest and youth should be able to run Nuggets tired.
Now if Nuggets were to win I would like them to face Rockets since Russ Revenge Tour would continue.
The Nuggets will have to do more than barely get out of the first round to justify firing a coach that won a championship 2 years ago.
Denver went 2-2 with Thunder this tear. So a healthy Nuggets team is a real threat. Westbrook has to show up big time here. He is a key this series.