The Denver Nuggets rose to Coach Michael Malone’s challenge of maintaining their intensity after clinching the franchise’s first NBA championship.
Nikola Jokić continued his impressive performance with another standout season, positioning himself as the frontrunner for the MVP award for the third time in four years, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all enhanced their game this season, while Jamal Murray delivered another strong performance despite missing 23 games due to various injuries.
Following Bruce Brown’s departure in free agency, Reggie Jackson assumed leadership of the Nuggets’ second unit, combining with Chris Braun and Peyton Watson to offer consistent and at times remarkable play when Jokic was off the court.
Coach Malone expressed his pride in the team’s continuous hunger for success as defending champions, emphasizing the need to remain focused and disciplined amidst fierce competition from the 29 other teams vying for the title.
Despite finishing with a win total of 57-25, tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the West, the Nuggets secured the No. 2 seed after losing the tiebreaker to the Thunder.
Malone saw a positive side to the recent setback: this time, the Nuggets have a clear understanding of their first-round opponent as they kick off their title defense on Saturday night. Unlike last year, when they only knew their opponent 48 hours before the playoffs began.
On Tuesday night, the team gathered at Jokic’s house to relax and watch the play-in game between New Orleans and the Los Angeles Lakers, which the Lakers won 110-106, setting up a first-round clash with the reigning champions.
Malone emphasized the need to protect what they’ve worked hard to achieve, especially now that there’s even more attention on them.
The road to defending their championship won’t be easy, according to Malone, who pointed out the fierce competition in the Western Conference playoffs. He believes the team’s focus should be on the challenge ahead, rather than the seeding or past victories.
While the Nuggets had success against the Lakers last season and this season, Jokic and Malone prefer not to dwell on those past victories. They recognize that each playoff series is unique and presents its own set of challenges.
Malone stressed the importance of staying grounded and focused, acknowledging the difficulty of facing the Lakers again in the playoffs, despite their recent success against them.
Jokic mentioned that sweeping the Lakers last year wasn’t easy, and this time around, there’s no clear favorite for the playoffs.
Last season, the Nuggets secured the top seed in the Western Conference easily. However, this year, they faced tough competition from teams like the Thunder and Timberwolves. The conference became more challenging, with nine of the top 10 teams winning more games than last season.
Coach Malone prioritized the team’s health over securing the No. 1 seed, believing they could beat any team regardless of their seeding.
Although they didn’t clinch the No. 1 seed this time, they’re well-rested and prepared for the playoffs. Malone rested several key players towards the end of the season and allowed Murray to recover from a sore knee. Additionally, they have this week to recover before the playoffs start.
Malone is proud that the team didn’t become complacent after winning the championship last year. Instead, they challenged themselves to improve further.
Despite being a strong contender for the MVP award, Jokic remains modest about his performance and emphasizes the team’s collective effort.
