Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is known for his fiery reactions when his team’s defensive effort falters, and his response to their recent 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks was no exception. The loss, which marked the highest-scoring regulation game by any opponent in Malone’s 10-year tenure, left him visibly frustrated. After the game, he refused to downplay the defeat, stressing that the team couldn’t simply “flush” it away. Malone’s anger stemmed from the Nuggets’ inability to defend, calling out their lack of effort and toughness as key reasons for the embarrassing performance.
Malone’s frustration was amplified by the fact that the Nuggets had previously shown signs of inconsistency this season. While a 102-87 loss to Oklahoma City on opening night was met with a more measured response, the loss to the Knicks pushed Malone to directly confront the team’s deficiencies. He criticized the starting lineup and urged stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to take on more vocal leadership. Malone also highlighted the team’s poor transition defense, which allowed the Knicks to dominate on the fast break, and warned that such a lackluster effort would prevent them from being a playoff contender.
The Nuggets’ season has been marked by inconsistency in both offense and defense. Despite ranking eighth in offense and 17th in defense after 16 games, their first-half performance has been notably poor, ranking 29th in first-half net rating. The loss to New York dropped them to a tie with Phoenix for seventh place in the competitive Western Conference. Malone has emphasized that the team needs to find its identity and focus on playing with more physicality and leadership, especially in light of their recent struggles at home. Denver has lost more home games this season than they did throughout their championship run last year, including a significant loss to Minnesota in the playoffs.
Jokic, who has been performing at an MVP level with a 30-point triple-double average, acknowledged the poor performance, but his teammate Jamal Murray offered a different perspective. He suggested that the team’s lack of focus could be attributed to the recent win over the Lakers, with players possibly distracted by their personal lives or the high of that victory. Murray also noted that the team’s energy was lacking, a sentiment that echoed Malone’s frustrations with the overall team effort. He emphasized that the responsibility for the loss fell on the players, not the coach or the game plan.
Throughout the season, Malone has repeatedly pointed out issues with effort and focus, particularly after a few tough losses. The Nuggets’ performance in their 105-90 loss to Memphis and their 123-120 defeat to Dallas showed similar issues with energy and execution. Malone has expressed frustration with the expectation that Jokic should carry the team alone, reiterating that every player must contribute to the team’s success. Despite these challenges, Jokic views the tough losses as a way for the team to “wake up,” hoping that these defeats will serve as a wake-up call for the Nuggets as they continue to search for their rhythm.
