In a fiery postgame rant that reverberated across the NBA landscape, Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone lambasted his team for their dismal effort in a stunning 145-118 blowout loss to the New York Knicks on Monday night. The scorching critique from the normally measured Malone underscored the gravity of the Nuggets’ embarrassing home defeat, as he refused to simply “flush” the loss and move on.
“We Got Embarrassed”: Malone Fumes Over Nuggets’ Lack of Effort
Visibly seething in his postgame press conference, Malone minced no words in calling out his squad’s subpar performance and alarming lack of intensity against the Knicks.
F— that man, no. No, we’re not flushing. You don’t flush when you get embarrassed, you don’t flush when you gave up 145 points, you don’t flush when you didn’t play hard, didn’t play with effort, physicality, I’m not flushing anything.
– Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets Head Coach
The Knicks scorched the nets all night, shooting a blistering 60.9% from the field while dishing out 45 assists, tying a single-game franchise record. New York’s 145 points marked the most scored by a visitor in a regulation game in Denver since 1991, a damning indictment of the Nuggets’ porous defense and listless energy.
Malone Demands More From Nuggets Leaders
When pressed about what he expects from the Nuggets’ leadership during such dismal stretches, Malone pointed the finger squarely at his starters, challenging the team’s cornerstone pieces to step up and steer the ship.
I need Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, I need guys that have been here in that starting lineup to be vocal. And you know tonight we got embarrassed.
– Michael Malone
Malone’s pointed criticism of superstar center Nikola Jokic, the team’s unquestioned leader and a two-time league MVP, underscores the severity of the issues plaguing the Nuggets. For a team with championship aspirations, lackluster effort and toughness from its best players is simply unacceptable.
Jokic, Murray Acknowledge Nuggets’ Woes
To their credit, both Jokic and guard Jamal Murray acknowledged the Nuggets’ concerning trend of sluggish starts and fading focus.
We didn’t show up tonight. It’s always a good punch in the face just to wake up. Coach was right. We are in the games, and we are always down 20 at a half. I don’t know [what’s going on].
– Nikola Jokic
Murray also hinted that the team’s impressive win over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Saturday may have contributed to a sense of complacency heading into the Knicks game.
We just beat L.A. in L.A. We’ve got some guys who live in L.A., so stayed in L.A. I don’t think the focus was there from everybody, and that’s what happens when you don’t have the focus.
– Jamal Murray
Nuggets’ Home Struggles a Mounting Concern
Perhaps most alarming for the Nuggets is their puzzling inability to consistently defend their home court. Monday’s loss dropped Denver to a disappointing 5-4 at Ball Arena this season, a stark contrast to their dominant 33-8 home record just last year.
If the Nuggets hope to emerge as legitimate title contenders in a loaded Western Conference, shoring up their home fortunes and showcasing the effort and intensity Malone demands will be paramount. With a road tilt against the Utah Jazz looming on Wednesday, Denver has little time to lick its wounds and must quickly regain its focus and competitive edge.
While one lopsided November loss hardly sinks a season, the concerns raised by Malone and echoed by his stars in the aftermath of the Knicks debacle serve as a jolting wake-up call for a Nuggets squad still searching for its championship identity. How they respond to this early-season gut check could chart the course for the remainder of their campaign.
