Michael Malone rips Nuggets’ effort after Game 2 loss
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone wasn’t satisfied with his team’s effort following their Finals Game 2 loss to the Miami Heat.
The Heat defeated the Nuggets 111-108 Sunday after Denver blew a 15-point second-quarter lead. Denver led by eight heading into the fourth quarter. Nuggets fans and Malone have to be angered by the timing, considering that the team was 37-1 this season when leading by eight-plus points heading into the fourth. Denver was also 11-0 in the playoffs when leading by 10-plus points at any point in the game.
“Let’s talk about effort. This is the NBA Finals and we’re talking about effort. That’s a huge concern of mine. You guys probably thought I was making up some storyline after Game 1 when I said we didn’t play well. We didn’t play well,” Malone said in his postgame press conference Sunday.
“Tonight, the starting lineup to start the game, it’s 10-2 Miami. To start the third quarter they scored 11 points in two minutes and ten seconds. We had guys out there that were just, whether feeling sorry for themselves about not making shots, or thinking they can just turn it on or off, this is not the preseason, this is not the regular season, this is the NBA Finals. And that to me is really really perplexing and disappointing.”
These are some troubling quotes if you’re a Nuggets fan. It seems as if Malone is trying to light a fire under his players’ asses, which is something he was never afraid of doing in the past.
Malone went on to say how he “asked the team” why they lost on Sunday. His players responded in a way that assumed responsibility, with Malone saying that the Heat “outworked” the Nuggets in Game 2. Denver understands that they just allowed Miami right back into the series, when they could have buried them in a 2-0 hole, one that is difficult to climb out of.
The series shifts to Miami for Game 3 on Wednesday. If Game 2 was any indication, this series should be an exciting one that goes right down to the wire.
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