Denver Nuggets Coach Reveals The Mindset That Nikola Jokic And Co. Must Adopt to Pass Timberwolves
SUMMARY
- Michael Malone discussed the pressure on the Nuggets after falling into a 0-2 deficit to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Malone believes his team will need to stay focused on the upcoming Game 3 instead of getting lost in thinking about the big picture.
Things are clearly not going well for the Denver Nuggets. Despite defeating the Los Angeles Lakers within 5 games and advancing through the first round of the NBA playoffs, the team is now in a 0-2 deficit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Considering the Nuggets had home field advantage for the first two games, they are now tasked with going into Minnesota for Game 3 in hopes of avoiding a 3-0 situation.
Considering that the Nuggets are the reigning NBA champions, a lot of pressure was put on the team to make the Finals again. Head coach Michael Malone was recently interviewed and asked about the team’s mindset and focus heading into Game 3. Since losing Game 3 will almost guarantee their elimination in the second round, one might want to know more about what Malone had to say.
Michael Malone highlights the Denver Nuggets’ 2020 postseason
It’s always a daunting task when a team falls down 0-2 and is in a 3-1 deficit after the first 4 games of the playoffs. Although the Nuggets have been successful in recent times, the team has been in a similar situation in the past. After all, they were in a 3-1 deficit twice during the 2020 playoffs but managed to overcome both situations and advance to the next round.
Malone recalled his team’s accomplishments in the past as well as the history of teams staging comebacks and winning their series when asked about the Nuggets’ current mindset.
“33 teams have come back from 0-2 deficits. I think 5 or 6 teams have done that after losing the first 2 at home. Reggie Jackson was a part of one of those. So like I told the players, is it possible? Yes, history tells us it’s possible. But you have to participate in your own recovery. Just because it’s been done before doesn’t mean we’ll do it. Only if we have the mindset…
Michael Malone: ”33 teams have come back from 0-2. Five or six teams have done that after losing the first two at home.”
“We were down twice in the bubble 3-1.” pic.twitter.com/s5Wt6opRA1
– Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) 8 May 2024
Malone continued, “My main focus is how we win game 3. Because if you care about winning 4 more games, no no. Win Game 3. We were down twice in the bubble 3-1. We never said we had to win 4 in a row. It was let’s win Game 5, let’s win Game 6 and then worry about Game 7.“
The Denver Nuggets head coach certainly has a good point. The weight of the overall series would definitely put pressure on the team as opposed to simply focusing on the task at hand. While Malone believes his team will be able to bounce back, there’s no denying they have a challenge up their sleeve after dropping both home games.
Should fans expect the Nuggets to win 2 games on the road?
The Nuggets entered the playoffs as the defending champions. Multiple NBA experts predicted that they would beat any team that stood in their way and make the NBA Finals again. Since Denver has not been able to win a single game at home, the emotions and thoughts in their locker room are simply beyond the imagination of the average fan.
It would be unfair to state that the Denver Nuggets can now win 2 games on the road and even this series going into Game 5. They will more than likely only win 1 and find themselves in a 3-1 deficit. The NBA world is left wondering if the team will be able to turn things around like they have in the past against a young and hungry Timberwolves team.