Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone didn't hold back his criticism following his team's embarrassing 145-118 defeat against the New York Knicks. The Knicks' offensive onslaught, led by OG Anunoby's 40 points and Karl-Anthony Towns' 30-point, 15-rebound performance, exposed Denver's defensive vulnerabilities. New York's impressive 45 assists further highlighted the Nuggets' struggles.
Malone expressed his disappointment post-game, emphasizing that the team wouldn't simply disregard the loss. "We're not flushing this," he stated emphatically, according to ESPN. "You don't dismiss an embarrassing performance like this, giving up 145 points. You don't ignore a lack of effort, physicality, and toughness."
The coach called for greater leadership within the team, specifically mentioning Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. He stressed the importance of establishing a team identity, regardless of player availability. "Sixteen games into the season, and we're still discussing effort, toughness, and physicality," Malone lamented. "We need to define who we are as a team. Tonight, we lacked leadership, toughness, physicality, and frankly, it looked like we didn't care."
Jokic echoed his coach's sentiments, acknowledging the need for a wake-up call. Murray also questioned the team's focus, particularly following their previous victory against the Los Angeles Lakers. He initially suggested that some players' extended stay in Los Angeles after that game might have contributed to the lack of focus against the Knicks. However, he later clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the entire team had remained in Los Angeles and that his earlier comment wasn't meant to single anyone out. He emphasized that the team simply didn't play cohesively against New York.
With a 9-7 record, the Nuggets face the challenge of translating their coach's demands for improved effort and focus into consistent on-court performance.
