What should have been Denver’s ticket to closing the series turned into a missed opportunity—one that laid bare the team’s struggles, especially those of their franchise centerpiece. Nikola Jokic, known for his poise and intelligence, passed up open threes and missed half his shots inside the paint. The Clippers’ defense rattled him, and for once, the MVP looked hesitant. Jamal Murray, however, believes there’s a path forward.
In the aftermath of the Nuggets’ 111-105 loss, Jamal Murray participated in a presser. During the same time, he was asked if he believed the Nuggets squad did something better in the 4th quarter. Murray credited the team’s intensity in those final minutes and the fact that the team was just covering for each other a little better. The Nuggets guys, being on the string, together, gave them a brief advantage.
He also acknowledged the Clippers’ toughness: “They’re tough men. They shooting a lot of threes, everybody in there can kind of shoot. Got big Zu (Ivica Zubac) down there. So they always kind of keep you honest”. The faults in Game 6 gave the point guard an important lesson to learn. Therefore, by the end of it, he could confidently state that “We’ll make the adjustment and we’ll come out ready for game seven”.
Zubac’s presence certainly disrupted the Nuggets’ rhythm. While his stat line—10 points, 6 rebounds, and a steal—was modest, his defensive contribution was anything but. Teaming up with Nicolas Batum, the duo held Jokic scoreless for a crucial 11-minute stretch in the third quarter. In the second half, the Serbian shot just 2-of-9.
Nikola himself acknowledged the challenge, offering a rare moment of vulnerability. “He was really good. He was making me kind of question my shots. He was always there. He was really good defensively,” said Jokic. The Serbian big man also added that “I said like, like I thought I had him, like Zubac was really good…….. you know, he’s a big body, he was moving his feet really good, and, um, like I said, he kind of questioned my…. he kind of questioned my decisions”.
That ‘questioned my decisions’ remark is disheartening in itself, but for it to come out of the mouth of an exceptional player like Nikola Jokic is worse. Therefore, with any luck, Jamal Murray’s plan for the Denver Nuggets to place special focus on Ivica Zubac should bear some fruit.
Dec 23, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Jamal Murray (27) on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Everything for Nikola Jokic and co depends on Game 7. Unfortunately, after everything that happened, there wouldn’t be too much optimism for what is to come next. Instead of looking at the final outcome, however, Murray and the team’s head coach sought optimism from the improvement in the final quarter.
Jamal Murray uses David Adelman’s 4th Quarter ‘Momentum Builder’ To Highlight Optimism For Game 7: “Next game will be better”
The Denver Nuggets squad faltered a lot in the game. The same was proven in the end by the 105-111 score. However, anyone who attended the game at the Intuit Dome could not deny that Nikola Jokic and Co. picked up their pace in the 4th quarter. During his post-game presser, David Adelman praised the team defense in the final minutes as among the things that were working.
He stated, “We forced them to drive to the basket, and try to make individual plays which led to runouts and easy baskets for us”. Despite the final outcome, Adelman thinks the final quarter performance was “a momentum builder, for Saturday”. This was because the coach looked for the positive in a field of negatives.
“I saw a really poor 3rd quarter, and besides that, a very even basketball game. And we feel like if we can play four quarters, like we’ve done, uh, you know, in game 5 and in game 4, obviously the first three quarters, if we can you know, bring that, replicate that, to game seven, I think we’ll be in a good place,” said Adelman.
May 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) look on during a free throw against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half during game three of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
When Jamal Murray was informed of Adelman’s remarks during his presser, he echoed the sentiment and added a pointed observation: “I think you should have that regardless, you know what I’m saying. Yeah, I think you should have that, regardless, I think if we had some more 50-50 balls. I think we kind of just, get the place a little quieter. In a couple of instances, they don’t go on those big runs because of that. And, you know, next game will be better”.
That belief—next game will be better—is exactly the mental boost Jokic and the Nuggets need. The Serbian big man may have questioned himself, but Murray clearly hasn’t lost faith in what the team can do when they’re locked in and aggressive.
For Denver, everything now hinges on Game 7. Whether Murray’s confidence can help refocus Jokic and lift the team over the hump remains to be seen. But if Game 6’s fourth-quarter surge is any indication, this team isn’t done just yet. Do you believe that, after the recent game, the Denver Nuggets can still deliver a momentous win in Game 7?
The post Jamal Murray’s Game 7 Confession Might Help Nikola Jokic Mentally vs Clippers After Disheartening Remark appeared first on EssentiallySports.
