The Nuggets are in free fall. They have the joint worst record over the last 10 games amongst all those in the playoff positions in both conferences. Their loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves made it an even 5/5. They might be joint-2nd in the West but the Lakers are half a game away from taking that spot, and they have 3 games in hand.
Their current form was questioned by the media in Michael Malone’s postgame press. Amongst all other things, he talked about the back-to-back against table conference-topping Thunder, who they managed to defeat on one occasion. “I felt that we were really tired tonight, you know. And I don’t think if that back-to-back in OKC and the emotions of that, everything we put into that, I just felt that we were a step slow, and that’s understandable. I was about to tell ’em myself. You look at what I’ve been asking especially of our main players as of late,” said the gaffer. This highlights the ongoing debate about the current schedule.
The tiresome schedule of the NBA has been a widespread talking point. Every team plays 82 regular season games. The current season spans 173 days, which puts a game every 2.1 days for all 30 teams. It’s fantastic from a fans’ perspective, but the schedule just means that the eventual winners will be the ones who managed to create the greatest machines ever, which isn’t fair at all.
Sep 7, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone talks with center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half of game three of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the LA Clippers at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
But MVP candidate Nikola Jokić had other thoughts. When he was asked the same question, he had one simple answer: “No. I don’t think so. We had a day off so we shouldn’t be.” To be fair to him, his performances this season have been inhuman. There’s a reason to believe that the Joker might just be a man-made creation, and we’ll find a bunch of blue and red wires instead of blood and veins inside.
But the Nuggets’ schedule will get tougher. They have 3 games in the next 4 days. 2 of them are back-to-backs against the Lakers and the Wizards. They then have a day off before stepping into the Staples Center against a Warriors side with 5 wins on the bounce. The most ideal thing would be for the coach and player to be on the same page heading into the backend of the season.
Nikola Jokić speaks of troubling pattern after Wolves loss
There are such things as bogey teams. Soccer fans might’ve seen the way English champions Manchester City falter consistently to Tottenham Hotspur, despite both being on completely different levels right now. The difference in quality between the Nuggets and Wolves isn’t similar at all. But a troubling pattern has been brought into the picture, which might lead to the conclusion that Wolves just might be the bogey team.
Minnesota vs Denver- a tie that’s gone Minnesota’s way the last 5 regular season games. All the fans would remember when the Wolves overturned a 20-point deficit to beat the Nuggets 112-109 in the Western Conference semis last season. After reporters asked Nikola Jokić of the same, he had no choice but to address it.
“We need to be better, we need to do a better job. I don’t know what but it seems like we’re not playing good against them or maybe they don’t let us play good against them.” Michael Jordan might not agree, but it’s not personal between the two teams. The Joker knows that this pattern, although minimal considering the grand scheme of things- needs fixing.
Mar 12, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Nuggets don’t have it easy this month. They’ll need the likes of Jokic, Russell Westbrook, Jamal Murray, and all the other 12 to step up and bring Michael Malone his second championship ring. And that quest starts against a LeBron James-less Lakers on Friday night.
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