Head coach Michael Malone was in a foul mood in the aftermath of Game Seven of the Nuggets’ West semifinal round series against the Timberwolves. It wasn’t simply that the defending champions lost; it was that they found themselves eliminated from the 2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) Playoffs following a monumental collapse in the second half of a match that appeared to be theirs for the taking. And so he snapped at scribes who dared seek his thoughts on how a 20-point lead could turn into an eight-point setback at the buzzer, the biggest turnaround in pro hoops annals.
“Stupid-ass questions,” Malone contended. Never mind that when the Nuggets gained a three-two advantage in the best-of-seven affair, he saw fit to all but gloat about their status as favorites. He even made a big ado about putting together broadcast footage of armchair analysts who wrote them off after having given up the first two set-tos at Ball Arena. Casual observers showed their long memories as well by pointing out, rightly, that those who relish polishing their name also need to acknowledge when it is tarnished.
Make no mistake. The Nuggets lost because the Timberwolves were simply better under pressure. The togetherness that newly minted Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and Company hitherto had cause to highlight was next to nonexistent with all the marbles at stake. Instead, they saw it in their opponents. And as the writing on the wall became more and more evident with the clock edging closer to zero, Malone shockingly proved to be wanting.
Needless to say, the Nuggets will remain contenders for some time to come. They will be back next year, and certainly with more motivation to demonstrate that their march to the 2023 title was no fluke. That said, it’s telling that they have yet to win a single series versus competition with 50 wins or more in the Jokic era. Which is why talk of making personnel changes is already making hoops circles. To be sure, Malone would do well to ignore the knee-jerk reaction — even if he inadvertently fueled it by riding his starters to the point of exhaustion against the Timberwolves.
As conventional wisdom broke down the shocker of an outcome, much of the discussion focused on how Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly assembled a lineup built to beat the Nuggets. In this regard, it’s probably no coincidence that he was likewise the architect of the ascendancy of Malone’s charges. He’s that good at assembling building blocks for success. Meanwhile, it’s onward and upward for the dethroned kings, decidedly bitter and, at the same time, pursing their lips for what is to come by way of redemption.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
