Nuggets head coach Malone's recent words are really hot! He came straight to the bold claim that the Lakers and Timberwolves are not heavyweight opponents at all. As soon as these words came out, it can be said that the fans blew up, after all, the status of these two teams in the basketball world should not be underestimated, especially the Lakers, which is a long-established giant. But Coach Malone's words don't seem to be groundless, after all, judging from the last few games, the Nuggets have indeed performed better among these two opponents.
First, let's talk about the matchup between the Nuggets and the Lakers. The Nuggets showed a strong balance of offense and defense in this game. Especially the Nuggets' guard Murray, this game is simply his personal show, the three-point shot is amazingly accurate, the mid-range shot is also stable, and the defense is even more clear-eyed, and several key steals directly drove the counterattack, which can be said to be the thigh on the court. Although the Lakers also played well, under the high-intensity defense of the Nuggets, their offense seemed a little inadequate, especially in the third quarter, the Lakers even made many turnovers, which directly affected the rhythm of the game.
Let's take a look at the matchup between the Nuggets and the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves' defensive strategy does have something unique, trying to cripple the Nuggets' offensive efficiency with frequent substitutions and dense defense. It was a bit of an effect at first, and the Nuggets' offense did take a bit of a hit. But fortunately, the Nuggets were not completely limited by this strategy, especially Murray's play in the latter part of the game, he not only scored by himself, but also actively distributed the ball, which greatly improved the team's combat effectiveness. In the end, the Nuggets still had the upper hand in this game.
Judging from the above two games, Coach Ma Long's evaluation does not seem to be groundless. Although the Lakers are famous and star-studded, in the actual confrontation, the Nuggets showed stronger teamwork and game control. Although the Timberwolves are full of hard work, there is still a lot of room for improvement in terms of technology and tactics. So, Malone may be justified in saying that these two teams are not in the same grade.
Such a result of the game and the evaluation of the coach not only brought great encouragement to Nuggets fans, but also sounded the alarm bell for other teams. After all, in this competitive league, no opponent can be underestimated, and every game is full of variables. The Nuggets will certainly be in the spotlight in the next games, and other teams will have to prepare and adjust well to earn a place in this smokeless battlefield.
All in all, although Coach Malone's remarks have caused a lot of controversy, they also reflect the current strong state of the Nuggets. For the Nuggets, every game is a test of their own strength and an opportunity to show what they are capable of to other teams. Whether it's the Lakers or the Timberwolves, you have to be careful when you encounter the Nuggets in the future, after all, this team has shown extraordinary strength and team spirit under the leadership of Malone. For fans, such a game is undoubtedly very interesting, every jump ball, every pass, every score can change the direction of the game, this is the charm of basketball.