Denver Nuggets 2024-25 Season Outlook: All Eyes (Should Be) On Malone

[HurricaneDij39]

It is rather telling that even with a championship under our belt that no one in their right mind considers Michael Malone as a top-tier NBA coach. Rightfully so, however...

After a brutal postseason loss to Minnesota, it is time to get back to work.

I, for one, am thrilled that KCP is gone. Not because he's a bad player, but rather because his departure will force Malone to play other guys. While KCP was a solid role player coming off his second ring - There is absolutely nothing about his game that suggests he's worthy of 40 minutes a night in a playoff series... I believe Christian Braun could be better than KCP with more of an opportunity. That said, the issue with that is it weakens a questionable bench... It is evident from day one of the offseason that we had some sort of wink-wink agreement with Russ while he was still under contract with the Clippers, though time will tell if he will provide a legit sparkplug off the bench or if he will join the long list of bench guys that Malone has misused, even during the year we won it all. One thing I will say is that his personality will fit here quite well. No one in the NBA hates Embiid more than Westbrook does... Nuggets fans such as myself and others alike would love nothing more than to see summer league sensation Julian Strawther to emerge in the rotation this season... The team was able to acquire a draft night steal with DaRon Holmes II. Unfortunately, he tore his achilles in the final minutes of his first summer league game barely two weeks later... Dario Saric will prove to be a quality veteran signing in his absence... In a way, the Holmes injury made the extension of Aaron Gordon this week even more imperative, even if it was a slight overpay at $133 million... Holmes' season-ending injury will also provide an excuse to make use of the ill-fated contract of Zeke Nnaji... DeAndre Jordan should act as nothing more than a locker room presence at this point, even though he did have one notably good game against his former team, the Clippers, while Jokic was out... Peyton Watson has obvious potential, but he left something to be desired as a shooter last season and yet another guy Malone did not trust in the playoffs... The third point guard appears to be Jalen Pickett, the #32 pick in 2023. I worry that there was some Penn State bias on Booth's part with that selection. Pickett does have some talent, but as we know talent does not always translate in this league...

All in all, this season will come down to whether or not Malone can finally evolve as a coach and make use of the options I've mentioned above. If he does, the Nuggets could be 2025 champions. If he doesn't, Denver will be a second round out again, or perhaps earlier. His coaching style of short rotations boded well for the postseason in 2023, but by the time the 2024 playoffs come around, those players were predicably exhausted...

And last but not least - Fuck the Timberwolves, the team and fans that talk oh so much smack for not having won a playoff series in 20 years prior to this one, and Mr. Edwards, who literally got ALL of the credit for a Game 7 win in spite the fact that he shot 6-24... I only wish that my man Jerry Stackhouse could have gotten this level of publicity in his prime (in those beautiful teal uni's) that this kid currently does...

Stack will do good things on Golden State's staff this season.

'Tis the season...

 

[tlance]

It is rather telling that even with a championship under our belt that no one in their right mind considers Michael Malone as a top-tier NBA coach. Rightfully so, however...

After a brutal postseason loss to Minnesota, it is time to get back to work.

I, for one, am thrilled that KCP is gone. Not because he's a bad player, but rather because his departure will force Malone to play other guys. While KCP was a solid role player coming off his second ring - There is absolutely nothing about his game that suggests he's worthy of 40 minutes a night in a playoff series... I believe Christian Braun could be better than KCP with more of an opportunity. That said, the issue with that is it weakens a questionable bench... It is evident from day one of the offseason that we had some sort of wink-wink agreement with Russ while he was still under contract with the Clippers, though time will tell if he will provide a legit sparkplug off the bench or if he will join the long list of bench guys that Malone has misused, even during the year we won it all. One thing I will say is that his personality will fit here quite well. No one in the NBA hates Embiid more than Westbrook does... Nuggets fans such as myself and others alike would love nothing more than to see summer league sensation Julian Strawther to emerge in the rotation this season... The team was able to acquire a draft night steal with DaRon Holmes II. Unfortunately, he tore his achilles in the final minutes of his first summer league game barely two weeks later... Dario Saric will prove to be a quality veteran signing in his absence... In a way, the Holmes injury made the extension of Aaron Gordon this week even more imperative, even if it was a slight overpay at $133 million... Holmes' season-ending injury will also provide an excuse to make use of the ill-fated contract of Zeke Nnaji... DeAndre Jordan should act as nothing more than a locker room presence at this point, even though he did have one notably good game against his former team, the Clippers, while Jokic was out... Peyton Watson has obvious potential, but he left something to be desired as a shooter last season and yet another guy Malone did not trust in the playoffs... The third point guard appears to be Jalen Pickett, the #32 pick in 2023. I worry that there was some Penn State bias on Booth's part with that selection. Pickett does have some talent, but as we know talent does not always translate in this league...

All in all, this season will come down to whether or not Malone can finally evolve as a coach and make use of the options I've mentioned above. If he does, the Nuggets could be 2025 champions. If he doesn't, Denver will be a second round out again, or perhaps earlier. His coaching style of short rotations boded well for the postseason in 2023, but by the time the 2024 playoffs come around, those players were predicably exhausted...

And last but not least - Fuck the Timberwolves, the team and fans that talk oh so much smack for not having won a playoff series in 20 years prior to this one, and Mr. Edwards, who literally got ALL of the credit for a Game 7 win in spite the fact that he shot 6-24... I only wish that my man Jerry Stackhouse could have gotten this level of publicity in his prime (in those beautiful teal uni's) that this kid currently does...

Stack will do good things on Golden State's staff this season.

'Tis the season...

Most of what you wrote here is good insight.

Why do you feel the need to taint it with butthurt?

Makes no sense.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Their bench is hot garbage and they can’t shoot

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Their bench is hot garbage and they can’t shoot

Strawther has been a summer league stud two years straight and had a 33-point preseason game last week...

The issue is Malone has no clue how to incorporate him w/ the starters.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Strawther has been a summer league stud two years straight and had a 33-point preseason game last week...

The issue is Malone has no clue how to incorporate him w/ the starters.

Preseason.

Still a major weakness is shooting unless things dramatically change

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Preseason.

Still a major weakness is shooting unless things dramatically change

OKC shot poorly themselves tonight... 22 percent from three. You can't simply say that their lack of shooting got them shellacked on opening night.

This is an internal issue that needs to be fixed as the season progresses.

 

[YourFriendGannon]

excuse to make use of the ill-fated contract of Zeke Nnaji...

When and why did Nnaji get paid?

 

[Shanemansj13]

OKC shot poorly themselves tonight... 22 percent from three. You can't simply say that their lack of shooting got them shellacked on opening night.

This is an internal issue that needs to be fixed as the season progresses.

I can tell by their personnel, not the result. Like I said, could be wrong but will anyone be shocked if they fall in the bottom 3rd of the league in shooting from deep

 

[thunderc]

I can tell by their personnel, not the result. Like I said, could be wrong but will anyone be shocked if they fall in the bottom 3rd of the league in shooting from deep

Denver most certainly does not have enough shooting depth, that’s pretty obvious. They were playing what’s likely going to end up being the best defense in the league though.

 

[logic]

In summary, the Nuggets had their moment in the sun and it was a nice interlude to seeing the big boys collecting hardware. Now it’s hard to accept their sink back to mid level playoff team.

 

[Shanemansj13]

LOL Jokic agrees with me

 

[McAdoo 72]

LOL Jokic agrees with me

Thought that was sort of an uh-oh statement by Jokic, even though it’s true. Then he goes and does his typical one man gang act and tears it up like only he can. That’s what legends do.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Denver is going to struggle and tire out their starters with their lack of depth

 

[HurricaneDij39]

When and why did Nnaji get paid?

Last fall. Booth apparently viewed him as Jokic's primary backup at the time... Malone obviously disagreed.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Denver is going to struggle and tire out their starters with their lack of depth

Said this even during the title year lol.

 

[trojanfight]

Have we reached the downfall of Denver? 2 years in a row they have let key players leave in free agency and did next to nothing to replace them. Bruce Brown last season . Caldwell-pope this year. Russell Westbrook is the savior off the bench? Yikes.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Have we reached the downfall of Denver? 2 years in a row they have let key players leave in free agency and did next to nothing to replace them. Bruce Brown last season . Caldwell-pope this year. Russell Westbrook is the savior off the bench? Yikes.

Tell me you don’t know basketball without saying you don’t know basketball.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Most of what you wrote here is good insight.

Why do you feel the need to taint it with butthurt?

Makes no sense.

You wouldn’t have responded at all if it weren’t for the part about the Timberwolves and you damn well know it.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

No Murray… Will be interesting to see how the first point guard off the bench is tonight.

 

[msgkings322]

@HurricaneDij39

Nikola Jokic's shrinking prime -- and the disconnect brewing inside Denver trying to salvage it

Tensions have steadily risen inside the organization over perhaps the NBA's most important question: How do the Nuggets maximize what's left of Jokic's prime?

www.espn.com