With three games remaining in the regular season, the Denver Nuggets have fired Head Coach Michael Malone and General Manager Calvin Booth. Both of these men were sunk by the team’s worst stretch of the season. They have lost four consecutive games. With the NBA Playoffs right around the corner, ownership decided to make these shocking moves.
Malone is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the NBA. He has the most wins in franchise history and guided the team to the 2023 NBA Championship. Booth also built a championship-winning roster a few seasons ago. These are such surprising moves because both men have championship pedigree. These moves make it seem like ownership is panicking with the postseason beginning next week. Will these moves help the Denver Nuggets get back on track?
Can the Denver Nuggets Get Going Again?
The main issue for the team over the four-game losing streak has been Denver’s inability to win with Nikola Jokic on a historic hot streak. His great play has not translated into wins on the court. The reigning MVP has been as frustrated as we have ever seen him over the past week.
Denver’s woes began with a crushing 2 OT loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They then lost to the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, and Indiana Pacers. These moves will not solve the team’s issues. Denver is the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Firing Malone in the final week of the regular does not make much sense. The team’s roster construction is problematic, and the head coach did the best he could with the hand he was dealt.
Final Thoughts
Malone was scapegoated for a rough week on the floor. There must be something else to this story. It is one of the most surprising moves in recent history. Denver looks to get back in the win column Wednesday night on the road against the Sacramento Kings. Sports have never been fare, but Malone got a raw deal. He deserved to finish out the year to guide the Denver Nuggets on a deep playoff run.
