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We're used to Nikola Jokic dominating NBA floors, and this great center impressed the public again with a great performance against the Los Angeles Clippers. Although his team lost 122:118, Jokic left a great impression by achieving another triple-double. After another triple-double, Jokic equaled Magic Johnson on the all-time list. He recorded the 138th triple-double in the 755th game, as he had 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists and is now tied with the ex-NBA star. However, the impression is that Jokic would be more happy if they had achieved victory, rather than having accomplished such a feat.
The fans expected much more from Denver this season, and the defense, which has been a problem for a long time, continued as before. It seems that this team has to change a lot if they really want to aim for the biggest goals.
Michael Malone reacted to his team's defeat, much calmer than we're used to from him. At the very beginning, he stressed the problem of defense, but he couldn't help but mention free throws. There are many other problems, such as turnovers, which the opposing team knows how to exploit. The mistakes they made were fatal again, and Malone hopes his team can change something in the future.
"I always talk about defense, but shooting 10/19 from free throws is not ideal in an uncertain game, we have to be better there. We led by 10 points in the third quarter, which they ended with a 19:7 run, so we lost two. We held them to 40% from the field in the fourth quarter, which is interesting, but they went to the free throw line 16 times and we fouled them at least five times on shooting for 13 free throws, which is half of all free throws in the game. We're definitely the worst in the league at fouling shooters. That's a mistake we have to correct because we beat ourselves like that. The turnovers were also a problem. We only had 14 of them, but we received 23 points from that, and in order to beat the Clippers, you have to be better, the defense also has to be better, and this is how we beat ourselves with costly mistakes. they cost," Malone said.
The Clippers are a wise, experienced team that knew how to take advantage of the opponent's mistakes, but also to force fouls and a large number of free throws. Although Malone warned the team before the start of this match what to expect, it seems that despite this, his team made identical mistakes. Opponents used it in the best way. Malone will have to work with them a lot in the coming days and weeks.
"We shouldn't have jumped on the pump fakes. For example, Christian Braun jumped on Norman Powell's feint shot with five seconds left in the attack, the third in that attack, and Powell got two free throws. Harden went to the penalty line 13 times, although we talked about solving it since the last game with them, but he's a master at forcing fouls. Some of our players repeat such mistakes and we will have to watch the tapes with them and solve that one problem, to be better at it".
Malone reacts to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray: They try to stay positive
Reporters were interested in what Malone thinks of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who are emerging as team leaders.
The coach of this team stresses that both of them tend to be positive. He pointed out what are the crucial problems within the team, stressing that it is not easy to balance at this moment. It seems that patience will be the key not only for the coach and the two stars, but for the entire team. Denver is certainly a quality team, but they will have to show it on the NBA floors as well.
"They try to stay positive. It's a long season, we started badly, so we played a lot better, we won five games in a row at home. Now we tried to fit in Aaron Gordon after a month's break, from the bench, and to find minutes for him. A lot of young players are playing... I think that Julian was good tonight, he was efficient from the bench. Nikola has been there for ten years, Jamal has been through a lot. Those guys are leaders and they are leaders with positivity and patience, so no they react suddenly when there are potholes in the road in one season," explains Malone.
Let's see if Malone's team can do a lot more in the coming days. Having Jokic is a great advantage, but being a team is more important.
English (US)