Nuggets coach implies Nikola Jokic benched for poor effort
Nikola Jokic was benched for the entire fourth quarter of the Denver Nuggets’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, and it seems like his effort was a big reason why.
Jokic scored just four points with nine rebounds and five assists in Denver’s 118-107 loss to the 20-45 Mavs. He only played 26 minutes in the game, down from his average of 31.5.
After the game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he saw a lack of effort from many of his players.
Malone on what he perceived as a #Nuggets lack of effort tonight: "It’s one thing to miss shots and to make mistakes. It’s another thing to go out there and just kind of go through the motions." Malone praised the guys who played the fourth quarter and cut into Dallas' lead.
— Gina Mizell (@ginamizell) March 7, 2018
He also said those who do not give full effort will not play.
More Malone: "Right now, if you’re not going to go out there and give it your all, you’re not going to play. We don’t owe anybody anything. What each player owes is to go out there and play as hard as you can." #Nuggets https://t.co/YTYZexGOJW
— Gina Mizell (@ginamizell) March 7, 2018
Given that Jokic did not play in the fourth quarter and those were Malone’s comments, it seems effort is the reason why he was benched. Jokic said he had not talked to his coach about the reason why.
Nikola Jokic said there was not an immediate postgame conversation between him and Malone about why he did not play in the fourth quarter: "I don’t know what to say … I think that’s a normal thing. It’s a coach’s decision." #Nuggets
— Gina Mizell (@ginamizell) March 7, 2018
Here’s an example of what may have bothered Malone – Jokic was hanging out in the paint while Dirk Nowitzki had an open shot in the third quarter:
I'm a little concerned Jokic didn't read the scouting report that #41 on the Mavericks is a shooter pic.twitter.com/g3QTzVg1YZ
— Fastbreak Breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) March 7, 2018
Nowitzki was 5-for-7 on threes, while Yogi Ferrell was 6-for-7 from deep.
When you’re in the middle of a playoff race, you want your players going hard and beating teams trying to tank like Dallas. This was a bad loss for Denver.
