We're not going to bring out Rudy Tomjanovich's adage every time, but Mike Malone didn't appreciate that we “underestimated” his Nuggets after the two defeats conceded at home against the Wolves. Result: the Nuggets coach found an original way to over-motivate his players, and “ for four quarters, I saw Denver basketball“.
“We're always testing and discovering human nature and what guys are made of when their backs are against the wall.” recalls Denver coach about the reaction of his players. “So I made a video edit, and I didn't know if I was going to show it to the players. I showed it to Deandre Jordan, and he encouraged me to show it to everyone. »
“People who said we were burned out, and that Wolves had the best team…”
But what was in this montage? “It was a two-minute montage with all these people giving their opinions, who explained that the series was over and that it was wrapped up” continues Mike Malone. “People who said that we were burned out, and that Wolves had the best team… All these people, and you know who I'm talking about… It's not a tackle on my part, given the scenario of the first two matches , but maybe I would have said the same thing. Most of the time, I don't pay attention to it, but then I told myself that it could touch them deep within themselves. And if that doesn't resonate with you as a competitor, I don't know what does…”
Even if the Nuggets obviously did not need that to be motivated, Nikola Jokic recognized that this montage and the words of Mike Malone had produced their small effect.
“It’s a message that reminds everyone of who we are, and what we are capable of doing” testifies the Serb. “We have been at the top, and we have been in situations where we were at the lowest. We know how to react, we know how to play like champions, and we had the right mindset tonight. »
