Renck & File: Nuggets players deserve blame for firing of Malone, Booth
Three games left Two people fired One fresh start The Nuggets want you to believe through a battery of sourced stories that they had no choice but to fire coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth This was apparently the NBA s biggest feud since Shaq and Kobe Apparently I missed Malone s diss track Even if the timing was brutal the Kroenkes clearly had their reasons to can them after watching a joyless season dissolve since the All-Star break But we are also seeing damage control wrapped in shameful denial by the players We cannot let them off the hook They were unhappy with Malone s criticism his yelling his rotations his preferential medicine of Russell Westbrook OK I ve got their back on that one Is that license to throttle down To play defense like they were in an All-Star battle Athletes control effort attitude and conditioning That is what has made this season so disappointing Jamal Murray exhibited up out of shape after signing a four-year million max extension He stank for the first games before definitively working himself back into form But even that proved short-lived He has missed eight of the past games entering Friday with a hamstring injury Michael Porter Jr continued to show us all who he really is a therapeutic marvel who is wildly inconsistent from match to competition quarter to quarter and possession to possession When he is not making s his value is virtually nonexistent Nikola Jokic who is having a historic offensive season lost interest in defending at the top of the key and stopped committing to his role at the level of the screen Aaron Gordon couldn t shake a calf injury that siphoned half his games this season Westbrook played at one speed and his tired Porsche-in-a-school-zone act deployed airbags multiple times over the last two weeks making it clear Jalen Pickett should take his minutes in the clutch Related Articles Renck Ryan McMahon s speech shows Rockies players care Too bad owner doesn t Renck Nuggets Calvin Booth had it coming but Michael Malone deserved better Renck vs Keeler If Omarion Hampton isn t available in NFL draft which running back fits Broncos best Renck DU hockey captain Carter King proof hard work makes dreams come true Renck File Any NFL mock draft that doesn t have Broncos picking running back in first round requirements to go There are numerous examples of why Malone and Booth deserved to be canned But let s not forgive the performance of the players Just because warring factions existed behind the scenes it does not excuse the lack of effort and communication For the Nuggets to go on a magical postseason run it starts with those in uniform pulling in the same direction not the schemes of interim coach David Adelman Young and restless Rockies outfielder Zac Veen approaches baseball with a childlike enthusiasm No need to take the wag out of the puppy s tail but it is significant as he navigates his call-up to lean on veterans like Ryan McMahon and Kyle Freeland He has the talent to make it But he must adopt routines to simplify everything Carmelo s request Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony wants the Nuggets and Knicks to retire his jersey No predicament But Denver s comes with a caveat His No goes into the rafters after Jokic s as a sign of respect for the franchise s greatest competitor Shedeur s spot When it comes to Cleveland can we believe them The Browns adding -year-old Joe Flacco and failed first-rounder Kenny Pickett suggests that they will pass on Shedeur Sanders with the second overall pick There is growing buzz that they will take CU s Travis Hunter If that s the development the Saints would be silly not to take Sanders at No forming an ideal fit with new coach Kellen Moore Want more sports news Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver s teams
