"Everything Just Falls Apart!": Nuggets Coach Mike Malone Calls Out Players To Give Jokic Some Help

"Embarrassing effort"... "Comedy of errors"... Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone has never been one to hold back his feelings in the past when his team struggles. Wednesday night he called out every player on his squad not named Nikola Jokic, when he pointed out that “Every time (Jokic) comes out, everything just falls apart." 

The numbers certainly back Malone up. Going into Wednesday night's game, the Nuggets are plus 80 with Jokic on the floor and minus-62 without him. NBA insider Zach Lowe calls the stat "preposterous".

Preposterous stat of the season so far that will come as no surprise to Denver fans: Nuggets are plus-80 in 213 minutes with Jokic on the floor and minus-62 in 123 minutes without him. That is so hard to pull off this fast, I'm almost impressed somehow.

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) November 2, 2021

"It’s every night," continued coach Malone. "I went to him in the fourth quarter (on the bench) and I called his name. He looked at me kind of like, ‘Already?’ And I feel for him…Nikola’s going to be worn down by Christmas at this rate,” the coach said.

Jokic is averaged 25 points, 13.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists. But it's also his defense, as according to Nuggets reporter Harrison Wind, with Jokic on the floor, Denver has the league's 4th best defense, allowing only 91 points per 100 possessions. 

Malone realizes, in the end, it all falls on him. "I have to do my job to try to figure it out. Try to help that (non-Jokic) unit. mix and match, try different guys, whatever it is, but we just have to be better when Nikola Jokic is not on the floor."

Photo Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports