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Malone’s Job is on the Line

By Mathew Huff

Mar 24, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on the sideline in the first half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Denver Nuggets beat the Indiana Pacers 125-117. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on the sideline in the first half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Denver Nuggets beat the Indiana Pacers 125-117. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 26, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone in the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Pepsi Center. The Grizzlies won 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone in the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Pepsi Center. The Grizzlies won 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

The playoff aspirations of Denver could also be the key to the job security of Coach Malone.

After the hideous Brian Shaw era ended, Coach Malone was bought it to help the Denver Nuggets rebuild. Many were skeptical at first, including me, especially when the likes of Mark Jackson were available on the coaching market.

He has certainly had an up and down stretch with the Nuggets to say the least. Malone was ran out of Sacramento in unfair fashion and his disdain for the Kings is justifiable. However, some would say Malone is underachieving with Denver this season.

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Denver Nuggets

Despite being in the playoff hunt, the Nuggets have lost too many games in the last minute or less. Much of this is attributed to coaching. When Marc Gasol got a game winning tip-in earlier in the season, a questionable rotation was made.

On that particular play, Faried was tasked with guarding Gasol. That is right, the already undersized power forward who has never been a defensive stopper was put on a talent like Marc Gasol. Not Jokic, not Nurkic, but Faried. Hmm…

And let’s not get started on the most recent heart breakers. The game in Houston where Malone called an alley-oop to Mason Plumlee to win the game after Harden made a go ahead lay up.

Really? When you have Nikola Jokic balling, a top 10 three point shooter in Gary Harris, or at the very least, Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari, you decide to throw a risky lob to Mason Plumlee.

In the words of Stephen A. Smith, “Really!?” Not the best play call to say the least. Last, but not least, we have the horrible third quarter showing at Portland the other night.

When Kenneth Faried was rebounding efficiently, was he awarded with more playing time? Nope. Instead, a struggling Danilo Gallinari was put in as he continued to shoot to no avail.

Must Read: Free Agent Targets for Denver

As a result, the Trail Blazers pulled away and snatched the final playoff spot away from the Nuggets. With all of this in mind, I believe if Denver does not make the playoffs, Michael Malone may be looking for employment elsewhere come next season.

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