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Denver Nuggets: What if we miss the playoffs?

By Michael Longhofer

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 13, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 13, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO – MARCH 11: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is interviewed after defeating the Sacramento Kings on March 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 930627306
Sacramento Kings v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO – MARCH 11: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is interviewed after defeating the Sacramento Kings on March 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 930627306 /

What should the Nuggets look for in a coach?

It would be difficult to talk about specific names, there’s not a lot of buzz until playoff time about assistant coaches.  Some NCAA tourney darlings my make the jump to the NBA.

More interesting will be what type of coach the Nuggets should look for and how that will impact the current roster.

If they abandon defense and go with a Mike D’Antoni type offensive mind, the current roster should flourish.  1980’s style run-and-gun ball would be really fun to watch with Jokic at the helm.  We could score 140 a game!  The problem with those offensive fantasy teams is that they never win.  We saw it here with Paul Westhead and to a lesser extent Doug Moe.  It is fun to watch and can beat any team on any night but when it comes to a playoff grind, those teams always falter.

So, the other option is to bring in a defensive specialist that…….wait a minute, that would be who we are trying to replace.  To lure another defensive coach into Denver, he’d probably have to get some decision-making power.  That is scary, we’ve seen coaching staff turnover wreak havoc on the roster and popular players.

There is an option and it is going to seem out-of-left field.  The Spurs have managed, for more than a decade to balance defense and offense.  Usually top-5 defense and top-15 offense.  Slight lean to the D.  If we could harness some of what Popovich does in San Antonio but let that lean go more toward the offensive side, the Nuggets could be dangerously good.

Who is that coach?  How about Becky Hammon?  So many positives, Colorado loves to be groundbreaking, how about breaking the ground and letting the Spurs assistant take the Nuggets to the next level?

Next: Jamal Murray is becoming more aggressive

Hey, people want a Hall-of-Fame former player and champion as a coach, right?

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