Author: Monojit Mandal
As a result of their spectacular 4-0 sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Denver Nuggets found themselves in an unusual situation. They will have a 10-day break, a rarity in the NBA, as they prepare for their first appearance in the NBA Finals.
The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are still in the Eastern Conference finals, where the Heat currently lead 3-2 going into Saturday’s sixth game. On the other hand, the Denver Nuggets have a long rest period until the start of the playoffs. Michael Malone, the head coach, acknowledged that it was difficult to keep up the pace during this break.
“You’ve been playing day in, day out for so long, and now all of a sudden you have a break of eight, nine, ten days,” Malone commented during a press conference on Friday. He confessed that the break in rhythm was inevitable and that it’s difficult to simulate the intensity of an NBA playoff game in training.
The Nuggets modified their training plan to deal with this unusual circumstance. Tuesday was a free day, while Wednesday was an optional training day. They focused on fitness on Thursday and then had a shorter but more common training session on Friday.
The coaching staff’s inability to start making tactical plans for the upcoming finals adds to the difficulty. Malone acknowledged the challenge of being ready for an unknown opponent. “It’s a difficult position because you’re only vaguely prepared for an opponent; you have no idea who you’re up against. So, as I said to our boys, what matters today is us” he said.
Malone emphasizes the value of maintaining concentration, while working to improve certain parts of the Nuggets’ games during this period. He encourages his players to enjoy the small triumphs along the way, while keeping the big prize in mind: a championship.
“I think it’s my responsibility to encourage our boys not to read or pay attention to other people telling them how great they are. Because if you do, said Malone, success will make you a little too soft“. He encouraged his group to maintain discipline, hunger, desperation and urgency.
Malone deals with his own personal difficulties, while the Nuggets are waiting. He watches the exciting games between Celtics and Heat from his sofa. He tasked the members of his team with making thorough analyses of the two possible rivals, in order to make the most of the break. Malone is aware that his team will have a tough task in the finals, regardless of the result.
However, Malone is aware of the importance of finding a balance in his personal life. He jokingly said that if he had a “game seven mentality” at home, his family would leave. He strives to maintain his sense of reality and spend quality time with his loved ones, as he is aware of his roles as a husband and father.
For Malone, it’s important to“take a deep breath every now and then and enjoy the view“. He tries to keep perspective while concentrating on the activity at hand, whether it’s playing pickleball with his wife or simply enjoying the moment.
The Nuggets are determined as they enjoy this rare rest before the NBA Finals, because they know that the biggest challenge is yet to come.