Despite series lead, Nuggets 'haven't done a damn thing,' says coach - ESPN

DENVER — Michael Malone didn't mince words about how he thought the Denver Nuggets played in Game 1.

After watching the film, the Nuggets head coach saw a variety of things he did not like even though Denver led by as much as 24 points before beating the Miami Heat, 104-93, in Game 1.

«I don't think we played well in Game 1,» Malone said on Saturday. «I watched that tape, and they were 5 of 16 on wide-open 3's. As I told our players this morning, the fact that they got 16 wide-open 3's is problematic. And if you think that Max Strus is going to go 0 for 9 again or Duncan Robinson is going to go 1 for 5 again, you're wrong.»

Malone cited that the Nuggets' defense needs to play much better in the fourth quarter, when Denver surrendered 30 points and 60% shooting to allow the Heat to climb back within nine with 2:34 remaining on Thursday.

Malone's message to the team was not to listen to any outside hype about how good Denver played in building that 24-point lead and Nikola Jokic finishing with a triple-double and Jamal Murray having a double-double in their Finals debut.

«I told our players today, don't read the paper,» Malone said. «Don't listen to the folks on the radio and TV saying that this series is over and that we've done something, because we haven't done a damn thing.»

The message was similar to after the Nuggets' Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. The Nuggets built a 21-point lead only to see the Lakers get within three points on three separate occasions in the final four minutes.

Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who brings championship experience from his time with the Lakers, wanted to keep his teammates focused.

«Stay motivated,» Caldwell-Pope said of his