"The bench players' performance was a mess."
from web site
Marlon Denver expressed his regret for the bench players.
The Denver Nuggets beat the Golden State Warriors 108-105 in the 2023-2024 NBA regular season at Denver Ball Arena on the 9th (Korea Standard Time). They won four games in a row. He maintained his top spot in the West with eight wins and one loss.
Denver's main guard Jamal Murray (191 cm, G) was absent. Reggie Jackson (188 cm, G) served as the main point guard. Then the bench lineup weakened.
Denver led Nikola Jokic (211 centimeters tall, C) in the early stages of the game. However, the team was completely pushed back in bench fights in the late first and early second quarters. In the first half, the gain and loss margins of bench players were all negative, and the gain and loss margins of the main players were all positive. So Denver finished the first half 53-47.
It was similar in the second half. Jokic scored 14 points in the third quarter alone. However, there was no scoring support from other players. In particular, he scored only two points off the bench. As a result, they finished the third quarter 76-78.
Nevertheless, Denver's main players were strong. Jackson fought hard with 10 points. Michael Porter Jr. (206 cm, F) also played a crucial role in offense and defense. Denver, which added Jokic's performance, won the game hard after a close game.
They won, but Denver coach Michael Malone couldn't smile. In an interview with "Denver Post," he expressed his regret for the bench players, saying, "Our bench players' performance today was a mess."
"To be honest, our team's bench players are not ready to play. I saw this for the first time this season. But I know that I will grow more through this experience. The performance of bench players is essential for the team to go higher, he added.
This offseason, the team's key six-man Bruce Brown (193 cm, G-F) left Denver. Jeff Green (203 cm, F), who was in the center, also transferred. To make matters worse, even the main guard Murray was absent, leading Sixman Jackson to the main lineup. Denver's bench players will have to hold out until Murray returns.
