Nikola Jokic’s lack of free throws in game 6 ‘Absolutely crazy’, says Nuggets -Coach

Denver Nuggets interim coach David Adelman was relieved and angry by the amount of contact that the officials allowed while the Los Angeles Clippers defended Nikola Jokic In Game 6 of their first round Playoff series on Thursday evening.

The physical defense of the clippers is an important reason why Denver goes home to play another game 7.

Adelman and Jokic are convinced that the nuggets will fight back on the edge with their season.

Adelman decorated the flexible official standards in the loss of 111-105 Van Denver in Game 6. Jokic shot only two free throws, and the Nuggets only went to the line nine times compared to the 15 free throws of the clippers, while both teams seemed to play physically.

“Nikola is much polluted,” said Adelman. “I am not sure what happened tonight, but for him to shoot two free throws with the amount of contact that was going on there, it was absolutely crazy. They put him small. Those smalls were allowed to do what they want, so I am really enthusiastic for Saturday that we can do in Game 7.”

The “Smalls” group that guarded the 6-foot-11 Jokic included 6-foot-8 Nicolas BatumWhose second half of effort played an important role in running game 6 in favor of the clippers. Batum and Ivica Zubac Worked together for an effective effort against Jokic, who only scored five of his 25 points in the second half while he left 2 to 9.

But even Adelman knew that the officials had not decided in a series between two teams a different close game that ended the regular season with the same record.

“This is what I expected to be honest,” said Adelman. “This felt like a seven-game series. It is an even matched series. There are so many good players who are there, boys who can have nights.”

Nobody had one night before the nuggets in Game 6, and that’s why they go to Game 7.

Closeout games are usually a nightmare for the nuggets since winning the only championship of the franchise two seasons ago. They have lost four of their last five close-out possibilities, including two games in the second round series last year with Minnesota.

The Nuggets had a 3-2 lead in that series, only to be beaten in game 6 with 45 points before he lost Game 7 in their home arena the same place where they play the clippers on Saturday.

Denver has lost four of the last five potential close -out matches and only defeated the Lakers In the first round last season but only after losing game 4 with a 3-0 series.

“It will be another team,” said Jamal MurrayThose 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists had in game 6. “It will be a different type of series. We just have to play our game. I don’t think there is something to think. We just have to come up with the same kind of despair, the same intention. I played 7s in a lot of game, so it’s 3-3.

Jokic does not see the recent close errors of the nuggets as something bad in his team. Jokic and Murray, after all, led a team that closed four opponents during that 2023 championship run.

“I’m going to approach it the same,” said Jokic. “Every game is really important to me. I want to win, so I’m going to play it like a regular game.”

The Nuggets only organize game 7 because they have won their last three games to keep the tiebreaker about the clippers, who won eight consecutive games and 18 of 21 to close the regular season. Adelman only became Denver’s head coach for those last three games after the astonishing resignation of Michael Malone only 23 days ago, but the new coach already has a clear message for his team on his way to the Serief final.

“You win those last three games, not just to stay out of the play-in, but to get the home field in Game 7, and we deserved it,” said Adelman. “That is what I told them. You have earned this opportunity.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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