Denver Nuggets: Sneaky hero of Game 2 is Michael Malone

While Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone may not be a Gregg Popovich-like game tactician, he proved himself a superb personnel manager in Game 2.

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone appeared agitated in the third quarter, as the San Antonio Spurs used Rudy Gay‘s and-1 layup to stretch their lead to 19 points with 4:28 remaining in the segment.

Life was gloomy as the Nuggets’ defense was flopping, the Spurs’ offense popping, and nothing on the attacking end was dropping.

Clearly, something needed to change. Any shakeup, really, would do. The higher-seeded Nuggets could no longer be dominated on their home court, and Malone was badly losing the coaching matchup to his wily mentor, Gregg Popovich.

Not all stories are complete when they appear to be, however.

Enter Jamal Murray. The young, hot-mess of a point guard was struggling mightily through his first seven quarters of playoff basketball. When would he finally rid himself of the yips?

In Game 1, Murray made his name for all the wrong reasons. He racked up multiple turnovers and key missed shots, including one of each in the game’s final 10 seconds. Game 2 was showing no improvement, as Murray shot 0-for-8 and managed just three points through the first three quarters.

It was at that point many Nuggets fans began screaming at the television, begging Malone to bench him. I’m ashamed to admit I was among the doubters, posted up at a Des Moines Buffalo Wild Wings, drawing perturbed looks from other patrons as I barraged the television with angry words.

Boy, was I ever wrong. Were we the fans ever wrong. Sorry, Jamal. We repent.

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In the fourth quarter, Murray entered the game, this time wearing a cape. The fiery guard proceeded to rack up 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting that quarter, rescuing the Nuggets from an 0-2 start at home.

As the game inched to a neck-and-neck affair, Murray hit a runner at the 3:53 mark, pushing the Nuggets to a 101-99 lead. A couple possessions later, he assisted on a Nikola Jokic jumper at the 3:20 mark to give Denver the 104-101 advantage.

And then he really got cooking.

Starting at the 2:31 mark, Murray went off for eight points in 43 seconds. His first 3-pointer barely beat the shot clock. Just 19 seconds later, he struck again from deep. Before the Spurs knew what hit them, the Nuggets held a 112-103 edge. Have you ever seen Popovich look so confused?

Jamal Murray finally looked poised and mature. His wonderful finish spurred Denver to the win; the product of a young man playing far wiser than his years in the clutch.

Yet, there’s more to it.

Behind the scenes was head coach Michael Malone, the man who never lost confidence in his young guard. The guy who put Murray back into the game with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter, despite his putrid performance to that point.

Here’s what Malone said in the postgame press conference, per FOX Sports:

"“I was going with him…I needed to show him that I believed in him. That’s powerful.”"

Indeed it was.

Murray doesn’t hit these shots without a coach who believes in him. Many other NBA coaches would’ve sat Murray, or demanded he ease up on the trigger. And those coaches would have taken the L on their way out.

Malone was right to stick with Murray. Many of us Nuggets fans were wrong, and thank goodness he ignored the chatter.

Malone isn’t among the game’s famous tacticians. What he has, however, is an unbelievable pulse on this Nuggets team. His players trust him, and Tuesday’s fourth quarter showed why.

Not all stories are complete when they appear to be, especially when you have a red-hot Murray carrying the squad. However, nothing motivates you like the love and care of a coach who never stops believing.