Adversity breeds character, and in The Mile High City, adversity is exactly what the Denver Nuggets are currently dealing with, having lost three straight games following Tuesday's 120-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
The main issue head coach Michael Malone has goes well beyond his guys simply losing games, though. What irritates him the most is the players' lack of a response with things taking a turn for the worse, especially coming from his veterans.
"It's a joke. Right now, we have no leadership. We have no veteran leadership on this team stepping up," Malone said, according to the Denver Post's Chris Dempsey. "Don't hear anyone speaking, taking the lead. We have two young guys trying to speak up on the team's behalf. You applaud them, but we need some leadership to shine and step up when we are struggling, which we are."
The Nuggets possess the worst defense in the Association during the last three games, allowing opponents to score 121.7 points per 100 possessions, with each of their opponents dropping over 120 points during their losing skid.
"It's a losing proposition, offense sells tickets, defense wins championships. Right now our defense is the worst in the NBA," Malone added, according to BSN Denver's Harrison Wind.
Malone may feel his vets aren't raising their game both vocally and on the floor, but that's not how leading scorer and eight-year pro Danilo Gallinari sees things.
"I don't agree with that. That's definitely not the problem with this team," Gallinari said. "Every veteran on this team can agree with me. So, I don't agree with that."
The top-seven seeds in the Western Conference are distancing themselves from the rest of the pack, with Denver, Sacramento, the Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans all within two games of each other for the eighth and final playoff spot.
It's not going to get any easier for Malone's squad, as the 28-7 San Antonio Spurs come to town Thursday night, followed by a meeting with Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
