![]() One day after Game 3, White remained the talk around the league. The Spurs have a total of 75 box-outs in this series (fourth-most in among playoff teams) and 20 more than the Nuggets. One Western Conference assistant coach discussed Game 3 with The Athletic and mentioned that, during the huddles, every other demand he heard Popovich make of the Spurs was to continue to box out. In the postseason, though, the Spurs are holding the Nuggets to 41.3 rebounds after three games.Ī big reason the Spurs have rebounded so well is that Popovich demands they execute a rebounding fundamental: boxing out. ![]() The Nuggets finished as the eighth-best rebounding team in the NBA (averaging 46.4) and the second-best team on the offensive glass (11.9). ![]() Rebounding, especially offensively, would be a factor, too. That’s going to be part of his development and a part of his maturation, and I have to help them with that.” It’s got to be every night if you want to be a really good basketball player, especially in the playoffs. Well, he’s going to learn as a young kid, it can’t be just one quarter. “Great fourth quarter – we win the game in Game 2. “How do we respond to that? Where is your pride? Where is your toughness? Where is your grit? So, Game 4 is going to be a great insight into who we are as a team, especially our young players, especially Jamal Murray. “Now I’m anxious to see our guys,” Malone continued. He came out hungry, he came out pissed off, and he sent a very loud and clear message. “Derrick White came out like he hadn’t eaten in two days. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Derrick White, the last couple of days, has been reminded about Jamal Murray’s fourth-quarter performance,” Malone said. Murray’s performance was excellent in that moment - and even the day after - but once the ball tipped in Game 3, it appeared that one player was motivated by that fourth quarter and another wasn’t. Murray was indeed the hero of Game 2 and helped prevent the Nuggets from trailing 2-0 in the series.īut to Malone, that fourth quarter will not suffice. ![]() He mentioned that Game 2 fourth quarter from Murray, during which the third-year guard dropped 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting after starting the first three quarters 0-for-8. I don’t know what else to say - at both ends of the floor.”Īfter falling into a 2-1 hole in the best-of-seven series, Nuggets coach Mike Malone didn’t hold back. “Well, he’s OK,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich joked after Game 3. In four regular-season games against the Spurs this season, Murray averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds. In three games and 122 possessions this series that White had defended him, Murray is averaging 12.3 points on 46.8 percent shooting (4-of-11 on 3-pointers) and 1.6 assists.Īnd when White is on the floor on the defensive end, the Spurs’ rating is 108.0, much better than the 116.6 points per 100 possessions when White is not in the game. On the defensive end, White has made Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray, outside of a solid fourth quarter in Game 2, a non-factor. The Spurs’ offensive rating so far in this series with White on the court: 120.5 points per 100 possessions. The aggressiveness is there, as White is leading the Spurs with 21 made field goals in the paint, and he’s tied for first with a +23 after three games. Though DeMar DeRozan is best at it on this squad, White is leading the team in 3-point assists (six), too. White is making an impact on offense, averaging 23 points and shooting 69 percent from the field, with 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists. I am just trying to get out there, compete and have fun.” “This is the way I would play since I was young. “I just have a chip on my shoulder,” White said. It was the second time in three games that White’s performance made him arguably the best player in this first-round series.Īnd now that White is no longer a Spurs secret, he needed to explain his outing Thursday night inside AT&T Center. In Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets, White recorded a game- and career-high 36 points on 15-of-21 shooting and had five rebounds, five assists and five steals. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |