The Nuggets’ challenge: keeping up the pace while waiting for the Finals

Rest, but not too much. This is the dilemma facing Mike Malonethe Nuggets coach, awaiting the start of the NBA Finals from June 1, while the Eastern Conference final between Boston and Miami is still in full swing.

This is the lot of teams like Denver, which has “swept” the Lakers and must now try to keep up the pace in training while not yet knowing the identity of its next opponent. A mission far from obvious for the Nuggets technician, who, like his players, must take his troubles patiently.

“It’s impossible to keep your rhythm when you’re not playing a match”, he recalled on Friday. “You can do whatever you want in practice, there’s no way to get close to the intensity of an NBA playoff game. For us, my biggest concern is the pace, but above all the physical condition. Because we’ve been playing every other day for a long time, and all of a sudden, we have an eight, nine, ten day break. I wanted to make sure that we give ourselves to training and that we stay in good condition”.

Ten double-edged days

Between qualification after sweeping the Lakers in the Eastern Conference final and Game 1 of the NBA Finals next Thursday, ten days will have passed. A double-edged period, where the Nuggets will have had the privilege of resting and healing, but will also have lost intensity, as well explained by Mike Malone.

For Jamal Murraynow is the time to be the most disciplined in training, not to force, and to keep a cool mental level, when the most important moment in the history of the franchise will come next. Colorado.

“We have to focus on the details in training. We have to be on the right tempos, not lose the ball, do simple things so that we don’t slack off just because we are where we are. I think it’s more about mental awareness these days. We know our bodies will be in great shape on June 1, so we need to make sure our minds stay sharp and focused throughout these days,” explained the Nuggets point guard. “You can rest, but you shouldn’t get into bad habits throughout the week. We must remain vigilant, no matter what (…). We don’t want to relax. I think that’s the most important thing. We don’t want to relax and wait. We want to stay focused.”