You’d maybe reconsider if you thought the Denver Nuggets could get it done without Nikola Jokic… because they can’t. What just happened versus the Portland Trail Blazers, right? Embarrassing. Don’t believe me, head coach Michael Malone wasn’t about to let that slide, berating his players postgame in what sounded more like a masterclass in frustration than your typical coach’s speech.

The Nuggets didn’t just lose; they got exposed. Falling 128-109 to a short-handed Blazers squad was bad enough. But the way they collapsed? That’s what really set Malone off. It’s one thing to get outplayed. It’s another to get outworked, outhustled, and completely dominated in a game they should have won.

And Malone? Oh, he was livid.

“That was embarrassing. That was just a joke. Who are we kidding? 11 games to go, and that’s the effort we put forth?” That’s not a motivational speech—that’s pure, unfiltered disappointment. And honestly? He has every right to be mad.

Denver actually looked solid in the first half, going into the break with a lead. But then? Total meltdown. The Blazers erupted for a 14-0 run, and the Nuggets? They just stood there, letting it happen. No urgency. No fight. Just vibes.

This isn’t a one-time issue, either. It’s becoming a pattern—one that’s hard to ignore. When Jokic is on the floor, Denver plays smart, disciplined basketball. Without him? The fundamentals go right out the window.

And Malone wasn’t about to let that slide. “Rebounding is effort, rebounding is toughness, rebounding is desire. And they just kicked our butts on the offensive glass.”

He’s not wrong. Portland pulled down 15 offensive rebounds. That’s not just bad—that’s catastrophic. Combine that with 17 turnovers, and, well… it’s pretty obvious why Malone was ready to explode.

Here’s the harsh reality: without Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets look lost. He’s been sidelined with an ankle impingement and a brutal elbow contusion, and in his absence, Denver’s identity has completely disappeared.

With Jokic, the offense flows, the defense is competent, and the team plays with purpose. Without him? It’s chaos. Turnovers pile up, defensive breakdowns happen every other possession, and effort seems optional.

And Malone? He sees where this is heading.

“I challenge them to look at the standings, look at our remaining schedule. If we continue to play the way we’re playing, we will be in the play-in tournament. Very simple. It’s just the way it is.”

Translation? If Jokic doesn’t come back soon, Denver’s season could take a serious nosedive.

Malone isn’t holding back, and the locker room is silent amid Jokic’s absence

It’s not just what’s happening on the court—it’s what’s happening in the locker room, too. And if Malone’s words are any indication, the mentality in there isn’t where it needs to be.

“I don’t really care. It’s not my job to evaluate how they take things. My job is to be honest, and sometimes brutally honest. And tonight, it was a brutally honest message.”

This wasn’t just some tough-love speech. This was pure frustration boiling over. The most concerning part? Not a single player pushed back. “If somebody disagrees with me, please speak up. And nobody said a word.”

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Yikes.

And if that wasn’t enough, Malone also revealed that no one is even reviewing their own performances.

“Nobody watches their minutes. Nobody watches film.” So not only are the Nuggets getting embarrassed by teams they should be handling, but they’re also not even holding themselves accountable afterward. That’s a recipe for disaster, especially with the playoffs creeping closer.

Denver’s record still looks solid, but the way they’re playing? That’s a different story. They’ve dropped three of their last four, and without Jokic, they’re completely unraveling. The defense is sloppy, the rebounding effort is nonexistent, and the urgency just isn’t there.

The only silver lining? Jokic will be back at some point. But if this team doesn’t wake up before then, they’re going to be in serious trouble once the postseason arrives.

Malone summed it up best:

“Each guy’s got to look themselves in the mirror and start coming to each respective game with the proper mindset and have some pride. I didn’t think we played with any pride tonight.”

If that doesn’t light a fire under the Nuggets, nothing will.