The Denver Nuggets find themselves in the hunt for a
Western Conference playoff spot, but they know time is running out
if they still hope to make their move.
The Nuggets try to end a two-game skid which hasn't helped their
chances when they face the Chicago Bulls tonight. The Bulls
are rebuilding and short-handed thanks to a recent rash of injuries
but as Denver opens a season-high seven-game road trip, the Nuggets
realize they need to make the most of the opportunity still in
front of them.
Still, even considering the Bulls' challenges, Nuggets coach
Michael Malone isn't taking anything for granted.
"It's not going to be easy," Malone said, according to the Denver
Post. "Any game with 11 games to go is going to be a hard-fought
game."
The Nuggets (38-33) are attempting to position themselves for the
final Western Conference postseason berth, but have struggled
throughout the season against losing teams. Denver had its share of
troubles in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, but
rebounded Monday night, albeit in a 149-141 double overtime loss to
the Miami Heat.
Despite Monday's setback, Malone was encouraged by his team's
effort after the disappointing effort against the Grizzlies, who
entered the game having lost 19 straight. Having moved on, Malone
is looking for the Nuggets to take a step back in the right
direction against Chicago, which has been playing without stars
Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and rookie Lauri Markkanen -- all of whom
have been injured.
Even with that being the case, Malone realizes if the Nuggets are
to keep themselves in position to advance to the postseason, they
have to do their part. They are two games behind Utah for the final
playoff spot in the West.
"Effort, fight, urgency ... cannot be words that we're talking
about," Malone said, according to the Post.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are just trying to remain competitive as the
regular season nears a close. Chicago (24-46) has dropped two
straight and four of its past six games. Without their Big Three of
Dunn, LaVine and Markkanen, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg has been
forced to string together a new-look starting lineup that has
struggled to establish much consistency or rhythm.
Chicago is coming off a 110-92 loss to the New York Knicks. If and
when the Bulls can move closer to getting back to full strength
remains uncertain.
Markkanen is still dealing with back spasms, LaVine has tendinitis
in his left knee and Dunn has been in a walking boot after Hoiberg
told reporters that Dunn had a setback with the turf toe injury he
has been dealing with.
The injuries mount while the Bulls are battling for the bottom and
a lottery pick in this summer's NBA Draft. While they have been
careful to avoid the appearance that they are tanking, Hoiberg
maintains their issues heading into Wednesday's game are real.
"We understand that these are legitimate things going on," Hoiberg
told reporters Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "We've
still got a lot of things going on with the three guys we
accomplished in (last year's) trade -- Kris and Lauri and Zach --
and hopefully we do get them back on the floor sometime soon. When
they're ready to go, they're going to be back out there playing
again. At the same time, we understand that right now we've got to
look at some guys in different situations, which we've done."
Tonight's game can be heard on Good Time Oldies 1060 with the Pre-Game Show at 6:45.
