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Coach Malone: Nuggets focusing on keeping 'rhythm' before NBA Finals
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Michael Malone, head coach of the Denver Nuggets, looks on during Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2023. /CFP
Michael Malone, head coach of the Denver Nuggets, looks on during Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2023. /CFP

Michael Malone, head coach of the Denver Nuggets, looks on during Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2023. /CFP

The Denver Nuggets are still waiting for their NBA Finals opponents to be confirmed since the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are still going on. The Nuggets' head coach Michael Malone told reporters on Friday that they are currently focusing on keeping 'rhythm.'

"It's impossible to keep your rhythm if you're not playing games," Malone said after practice. "You can do whatever you want in practice, but there's no way you can replicate playing an NBA playoff game."

The Nuggets swept the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the West Finals on Monday, had a day off on Tuesday, came in for an optional workout day on Wednesday, did conditioning on Thursday and participated in practice on Friday. They are scheduled to continue practice on Saturday.

"For us, my biggest concern is the rhythm but more importantly conditioning," Malone added. "You're playing every other day for so long, and now all of a sudden you have an eight-, nine-, 10-day break, whatever it is. I wanted to make sure we got up and down, conditioned."

Jamal Murray (#27) of the Denver Nuggets shoots in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2023. /CFP
Jamal Murray (#27) of the Denver Nuggets shoots in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2023. /CFP

Jamal Murray (#27) of the Denver Nuggets shoots in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2023. /CFP

Jamal Murray, as the second-in-command of the Nuggets, has averaged 32.5 points per game in the series against the Lakers, higher than anyone else of the two sides. He said that the team are trying to maintain urgency by working out during the break.

"Just our awareness, especially we need to lock in on practices for just the detail stuff," Murray said. "Let's be on time, let's not have any turnovers, that we're doing scripts, just kind of the simple things so we're not getting sloppy just because we are where we are. I think it's more of those mental awareness days. We know our bodies are going to be right by that time June 1, so just making sure our mental is staying sharp and locked in throughout these days."

"We take the rest. But you don't want to pick up bad habits throughout this week. Staying sharp, whatever it is. If we've got to flip the switch and lock in for a drill or two, let me do that. Just be able to stay locked in," Murray added. "We don't want to get relaxed. I think that's the biggest thing. We don't want to relax and just wait. We want to stay sharp."

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