Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone works the sidelines during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, March 11, 2024. AUSTIN, Texas — Every sports fan adores the premise of a galvanizing team meeting. There might not be a more universally beloved trope than the players and coaches of your favorite team coming together in a time of adversity to lift up one another — as long as it turns the tide of a high-stakes game or series.
“I really felt that was so impactful,” he said. “Because that film session was not me — I picked 17 clips — not me . I gave each player a clip, and I said, ‘You tell me what you see and what should have happened.’ And all the players took ownership. We learned from it, which is what film sessions are for. It’s not a blame game.”
But this was their first time back at Kaseya Center since winning Games 3 and 4 to all but wrap up the Finals. Flashbacks were human instinct on this trip.Most of Malone’s film sessions aren’t formatted that way. But sometimes when the Nuggets need a jolt, they’ll zag. “Asking your players questions, quizzing your players — what does that show you?” Malone said. “One, it keeps them on their toes. Are they paying attention? Do they know what they should know? And two, it shows me this: Have I done my job? If they don’t know the answers, I’ve failed as a coach. So quizzing guys and having interactive film sessions has always been beneficial for us.
Whatever the scenario, more communal film work seems equally likely if the Nuggets need a remedy for a playoff setback. But whether the next session becomes known is probably dependent on its success.