At one time, the Denver Nuggets and their Head Coach Brian Shaw had a 5 game winning streak which put them at 18-20 and in the hunt for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. It was actually their second 5 game winning streak of the season at the time.
Now the Nuggets have lost 10 of their last 11 games, including a big 105-98 loss to one of the leagues worst teams, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Trade talk has ran rampant throughout the front office and has seen a few players come in and a few players discussed about being on their way out.
With the losing and trade talks running through out the team you have to wonder what players think.
According to the Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw, he suspects they’re trying to lose, on purpose.
Following from Nick Groke of The Denver Post.
Afterward, with the doors open, Shaw talked to The Denver Post about tanking.
“I think it’s hard to try to lose, try to tank, try to go out there with guys who are competing with you and not compete back,” he said. ” It’s harder to do that than to just put forth the effort in the first place.”
Shaw said he suspects his players may be trying to lose.
“It just looks like you almost have to try to lose as bad, and in the way we’ve been losing,” he said. “At that point, something gives. The decision-makers at some point are going to make a decision. And everybody is going to have to live with it. Then it’s out of our control.
“The only thing I can control is doing my job to the best of my ability. And that’s what I expect them to do. Do I feel like that’s always been the case? No. Do I share responsibility in that? Yeah.”
Shaw questioning his team is not without support. The tanking talk in the NBA has been relevant all season and if the Nuggets players want out, I say do it. Give them what they want.
