SAY IT CHEST HIGH! 🗣️ Shannon Sharpe & Stephen A. call out Michael Malone | First Take

ESPN

20 May 202407:41

Summary

TLDRIn a dramatic NBA playoff game, the Denver Nuggets suffered a historic collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite leading by 20 points in the third quarter, the Nuggets were outscored by 54 to 24 in the second half, marking the largest comeback in a Game 7 in NBA history. The Timberwolves, led by Anthony Town's 23 points and 12 rebounds, advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years. Post-game, coach Mike Malone's reaction to a reporter's question about the loss was criticized as disrespectful, highlighting the emotional intensity of the high-stakes game.

Takeaways

🏀 Jamal Murray had an outstanding first half, contributing significantly to the Nuggets' lead.
📊 The Nuggets were ahead by their largest margin of the night, showing their potential when the coaches believed in them.
🚀 Minnesota made a remarkable comeback from being down by 20 points, led by Anthony Edwards' performance.
🎯 Edwards scored a crucial three-pointer that brought the Timberwolves back into the lead.
🏆 The Timberwolves' victory knocked out the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years.
🔢 Despite a 6-for-24 shooting night, Anthony Edwards played a pivotal role in the Timberwolves' comeback.
🌟 Karl-Anthony Towns, a four-time All-Star, had a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds, providing a strong defensive effort against Nikola Jokic.
📚 The Timberwolves' comeback from a 15-point deficit at halftime is the largest in a Game 7 in NBA history.
📉 The Nuggets' loss after leading by 20 points is a significant disappointment, especially as they were the reigning champions.
🗣️ Post-game reactions included a mix of frustration and humor from the Timberwolves' players, reflecting on their past losses and current victory.
🤔 Coach Mike Malone's reaction to a reporter's question about the loss was seen as disrespectful by some, highlighting the emotional aftermath of such a significant game.

Q & A

What was the significance of Jamal Murray's performance in the first half?
-Jamal Murray's performance in the first half was significant as it contributed to the Nuggets having their biggest lead at that point in the game.
What was the coach's strategy during the third quarter when the team was down by 20 points?
-The coach's strategy was to encourage the team to keep making runs, which eventually helped them to show their true potential and come back in the game.
How did the Minnesota Timberwolves manage to come back from a 20-point deficit?
-The Timberwolves managed to come back by storming back in the third quarter, led by Anthony Edwards and other key players, and ultimately took the lead.
What was the historical significance of the Timberwolves' comeback win in game seven?
-The Timberwolves' comeback win after trailing by 15 at halftime was the largest in a game seven in NBA history, marking a historic moment.
How did Anthony Edwards contribute to the Timberwolves' victory despite his struggling performance?
-Despite struggling through a 6 for 24 shooting performance, Anthony Edwards played a crucial role in the Timberwolves' victory, particularly with key plays in the third quarter.
What was the role of Karl-Anthony Towns in the Timberwolves' comeback?
-Karl-Anthony Towns, a four-time Allstar, scored 23 points and had 12 rebounds, providing an effective one-on-one defensive effort against Denver's Nikola Jokic.
What was the reaction of the Denver Nuggets' coach, Mike Malone, to the post-game question from the reporter?
-Mike Malone reacted negatively to the post-game question, dismissing it as a 'dumb ass question' and showing frustration over the loss.
What was the general consensus on Mike Malone's reaction to the reporter's question?
-The general consensus was that Malone's reaction was out of line and disrespectful, and it was suggested that he should apologize to the reporter.
How did the commentators view the reporter's question about the Nuggets' loss?
-The commentators viewed the reporter's question as respectful and appropriate, given the circumstances of the game and the Nuggets' position.
What was the commentators' opinion on how a coach should handle both victory and defeat?
-The commentators believed that a coach should handle both victory and defeat with grace and dignity, maintaining composure regardless of the outcome.
What was the commentators' view on the Nuggets' performance in the second half of the game?
-The commentators criticized the Nuggets' performance in the second half, noting that they were outscored 54 to 24 and that the coaching and role players failed to provide answers to the Timberwolves' surge.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Historic Comeback and Disappointment

The script describes a dramatic game seven between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, where the Timberwolves make a historic comeback. Despite being down by 20 points, they manage to take the lead and eventually win the game, advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years. The script highlights the struggles of Jamal Murray and the Nuggets, who were the defending champions, and the outstanding performance by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns from the Timberwolves. The loss is particularly hard for the Nuggets as they were up by 20 points and playing at home. The script also touches on the emotional reactions post-game, with a focus on the coach's response to a reporter's question about the team's feelings after such a significant loss.

05:01

🗣️ Post-Game Reactions and Accountability

This paragraph delves into the post-game reactions, particularly focusing on the coach of the Denver Nuggets, Mike Malone. It discusses the expectations placed on him and his team to continue their championship legacy. The script mentions Malone's frustration and his reaction to a reporter's question about the team's emotions after losing a significant lead. The commentators suggest that Malone's response was out of line and that he should apologize to the reporter. They also speculate that Malone's anger stems from his desire for the team to achieve a historic run of titles, not just a single win. The commentators believe that Malone will likely reflect on his reaction and come to terms with the situation, acknowledging the need to handle both victory and defeat with grace.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray is a professional basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets. In the context of the video, he is mentioned for his performance in the first half of the game, which was pivotal to the Nuggets' early lead. His name is a key term because it highlights the individual contributions to the team's performance.

💡Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team in the NBA. They are referred to as having their biggest lead in the game, indicating their strong start. The term is central to the video's theme as it discusses the team's journey and the dramatic turn of events in the game.

💡Coaches

The term 'coaches' refers to the leadership of the basketball teams, who provide guidance and strategy during games. In the script, the coaches' belief in the team is mentioned as a motivational factor, showing their influence on the players' mindset and performance.

💡Comeback

A 'comeback' in sports refers to a team recovering from a significant deficit to either win or take the lead in a game. The video discusses a remarkable comeback by Minnesota, who were down by 20 points but managed to take the lead, illustrating the theme of resilience and determination.

💡Minnesota

Minnesota refers to the Minnesota Timberwolves, another professional basketball team in the NBA. They are highlighted in the script for their historic comeback and advancement to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years, making them a central focus of the video's narrative.

💡Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is a key player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite struggling with a poor shooting performance, he is mentioned for his crucial role in the team's comeback. His name is significant as it personifies the team's effort and the individual contributions to the game's outcome.

💡Carl Anthony Town

Karl-Anthony Towns is a four-time All-Star player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The script mentions his scoring and effective one-on-one defense, emphasizing his impact on the game and the team's success. His performance is a key aspect of the video's discussion on the game's dynamics.

💡Nicola Jokic

Nikola Jokic is a three-time MVP player for the Denver Nuggets. The script refers to the defensive effort against him, indicating his importance to the opposing team's strategy. His presence in the game is a significant factor in the video's analysis of the match.

💡Western Conference Finals

The Western Conference Finals is a stage in the NBA playoffs where the top teams from the Western Conference compete. The script discusses the Timberwolves' advancement to this stage for the first time in 20 years, marking a significant achievement and a key point in the video's storyline.

💡Historic

The term 'historic' is used in the script to describe the Timberwolves' comeback win, which was the largest in a Game 7 in NBA history. It underscores the magnitude of their achievement and its rarity, adding to the video's emphasis on the exceptional nature of the game.

💡Mike Malone

Mike Malone is the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. The script includes a discussion about his reaction to the loss and the emotions surrounding the game. His name is a key term as it brings up the topic of leadership, responsibility, and the emotional aspects of coaching in high-stakes situations.

Highlights

Jamal Murray and the Nuggets had their biggest lead in the first half.

Coaches believed in the team's ability to make comeback runs.

Anthony Edwards led a remarkable comeback for Minnesota.

Minnesota took the lead in the fourth quarter after being down by 20.

The Timberwolves knocked out the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

Minnesota is advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years.

The Timberwolves' comeback from a 20-point deficit is the largest in NBA game seven history.

Anthony Edwards struggled with a 6 for 24 shooting performance.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 23 points and 12 rebounds, providing effective defense against Nikola Jokic.

The Nuggets' loss after being up by 20 points is a historic event in the NBA.

The discussion on the importance of handling both wins and losses with grace.

Mike Malone's reaction to the reporter's question was seen as disrespectful.

The expectation for Mike Malone to apologize for his post-game behavior.

The Nuggets' failure to maintain their lead and the impact on their season.

The role of the coach and players in the Nuggets' loss and the need for reflection.

The emotional difficulty of losing a game seven at home with a significant lead.

The Timberwolves' historic comeback and its significance for the team and the NBA.