Denver Nuggets Dealing With A Lot More Than Just Numbers In The Losing Column

Feb 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Pepsi Center. The Kings won 109-95. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

We are all aware of the disastrous play from the Denver Nuggets this season, putting them at a record of 25-30 which places them eight games back of the Dallas Mavericks as of Thursday night. Their consecutive playoff streak which is currently at 10 years running looks to be all but lost. They haven’t been able to put a complete game together as head coach Brian Shaw ripped his players following a blow out loss to the Chicago Bulls that was aired on national television.

Brian Shaw went on 104.3 The Fan Monday afternoon in an interview on Drew & Scott with Scott Hastings (Nuggets play-by-play announcer) and Drew Goodman as he assessed his team’s performance this season with all of the injuries.

"It’s not in any competitors fibers (DNA) to be able to go out and compete and not try to win — it goes against everything you’ve ever done to get to this level."

Shaw would follow-up with the hint that his team lacks the competitiveness to assert themselves to watching NBA games on days off. Here is what Shaw’s example was:

"Say for instance we play Portland tomorrow night and they happen to be on TV tonight, I could probably come to the locker room tomorrow and say ‘How many of you guys watched Portland play’ Nobody would raise their hand because the interest in the game is not there."

Shaw is basically stating that his players aren’t as interested in being students in the game and would rather go through the motions. This bugs me as a fan of the team, how can you consider yourself a professional basketball player and not have the competitiveness to get the upper-hand on your opponent by scouting/watching them play if you have the chance.

Shaw would also add-on that he and his coaching staff have to spend a lot of practice time getting the basic fundamentals down with his team. Note — these are professional basketball players folks, you shouldn’t have to teach them the basic fundamentals of boxing out and how to line up on certain plays.

Brian Shaw would also go on to tell Drew & Scott that his team on multiple occasions have had to go back onto the plane and clean up the areas where they sat. The culture of the locker room is just bothersome at the moment as they have failed to even clean up their own locker space. For more on the interview, make sure to follow the link to listen.

The Denver Nuggets (25-30) return to action tomorrow night as they host the Portland Trailblazers at the Pepsi Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM MT.