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Even though the Oklahoma City Thunder ended the Denver Nuggets' season without much flair in a 125-93 Game 7 win, the latter's last three weeks should be reflected upon fondly.
After Michael Malone was fired in the regular season's final week as a last-ditch effort to save Nikola Jokic's season, the move paid off as interim coach David Adelman squeezed every drop of juice from an expired orange.
The top-heavy Nuggets on fumes with two starters playing with injuries pushed the historic Thunder to a seven-game Round 2 series. Nobody predicted that, considering all variables were against Denver's favor.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault knows little about Adelman, but both have had similar upbringings. Adelman has been a Denver assistant since 2017, before he was promoted. Daigneault spent similar time in OKC as the G League's OKC Blue coach and Thunder assistant before he was given the job in 2020.
"I just told him on the court how much respect I have for him after competing against him in this series. He's a pretty seasoned guy to be put in a very challenging situation. It's a credit to their players first and foremost. But a credit to their staff," Daigneault said. "For that type of disruption that late in the season, he was thrust into a very challenging leadership position. Handled it very well. I think what stood out, that wasn't all smooth. They lost some games in the regular season. They were blown out in one of the games in the Clippers series. Got blown out here in Game 2."
Daigneault noted that most teams who fired their head coach and general manager with days to go in the playoffs would've mailed it in. Instead, the Nuggets won a thrilling Round 1 series over the LA Clippers and almost pulled the all-time upset against the Thunder.
"That team kept competing and stayed together through the ups and downs of their experiences. Which first of all, is a testament to their championship mindset," Daigneault said. "But also a testament to the relationships he's built over time. They really had his back."
Everybody believes Adelman has won the Nuggets' job. Denver won't need to go far to find their next head coach. Winning a playoff series should all but guarantee he'll stay as Jokic's next coach.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault impressed with David Adelman ability to coach Nuggets
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