There came a miniature breaking point for Michael Malone last week after yet another question about the in-season tournament.
“I think everybody’s doing the right thing and saying all the right things, like ‘This is a big in-season game tonight,'” Malone said before the Nuggets’ group stage finale in Houston. “Well for me, we’re 1-3 on the road trip. The last thing I’m thinking about is the in-season tournament. I’m just being very honest.”
His answer was illuminating in two ways. First, the obvious: This new NBA endeavor is fun to play along with, but only as long as it isn’t eclipsing a team’s primary goal, which is to win games regardless of whether the court is painted funny.