David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)
A team doesn't go from having one of the worst defenses in the NBA to being the 1998-99 San Antonio Spurs overnight, so Nuggets coach Michael Malone laughed at the prospect of his team being near a wholly acceptable defensive product at this time.
Sure, the defensive numbers have been good — really good, in fact. But preseason plays into it. That fact opponents have held out starters against the Nuggets plays into it. And there have been substandard defensive quarters that have flat-out horrified the coach.
"Sometimes you get a little false sense of security," Malone said Monday with a grin.