After both Games 2 and 3 of the series, the Nuggets were on the ropes and Michael Malone implored his players to muster their pride in every remaining moment of the series. While Malone may have sounded a note of concession implying that the series is already over, the message was appropriate. The Nuggets’ morale had completely disintegrated after Game 2 as the Warriors offense exploded, which led to dancing and shimmying all over the court. The Warriors lit up the Chase Center with their own electricity, and the Nuggets were consumed by a cloud of discord.
Then in Game 3 at Denver, the Nuggets recollected themselves and made it a competition, but down the stretch the Warriors championship pedigree emerged and they beautifully executed evoking memories of their 5 year title runs.