Firing an NBA Title-Winning Coach Right Before the Playoffs?

If you thought this NBA season couldn’t get any more unhinged, buckle up because the Denver Nuggets just fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth… with less than a week to go before the playoffs. Yep. The defending champions thought this was a good time to shake things up.

And believe it or not, this isn’t even the most shocking move we’ve seen lately.

Let’s rewind a bit. Remember when the Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers, in the middle of the night, no less, for Anthony Davis? And then Davis went down injured immediately after, followed by Kyrie Irving tearing his ACL? It was chaos. Pure NBA chaos.

But somehow, teams are managing to top even that. Case in point: the Grizzlies deciding to sack coach Taylor Jenkins out of nowhere, just two weeks out from the playoffs. This was a team holding a decent fifth seed in the West. Jenkins was arguably holding the squad together through a storm of injuries, Ja Morant barely played, Marcus Smart was constantly out, and Brandon Clarke? Gone again.

Yet here we are, watching teams blow things up when you’d expect them to be locking in.

What’s Going on in Denver?

Let’s be honest: Nikola Jokić has been carrying the Nuggets for years. He’s a once-in-a-generation player, and firing Malone, the coach who helped guide this core to its first title ever, feels like panic, plain and simple.

Sure, people in the front office may not have loved Malone’s preference for sticking with veterans. GM Calvin Booth reportedly wanted to see more youth development. But really, this team has been good. They’ve been consistent. And now they’ve handed the wheel to assistant coach David Adelman six days before the postseason. Desperate? Yes. Effective? We’ll see, but don’t hold your breath.

If Denver makes a deep playoff run, it’s not going to be because of this last-minute bench shuffle. It’ll be because Jokić is a basketball savant and once again bails out the entire franchise.

But Let’s Talk Bigger Picture

There’s a long history of teams firing successful coaches, hoping for a quick fix. Sometimes it works, the Warriors swapped Mark Jackson for Steve Kerr and won it all. Same for the Cavs firing David Blatt and bringing in Ty Lue. But more often? It’s a mess.

The Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer after a title. Look at them now. The Lakers canned Frank Vogel after their championship, and they’ve been up and down ever since. Even Phoenix dumped Monty Williams and went off the rails.

This idea that firing the coach fixes everything? It’s more illusion than solution.

Booth’s Firing? That One Kinda Makes Sense

From a front-office timing standpoint, firing a GM right before the draft and free agency actually tracks. New leadership should get to make their own decisions. Booth had his moments, he brought in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown, which helped Denver win it all. But then he let them both walk, and depth has been an issue ever since.

Much of the credit for the Nuggets’ 2023 title still belongs to Tim Connelly, the GM before Booth. He drafted Jokić, Murray, and Porter, made the Aaron Gordon trade, and hired Malone in the first place. He’s now doing wonders with the Timberwolves. Go figure.

Booth may have been under pressure from ownership to cut costs, but that’s still part of the job. And if you’re going to make changes, do it in the offseason, not days before a playoff run.

Speaking of Bold Moves… What About Betting on the NBA with Crypto?

Now, if this wild NBA season has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is off the table and that makes it prime time for crypto betting fans. Whether you’re backing a longshot Finals run or betting live on upsets as they happen, using crypto offers quick transactions, anonymity, and full control of your bankroll. Plus, with sportsbooks like BC.GAME, you can even earn rewards just for playing.

You can bet on:

• Game winners and point spreads
• Futures like NBA Champions or MVP
• Player props like triple-doubles, points, and assists

And since it’s the playoffs, there’s no shortage of action to get in on. Just make sure you’re betting responsibly (and maybe hedge your bet if the coach just got fired).

So yeah, crazy trades, surprise firings, and crypto-fueled betting markets, this NBA season really has it all. Whether you’re watching for the drama, the dunks, or the chance to turn a few Satoshis into something bigger, there’s never been a better time to lock in.

Let’s just hope your team’s GM still has a job by next week.