Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman watched his team lose a playoff series as the higher seed against the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves for the second time in three years.
Adelman served as an assistant under Mike Malone the first time in 2024, but Adelman not only lost this series as the head coach, his team had advantages. The Wolves lost star guards Anthony Edwards and Dote DiVincenzo followed by guard Ayo Dosunmo to injuries.
Because Adelman couldn’t lead a crew with star center Nikola Jokic and star guard Jamal Murray past the short-handed Wolves, fans are calling for Adelman’s job. It rang loud and clear across social media on Thursday night during a 110-98 defeat in Game 6.
“Adelman has to be out as HC for Denver,” one fan wrote via X. “[Wolves coach] Chris Finch is head and shoulders above DA. Nuggets didn’t play with the grit that is needed against this TWolves team… Another year of prime Jokic down the drain…”
Another Nuggets fan wrote on X that “Adelman is 100% getting fired” after the series. One fan noted that Adelman staying could affect Jockic’s contract future with the team.
“This series was lost the moment the made Adelman coach in the offseason,” one fan wrote via X. “Not going out and getting a veteran coach during Nikola’s prime is insane. This season sits squarely on [Nuggets president] Josh Kroenke and David Adelman.”
Nuggets’ Choice Stirred Wolves
The Nuggets were in a position to avoid the Wolves in the playoff race, but Denver moved up to the No. 3 seed with a win over the San Antonio Spurs in the regular season finale.
Denver could now be haunted over that decision all offseason. The Wolves used that as bulletin board material and capitalized.
“They took it personal. Denver had that choice of who they wanted to play and they chose us. They chose us,” Finch said via The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski afterward.
While Denver looked poised to win the series after a Game 1 victory, 116-105, it almost never looked that good again. Minnesota took Game 2 in Denver, 119-114, and the Wolves then swept games at home with scores of 113-96 and 112-96.
The third one came about despite the injuries to Edwards and DiVincenzo, as Dosunmo went for 43 against the Nuggets. Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels sealed it on Thursday night with a playoff career high of 32 points plus 10 rebounds for a double-double.
“Adelman was just thoroughly outcoached the entire series,” one fan wrote via X. “Even the games they won, he struggled to make adjustments. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s out this summer and they bring in someone more experienced.”
Nuggets Last Win Might Be Most Telling
The Nuggets looked like they had some hope in Game 5 with a 125-113 win at home, but Denver couldn’t find the same offensive output or defense on Thursday at the Target Center.
“Adelman better be fired tomorrow immediately. Getting booed by your own fanbase at home was a clear sign he shouldn’t be the leader and HC of this team,” one fan remarked via X. “A culture reset is a massive need.”
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