Nuggets coach reveals how he hyped team up after Game 2 loss

Everyone was ready to count out the Nuggets after their Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves as they became the first defending champion since 2011 to concede a 2-0 lead at home. 

With the Nuggets seemingly unable to crack Minnesota's stifling defense, several pundits on the airwaves were ready to pull out the broomsticks — some even called for the Timberwolves to reach and win the NBA Finals.

Amid all that chatter, Nuggets coach Michael Malone devised a unique plan to motivate his players. He created an edited video of every analyst writing off his team.

"I had an edit (video) made, and I wasn't sure if I was gonna show it to the guys," Malone told reporters after Denver's Game 3 win. "I showed it to DeAndre Jordan, and he said, 'Oh hell yeah, we gotta show it to the guys.' It was a two-minute edit of every talking head in this country saying the series is over, the Nuggets are done, it's a wrap, they're toast, Minnesota's a better team —  all the big personalities, and you know who they are."

Malone admitted the analysts were justified to feel that way after watching the Timberwolves clamping down on his team with their defense. But he wanted to remind Nikola Jokic and Co. of why they're the defending champions. 

"I didn't want to show the video because I don't give a damn what they (critics) say," Malone said. "But I knew this would maybe strike a chord, you know, deep inside you. To say, like, 'Hey, everyone and their brother is saying, 'You're out, you're done, they're better than you.' If that doesn't resonate with you as a competitor, I don't know what will."

The video apparently worked wonders as the Nuggets wrestled back the momentum from Timberwolves with a 117-90 blowout win in Game 3.