Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman has stirred up controversy ahead of Game 3 of the Nuggets-Clippers series by implying that the Los Angeles Clippers are using fake fan noise to enhance the atmosphere at the newly opened Intuit Dome.
In a candid media session, Adelman praised the architectural beauty and experience of the Clippers’ $2 billion home arena but also claimed that the deafening volume inside might not be entirely organic.
“They have the crowd towards our bench, it’s like a high school crowd, which is actually really cool. The other thing is they pump sound in the place.”
“That place is so loud, reminds me of Phoenix, we lost there a couple of years ago in the second round, where you couldn’t even hear each other and talk to each other.”
“The timeouts, coaches. That building is very loud, whether the crowd is cheering or not, we have to be prepared for that. It is an amazing place, by the way. I’d love to go see a concert there, it’s absolutely crazy. We’re excited to go down there and play.”
His comments were a mixture of admiration and suspicion. While he commended the technological marvel that is the Intuit Dome, even going as far as to say he’d love to see a concert there, Adelman also drew a subtle line between genuine home-court energy and what he perceives as artificially generated noise.
He compared it to the Phoenix Suns’ arena, recalling a second-round loss a few years back where his team struggled to communicate due to overwhelming crowd noise. According to Adelman, Intuit Dome gives off that same vibe, but whether it’s truly the fans or just an elite sound system remains in question.
The timing of the remark is critical. The Nuggets and Clippers are tied 1-1 in what has become arguably the most entertaining series of the first round.
The stakes are rising fast, and Game 3 at the Intuit Dome will mark the first-ever playoff game hosted at the Clippers’ new home. The team’s 30-11 home record in the regular season already suggests they’re tough to beat there, artificial noise or not.
This could be a classic case of bulletin board material. While Adelman might’ve intended his comments as a logistical observation rather than criticism, the Clippers could take it as a slight.
That only raises the tension heading into Thursday night’s showdown. Will Kawhi Leonard and James Harden answer back with a performance worthy of their state-of-the-art venue? Or will Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets block out the noise, real or fake, and reclaim momentum?
Regardless of how the Clippers respond, Adelman’s comments have added an unexpected storyline to an already spicy series.
And for Nuggets fans concerned about the volume levels at Intuit Dome, the head coach has issued a clear challenge: embrace the chaos, communicate through the noise, and find a way to win in an environment designed to be one of the loudest in basketball.
The Nuggets have their work cut out. If they want to silence the Clippers, they’ll need to do it in a place where the sound seemingly never stops.
