The best game of the 2021 playoffs and it wasn’t close

FromPickaxe and Roll

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The best game of the 2021 playoffs and it wasn’t close

FromPickaxe and Roll

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Length:

44 minutes

Released:

Jun 2, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Ryan Blackburn breaks down an incredible, thrilling Denver Nuggets 147-140 victory in double OT, surviving an onslaught by Damian Lillard, to go up 3-2 in the first round playoff series. Nikola Jokić was awesome, Michael Porter Jr. had a major bounce back, and Monte Morris was the difference in what was one of the most incredible playoff games in Nuggets history.

Released:

Jun 2, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Ryan Blackburn from MileHighSports.com brings you the latest news and analysis for the Denver Nuggets on every episode, including some of the best guests from around the NBA.

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The best game of the 2021 playoffs and it wasn’t close: Ryan Blackburn breaks down an incredible, thrilling Denver Nuggets 147-140 victory in double OT, surviving an onslaught by Damian Lillard, to go up 3-2 in the first round playoff series. Nikola Jokić was awesome, Michael Porter Jr. had a major bounce back, and Monte Morris was the difference in what was one of the most incredible playoff games in Nuggets history. by Pickaxe and Roll
44 min listen
Mark Schindler on the NBA Finals, Nuggets NBA Draft prospects: Ryan Blackburn is joined by Mark Schindler of Premium Hoops to discuss Game 1 of the NBA Finals with the Suns taking a 1-0 lead over the Bucks. They discuss Giannis, Chris Paul's brilliance, Jrue Holiday's struggles, and whether the Bucks have what it takes to win this series.Then, they transition into NBA Draft coverage, discussing five interesting prospects that have/will be covered at Denver Stiffs: Chris Duarte, Usman Garuba, Tre Mann, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Miles (Deuce) McBride. by Pickaxe and Roll
80 min listen
A deep dive on the Denver Nuggets guard rotation, Part 2: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the NBA Draft lottery results and how each of the teams at the top have had their fortunes altered by the night's results, including the Detroit Pistons winning the first overall pick. Then, Ryan shares thoughts on Suns-Clippers Game 2 and how this simply may be Phoenix's year to go all the way. Finally, he continues his deep dive covering every player on the Denver Nuggets. This episode, Ryan discusses Will Barton, Facundo Campazzo, Austin Rivers, and Shaq Harrison, including whether each player will remain in a Nuggets uniform. by Pickaxe and Roll
51 min listen
The battlegrounds that will decide Nuggets-Suns: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the most important factors for both the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns heading into this second round playoff series on Monday night. How will the Nuggets and Nikola Jokić attack offensively? Will the Nuggets be prepared for Devin Booker and the Suns defensively? Then, Monday Positivity. by Pickaxe and Roll
42 min listen
Nuggets advance, win Game 6 in Portland, with Jena Garcia: Ryan Blackburn and Jena Garcia break down an incredible Denver Nuggets Game 6 win to clinch the playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Nuggets will move on to face the Phoenix Suns in the second round, which will be a fascinating series. Ryan and Jena break down the Nuggets advancing past the Blazers with incredible plays from Nikola Jokić, Michael Porter Jr., and Monte Morris, as well as timely contributions up and down the roster. by Pickaxe and Roll
67 min listen
Gut-check time for the Denver Nuggets: Ryan Blackburn shares his belated thoughts on the Denver Nuggets Game 2 blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns and its most disappointing aspects before discussing what the Nuggets can do to change things in Game 3. From improvements in shooting, to the play of Michael Porter Jr., to possible starting lineup changes, Ryan shares his honest thoughts on where the Nuggets currently stand. Then, Ryan discusses the article posted on Denver Stiffs about Denver's future outlook. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Is Damian Lillard unhappy in Portland? Nuggets big man rotation: Ryan Blackburn discusses the messy situation surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard. Who's to blame? What's going to happen? Should the Denver Nuggets try to get involved?Then, Ryan wraps up his end-of-season evaluation series with some thoughts on the Nuggets big man rotation. Will Paul Millsap be back next year? Should JaVale McGee have played more minutes? Is Zeke Nnaji in line for a breakout season? How can Nikola Jokić get more rest? Ryan discusses it all and more. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Will Barton declines player option, offseason gets interesting: Ryan Blackburn discusses Will Barton declining his player option and choosing to explore free agency. What are the ramifications for the Denver Nuggets? Who will go after Will Barton? How hard should the Nuggets work to re-sign him?Then, Ryan discusses the next crop of NBA Draft workouts on Monday for the Nuggets before sharing his thoughts on Game 5 of the NBA Finals. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Adam Mares on Nuggets-Blazers, the legacy of Nikola Jokić, and the Suns: Ryan Blackburn is joined by Adam Mares of DNVR to discuss the Denver Nuggets dismantling the Portland Trail Blazers, the big storylines of Game 6, and litigating just how impressive this series win was for Denver. From there, they discuss the building legacies of the Nuggets, Michael Malone, and Nikola Jokić. Finally, they give a brief preview of the series against the Phoenix Suns. by Pickaxe and Roll
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The Nuggets can't solve their defensive issues, go down 3-0: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 116-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns, going down 3-0 in their second round playoff series. Nikola Jokić was presented with the MVP trophy at the beginning of the game, but the Nuggets quickly fell behind the Suns in the first half and could never recover. Ryan discusses what went wrong for the Nuggets, what there's left to play for, and a quick retrospective on this series if Jamal Murray and P.J. Dozier were involved. by Pickaxe and Roll
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A deep dive on the Denver Nuggets guard rotation, Part 1: Ryan Blackburn breaks down aspects of the Denver Nuggets guard rotation, focusing in on Player Grades for the 2020-21 NBA season. Ryan shares his thoughts on Jamal Murray, Monte Morris, P.J. Dozier, and Markus Howard. What were the biggest surprises, disappointments, and questions surrounding those four guards?Part 2 featuring Will Barton, Facundo Campazzo, Austin Rivers, and Shaq Harrison on Wednesday. by Pickaxe and Roll
52 min listen
What happens if the Nuggets don't offer MPJ the max?: Ryan Blackburn breaks down every angle of the impending Michael Porter Jr. extension. From how many players earn the max, to how the Nuggets can continue building a contender around three large contracts, to what happens if the Nuggets don't offer the deal, Ryan shares his wide ranging thoughts on a pivot point for the Nuggets franchise. Ryan also discusses which players Denver may target in a trade if they are unwilling to offer Porter a max deal. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Nuggets melt down in third quarter, lose Game 1 to Suns: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 122-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the first game of the second round. The Suns did some impressive things offensively while the Nuggets fell apart in the second half, losing contact with the Suns by the fourth quarter. Ryan discusses what went wrong for Denver through the lens of the battlegrounds in this series. He shares why Nuggets fans shouldn't overreact while also being honest about Denver's subpar performance. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Bones Hyland to the Denver Nuggets; reacting to the NBA Draft with Gordon Gross: Ryan Blackburn is joined by Gordon Gross, senior writer at Denver Stiffs, to discuss the 2021 NBA Draft and the Denver Nuggets selecting Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland at 26th overall. They talk about the strengths and weaknesses, player comparisons, what this means for the Nuggets in free agency, and more. Then, they revisit the rest of the draft and share their takes about the rest of the league. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Big Honey...The Joker...MVP: Ryan Blackburn relishes in the announcement that Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić officially won the 2020-21 NBA MVP award in a landslide on Tuesday afternoon. Ryan discusses the season Jokić had, from the early season magnificence to the late season carrying of the walking wounded. Then, Ryan discusses the franchise and cultural impact that Jokić's MVP award may have on the Nuggets, the city of Denver, and the NBA at large. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Which free agents should the Nuggets target?: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the salary cap situation for the Denver Nuggets entering the 2021 offseason, including the impacts of Will Barton and JaMychal Green accepting or declining their upcoming player options. Then, Ryan shares his thoughts on the 2021 free agent class through the lens of what the Nuggets could realistically do. Could the Nuggets afford the full mid-level exception? Which position group should they look to improve? Who are the top players they could add? Ryan discusses a variety of names, from Reggie Bullock, to Alex Caruso, to Nicolas Batum, to Boban Marjanovic. by Pickaxe and Roll
64 min listen
Giannis, Luka, Jokić, and the next era of NBA super teams: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the wave of international talent in the NBA and how it will continue to define the next era of basketball at the highest level. From Nikola Jokić, to Giannis Antetokounmpo, to Luka Dončić, to other foreign born stars, why are all of these players surrounded by such drama right now? Ryan speculates what will happen with various international players as well as the possibility of forming super teams with this group that likes and respects each other. by Pickaxe and Roll
48 min listen
Jaden Springer, Deuce McBride, and NBA Draft Superlatives with Brandon Ewing: Ryan Blackburn and Brandon Ewing of Denver Stiffs share their extensive thoughts on the 2021 NBA Draft in the form of Draft Superlatives. Who will be the best player? The biggest bust? The surprise star? The perfect Denver Nuggets selection? Ryan and Brandon run through much of the 2021 draft class and share their thoughts on the Nuggets throughout the episode. by Pickaxe and Roll
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The Milwaukee Bucks are one step ahead of the Denver Nuggets: Ryan Blackburn discusses the two NBA Finals participants, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns, how they match up, and predicts the outcome of the series. Then, he shares his thoughts on NBA playoff trends and how they apply to the Denver Nuggets, most importantly the value of scoring guards and forwards that play small ball center. Finally, Ryan breaks down the connections between the Bucks of two years ago and the Nuggets now. Can Denver learn anything from Milwaukee's successes and failures? by Pickaxe and Roll
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JaMychal Green opts out, big free agency rumors, my Nuggets draft big board: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on JaMychal Green opting out of his player option for the next season to become a free agent. What does it mean for Denver? Will he be back? Can they replace him? Ryan shares his thoughts on where the roster stands prior to the NBA Draft. Then, he goes over free agency rumors surrounding Bradley Beal, Ben Simmons, and the crazy point guard market in free agency that involves Lonzo Ball.Finally, Ryan shares his 2021 NBA Draft big board from 1 to 35 that is entirely Nuggets focused. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Are the Nuggets trading up? NBA Draft primer with Brandon Anderson: Ryan Blackburn is joined by Brandon Anderson of The Action Network (@wheatonbrando) to discuss the 2021 NBA Draft. Which prospects does Brandon believe in? Is Jaden Springer a star in hiding? Can the Denver Nuggets actually trade up, per reports from earlier today?Then, Ryan and Brandon discuss a wide range of combo guards and wings that could be available for the Nuggets at 26. Which players are the most talented, the best fit, or the bust waiting to happen? From Deuce McBride to Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, they discuss several names connected to the Nuggets at various points. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Celebrating a bittersweet Denver Nuggets season: Ryan Blackburn discusses the final game of the Denver Nuggets season, a 125-118 loss to the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 to complete the series sweep. Nikola Jokić was ejected, and the Nuggets hung around anyway because that's who they are, led by Will Barton in tonight's contest. Ryan discusses the game, the Jokić ejection, the resiliency of the Denver Nuggets, and the best parts of the 2020-21 season. Finally, Ryan initiates some offseason discussion. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Markus Howard signs two-way, Bones Hyland shines in Summer League: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets bringing back guard Markus Howard on a two-way contract for a second season, including the team's depth chart, further needs, and how Denver plans to fill that second two-way roster spot. Then, Ryan goes in-depth on Bones Hyland and his performance at Summer League thus far, including walking back some hot (and negative) takes made on draft night. Ryan also discusses Zeke Nnaji, Caleb Agada, Zylan Cheatham, and other players on Denver's SL roster. by Pickaxe and Roll
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Jake Coyne on Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Nuggets free agency: Ryan Blackburn brings on Jake Coyne, data scientist and NBA analytics freelancer (@BroncoSquatch on Twitter), to dive deep into the Denver Nuggets forward rotation and offseason decisions. How will the Nuggets handle extension talks with Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon? Will JaMychal Green, Vlatko Čančar, or Bol Bol be back in Denver? What do the Nuggets need at forward beyond those players? Ryan and Jake share their brief thoughts on forward targets in free agency as well. by Pickaxe and Roll
58 min listen
Bones Hyland makes his summer league debut, a discussion about backup center: In the 100th episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets loss to the Boston Celtics in the second summer league game, including the debut of Bones Hyland and the return of Zeke Nnaji. Ryan shares his thoughts on those two, Bol Bol's strong performance, and notes on other players making an impression. Then, Ryan discusses the backup center debate, from why the Nuggets haven't gone with a traditional backup to who makes the most sense as the primary relief option for Nikola Jokić in the regular season. by Pickaxe and Roll
42 min listen
Mailbag: Top Nuggets free agency targets, draft predictions, championship windows: Ryan Blackburn answers listener questions about the Denver Nuggets on a wide variety of off-season topics focused on the NBA Draft, free agency, and trades. He shares thoughts on Michael Porter Jr., how the Nuggets can continue to get better, why Reggie Bullock should be Denver's top free agency target, and much more. by Pickaxe and Roll
52 min listen
Evaluating Tim Connelly and Michael Malone: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the insane number of injuries that have affected the 2021 NBA playoffs. From Jamal Murray and your Denver Nuggets to Giannis Antetokounmpo going down in Game 4 of the ECF on Tuesday night. From there, Ryan also discusses the ECF and WCF series before diving deep into the performances of head coach Michael Malone and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly for the Nuggets during the 2020-21 season. From the draft and free agency all the way through losing to the Suns and everything in between. by Pickaxe and Roll
52 min listen
Jena Garcia on the 2020-21 NBA season and the future of the Denver Nuggets: Ryan Blackburn and Jena Garcia, social media director of Denver Stiffs, discuss the long and arduous 2020-21 season. From a basketball perspective, they delve into the Nuggets and the highs and lows experienced throughout the year and how the championship expectations were completely valid. From a media perspective, they discuss what it was like to cover the team on Zoom in the Bubble and in empty arenas for the last year. Finally, they share thoughts on the future of the Denver Nuggets organization and where they go from here. by Pickaxe and Roll
74 min listen
Bol Bol and the summer Nuggets, what's up with the MPJ extension?: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets 97-77 loss to the Miami Heat in Las Vegas Summer League, including an evaluation of Bol Bol, Caleb Agada, Davon Reed, and other contributors. Then, Ryan pivots to Michael Porter Jr. and his impending yet unsigned max rookie extension. What's the holdup? Should Nuggets fans be concerned? Finally, Ryan shares thoughts on tampering and how the NBA penalizing organizations for tampering charges is a futile endeavor. by Pickaxe and Roll
43 min listen
Jeff Morton on Wes Unseld Jr., the NBA Finals, and the Nuggets: Ryan Blackburn and Jeff Morton, host of the CSG Podcast, discuss the potential loss of Wes Unseld Jr. to the Washington Wizards before discussing Game 4 of the NBA Finals and what comes next for both the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. Then, Ryan and Jeff discuss the Michael Porter Jr. extension, Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, and JaMychal Green. Basically, every player in line for a significant contract this offseason. by Pickaxe and Roll
64 min listen

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Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets CRUISE to easy win in Washington: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 118-104 win over the Washington Wizards. The Nuggets wrapped up their 5-game road trip with a 3-2 record and began to look like themselves again after a 4-game losing streak. Nikola Jokić was dominant. Jamal Murray was aggressive. Michael Porter Jr. was a literal laser beam. The Nuggets found their groove on Wednesday, and Ryan discussed it all, along with several hot takes from Nuggets fans. by Pickaxe and Roll
55 min listen
Nuggets take down Bucks in awesome clutch matchup: Jamal Murray was awesome, Nikola Jokic did it all, and the Denver Nuggets defense clutched up against Dame, Giannis, and the Milwaukee Bucks. by Pickaxe and Roll
44 min listen
Another Jokić triple-double! | Nuggets win vs Luka Dončić, Mavericks: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 118-109 win over the Dallas Mavericks as Nikola Jokić records his 21st triple-double. Jeff Green led all Nuggets scorers with 24 points. Michael Porter Jr. played an excellent game. Luka Dončić was awesome, but it didn't matter. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and where the Nuggets stand entering the All-Star break. by Pickaxe and Roll
49 min listen
Jokic and MPJ find a way vs Minnesota: Sick Ryan breaks down the Nuggets 115-112 win over the T'Wolves, different weak points in the rotation, and Denver's easy remaining strength of schedule. by Pickaxe and Roll
36 min listen
The Denver Nuggets are the BEST team in the Western Conference: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 113-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies that basically clinched the top seed in the Western Conference for Denver. Nikola Jokić had another triple-double in the victory. Jamal Murray started slow but got going after some back-and-forth trash talk with Dillon Brooks. Michael Porter Jr. had a big scoring night. Jeff Green (?!) had a big defensive night. It was a great team effort from the Nuggets, and Ryan discusses every aspect of the victory and what it means for the rest of Denver's season. by Pickaxe and Roll
54 min listen
Jokic dominates Gobert, Denver Nuggets prove they're team to beat: Ryan recaps the Nuggets win over the T'Wolves to recapture the 1 seed, credits Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, and discusses the playoff bracket as it stands. by Pickaxe and Roll
48 min listen
Nuggets survive vs Steph, Warriors | Youthful Bench struggles: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 108-105 win over the Golden State Warriors. Nikola Jokic had some miscues late, but he was still dominant. Stephen Curry hit a clutch three but missed the ensuing layup to tie the game. The Nuggets survived a tough game from their bench unit and played the starters heavy minutes. Ryan breaks it all down, as well as an intro to the MVP conversation. by Pickaxe and Roll
43 min listen
Jamal Murray hits buzzer beater, Nuggets take Game 2 vs Lakers: Ryan reacts to Jamal Murray's epic buzzer beater in the Nuggets Game 2 win over the Lakers. by Pickaxe and Roll
43 min listen
Jamal Murray hits game-winning three, saves the day in Portland: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 121-120 win in Portland over Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers as Jamal Murray hits a game-winning three-pointer with 0.9 seconds left. Murray gets to have his moment after plenty of struggles, while Nikola Jokić dominates, Aaron Gordon continues to impress, and the bench unit takes another big step forward. Ryan discusses the big shot, the starters, and the bench unit. by Pickaxe and Roll
38 min listen
VGK Daily | Vancouver ties the series: After a 5-0 Vegas shutout in Game 1, Vancouver responds with a 5-2 win in Game 2. Daren Millard sorts through the contest, from Tyler Toffoli's return to the Knights' second period momentum. Hear from Pete DeBoer, Mark Stone, Robin Lehner (22 saves) and A by Sheriff, Lawless and Some Guy Named Dave #SLGND
9 min listen
Monte Morris earns his moment, hits buzzer beater to beat Golden State: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 117-116 win as Monte Morris is the big hero, hitting the game-winning three to propel the Nuggets into the All-Star break on a high note. Nikola Jokić was dominant and set Morris up with the key pass. Austin Rivers and Bryn Forbes deserve plenty of credit for making big plays too. Ryan discusses the win, Nikola Jokić's resilience and toughness, and where the Nuggets stand heading into the All-Star break. by Pickaxe and Roll
46 min listen
There's no comparison for what Nikola Jokić just did: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 130-128 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers as Nikola Jokić goes for a MONSTER triple-double with 49 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and a block. Aaron Gordon hit the game-winning three on an incredible Jokić pass, and the Nuggets survived a fun and entertaining game. Ryan discusses Jokić's greatness, the starters, the bench, and how Bryn Forbes can help. by Pickaxe and Roll
50 min listen
Denver Nuggets unable to complete sweep; fall in OT in Game 4: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 114-108 loss in overtime to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite Nikola Jokić's 43-point performance, the Nuggets didn't have enough to survive Anthony Edwards' strong play in clutch time. Jamal Murray struggled in his minutes. Michael Porter Jr. wasn't very involved. Aaron Gordon struggled defensively. The Nuggets ultimately didn't have enough to defeat the T'Wolves in Game 4, and Ryan shares what he would do in Game 5 to try and ensure the gentleman's sweep. by Pickaxe and Roll
38 min listen

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The best game of the 2021 playoffs and it wasn’t close

The best game of the 2021 playoffs and it wasn’t close

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