Is Damian Lillard unhappy in Portland? Nuggets big man rotation

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

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 win Game 3, regain control of the playoff series: Ryan Blackburn breaks down an incredible 120-115 Denver Nuggets victory that saw Austin Rivers come through in the clutch with 21 points and some big, big shots. Nikola Jokić was his normal, dominant self, Aaron Gordon and Facu Campazzo each had good games, and the Nuggets regain control of the series with a 2-1 advantage heading into Game 4. The Portland Trail Blazers have all of the pressure on them right now, and the Nuggets look like a team playing freely, easily, and comfortably. It's almost like they've been there before... by Pickaxe and Roll

44 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

42 min listen

Nuggets flex their muscle, even the series at 1-1: Ryan Blackburn breaks down a big Denver Nuggets blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 to even the series at 1-1. Nikola Jokić drops 38 points efficiently, Michael Porter Jr. gets the three ball going, and there were several contributors to what was an all-around incredible bounce back performance for the Nuggets. Ryan breaks down what happened, takes a victory lap or two, and discusses what Nuggets fans should and shouldn't count on for Game 3 in Portland on Thursday. by Pickaxe and Roll

53 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

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

70 min listen

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

57 min listen

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

59 min listen

Three keys to Game 5; Around the NBA playoff picture: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the three keys to the Denver Nuggets winning Game 5, from getting Jusuf Nurkić moving defensively to trusting Michael Porter Jr.'s talent level. Then, Ryan goes around the league to discuss the rest of the NBA playoffs, with some interesting series, both now and impending, in both conferences. Finally, Ryan takes a look at the future of the NBA and where the power dynamics will shift as LeBron James and Stephen Curry continue to age out of being the best players in the NBA. Where will the title contenders come from, and which players will be the faces of the NBA? by Pickaxe and Roll

49 min listen

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

34 min listen

Nuggets get punked in Game 4, series moves to 2-2: Ryan Blackburn breaks down a disastrous Game 4 loss by the Denver Nuggets to the Portland Trail Blazers to even the playoff series at 2-2. Nikola Jokić's shot was off, Michael Porter Jr. disappeared completely, and the Nuggets didn't have an answer offensively with those two struggling to contribute efficient points. Ryan discusses the offensive collapse, the defensive pitfalls against Norman Powell and others, and how the Nuggets can respond in Game 5 to recapture momentum in the series. by Pickaxe and Roll

43 min listen

10 lineups that will help the Nuggets win a title: Ryan Blackburn goes over the news of the last week while on vacation, including the Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon contract extension reports and what they mean going forward. Then, he goes over the 10 five-man lineups that will help the Denver Nuggets win a championship, either this coming season or going forward. Lineups include perspective on the roster before and after Jamal Murray returns to the fold some time in February, March, or perhaps April. by Pickaxe and Roll

53 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

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

The Nuggets will get Portland's best punch in Game 4: Ryan Blackburn shares seven statistics that have defined the playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers thus far. From the outside shooting of both teams to Damian Lillard averaging over 11 pull-up threes per game, Ryan discusses the numbers that have made the series so interesting thus far. Then, Ryan discusses what he believes will be the five adjustments the Blazers will make in Game 4. Denver will get Portland's best punch, so Denver will have to be ready. by Pickaxe and Roll

38 min listen

Gordon Gross on Nuggets-Blazers so far and the stakes of the series: Ryan Blackburn brings on Gordon Gross, Denver Stiffs writer and legend, to discuss the ups and downs of the Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers playoff series thus far. What have we learned? Can either team stop the other's star? Does Carmelo Anthony deserve the boos? (Yes) Ryan and Gordon break it all down, along with Denver's future if they win or lose this series. by Pickaxe and Roll

66 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

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

34 min listen

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

38 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

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

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

47 min listen

What if Nikola Jokić isn’t done getting better?: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the growth and development of Nikola Jokić, from the player he currently is to the player he might still become, even greater heights for last season's MVP recipient. Could Jokić improve as a ball handler offensively? As a drop coverage big defensively? Ryan makes the case for that and more before Monday Positivity makes a return. by Pickaxe and Roll

43 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

60 min listen

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

53 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

The 10 most interesting Nuggets games of the regular season: Ryan Blackburn evaluates the 2021-22 Denver Nuggets regular season schedule from multiple angles, including the most important games and the most important stretches. He breaks down the top 10 most interesting Nuggets games of the regular season before pivoting to general stretches that will define the narrative surrounding the Nuggets. In addition, when Jamal Murray returns will play a big part of Denver's regular season. by Pickaxe and Roll

40 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

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

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Is Damian Lillard unhappy in Portland? Nuggets big man rotation

Is Damian Lillard unhappy in Portland? Nuggets big man rotation

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