Best win of the season solidifies Joker's MVP candidacy

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

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

77 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Milwaukee Bucks are NBA champions, Nuggets fans should celebrate with them: Ryan Blackburn breaks down Game 6 of the NBA Finals that saw the Milwaukee Bucks move from pretender to champion in the blink of an eye. He shares thoughts on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, the Bucks' long, winding road, and how Nuggets fans can feel knowing the Bucks succeeded. Finally, Ryan shares his way-too-early NBA season predictions for 2021-22. by Pickaxe and Roll

46 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

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

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

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

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

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

Nuggets Free Agency Primer Part 2 - How the Nuggets can get better using the MLE: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts in Part 2 of the Denver Nuggets free agency primer, going around the league to identify players at different positions the Nuggets could sign using the mid-level exception. From Alex Caruso at guard to Reggie Bullock at wing to Otto Porter Jr. at forward, there are 50 total options discussed in this episode. Plus, Ryan makes his predictions on what the Nuggets will ultimately decide to do. by Pickaxe and Roll

59 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

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

95 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

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

51 min listen

What to make of Bol Bol, the Nuggets guard rotation: Ryan Blackburn discusses the latest Summer League game for the Denver Nuggets, a 90-84 loss to the Phoenix Suns that saw Bol Bol, Zeke Nnaji, and Bones Hyland all struggle to varying degrees. Are there any causes for concern with Denver's rostered players? Who else stood out? Then, Ryan shares his thoughts on the guard rotation and the impending decisions for Michael Malone. With Jamal Murray out for a significant chunk of the season, the Nuggets will need to find creative ways to support Nikola Jokić and Michael Porter Jr. on both ends of the floor. by Pickaxe and Roll

42 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

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

69 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

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Best win of the season solidifies Joker's MVP candidacy

Best win of the season solidifies Joker's MVP candidacy

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