All-Star Joker + Nuggets mid-season guard grades

FromPickaxe and Roll

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All-Star Joker + Nuggets mid-season guard grades

FromPickaxe and Roll

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Length:

45 minutes

Released:

Feb 21, 2022

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Ryan Blackburn recaps the All-Star game as Team LeBron wins over Team Durant with Stephen Curry winning MVP. Nikola Jokić goes for a near triple-double in his 21 minutes, certainly a quadruple-double if you include inbound passes. Then, Ryan discusses the mid-season performances of Denver's guard rotation, discussing what the rest of their season will look like and giving each guard a grade along the way.

Released:

Feb 21, 2022

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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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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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
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
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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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
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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
Schedule drop, extension talk, and Nuggets betting futures: Ryan Blackburn covers several different topics in this episode, beginning with the tidbits of schedule news released that cover the preseason, opening week, and Christmas Day. The Nuggets not getting a Christmas game was weird. Then, Ryan rehashes extension discussions about Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon before transitioning into awards discussion, including Ryan's favorite Nuggets award bet at this moment. by Pickaxe and Roll
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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 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
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
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
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
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
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
45 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
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 Free Agency Primer Part 1 - Will Barton and Denver's own free agents: Ryan Blackburn shares his seemingly unending thoughts on the 2021 free agency period, first looking around the NBA to discuss the most important teams, players, and decisions to be made over the next few days. Then, Ryan talks about the Denver Nuggets specifically, starting with who they have on roster, what their resources are, and what they need to become better. Finally, Ryan shares whether each of Denver's seven free agents the Nuggets should keep or let go. by Pickaxe and Roll
57 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
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
Olympics update, Nuggets offseason timeline: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the NBA Finals and the Game 3 win by the Milwaukee Bucks over the Phoenix Suns, including the dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Then, he pivots to discussion on the Olympics, from the previous qualifying tournaments to news and notes about the scrimmages, including Nigerian national team guard Caleb Agada who will play for the Nuggets in Summer League. Finally, Ryan discusses the timeline of events the Nuggets will face over the next four weeks that will direct their offseason. by Pickaxe and Roll
46 min listen
Where do the Nuggets rank in the Western Conference now?: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets as they approach Summer League having missed several practices due health and safety protocols. What does this two-week stretch mean for Bol Bol, Markus Howard, Zeke Nnaji, Bones Hyland, and others on the roster? Then, Ryan goes around the league to discuss the biggest offseason changes before sharing an initial list of the Western Conference tiers, ranking each team's likelihood of winning the West next season. by Pickaxe and Roll
52 min listen
The Least of the East with Justin Rowan: Ryan Blackburn and Justin Rowan, co-host of The Chase Down Podcast, preview the non-contenders of the Eastern Conference. From disagreements on actual playoff contenders to who the cellar dwellers will be, Ryan and Justin discuss Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington, along with some brief thoughts on the New York Knicks. The East is certainly getting stronger than before, but will the teams at the bottom be strong enough to contend? by Pickaxe and Roll
65 min listen
Preseason storylines, Bones Hyland hype: Ryan Blackburn introduces Asher Levy (@AshManzini) and Peter Leensvaart (@PetePizza27) as the newest members of the Denver Stiffs writing staff. They discuss what's to come at Stiffs this year along with some words on the future of sports media. Then, they get into the first preseason game of the year against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night and who they're most excited to watch. by Pickaxe and Roll
45 min listen

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Jamal Murray steps up, Nuggets ANNIHILATE Phoenix Suns in Game 1: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets Game 1 win over the Phoenix Suns as Jamal Murray lights it up for 34 points and nine assists. He dominated the Suns in his first playoff game against Devin Booker, matching every run the Suns had with a run of his own. Nikola Jokić found his footing in the second half and dominated rebounding the entire night. Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown also had great moments on both ends of the floor matching up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. by Pickaxe and Roll
51 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
Nuggets drop big game vs T’Wolves, play-in becomes possibility again: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 136-130 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves as Denver simply couldn't match Minnesota's level of execution for 48 minutes. Nikola Jokić tried his best, but several players simply didn't show up or were active negatives when Denver needed them most. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and what this loss means to the Nuggets in the standings and going forward. by Pickaxe and Roll
61 min listen
Time to Boogie: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 117-111 win over the Detroit Pistons as DeMarcus Cousins makes his Denver debut on the second unit, which played better today! Nikola Jokić was merely amazing tonight rather than unbelievable. Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, and Austin Rivers filled their roles well. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench unit, and discusses where the Nuggets are as a team 45 games into the season. by Pickaxe and Roll
53 min listen
Nuggets get the vibes back on track vs Brooklyn: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 124-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets as Nikola Jokić collects yet another triple-double and the Nuggets hold the Nets to 29 points in the second half. Ryan discusses the starters locking in on both ends of the floor, the bench performance and living with mistakes from Bones Hyland, and much more. He also discusses DeMarcus Cousins' 10-day contract ending, the upcoming trade deadline and All-Star break, and much more. by Pickaxe and Roll
48 min listen
Fascinating practice + Previewing Denver’s early season schedule and rotation: Ryan Blackburn shares his observations of Denver Nuggets practice and several quotes from Michael Malone, Nikola Jokić, and Ish Smith. He discusses the health of Denver's three stars, Denver's rotation questions, and a version of Jokić that's very serious and no nonsense. Finally, Ryan previews Denver's early season slate and gives a win-loss prediction. by Pickaxe and Roll
43 min listen
Are the Suns a legitimate threat to the Nuggets?: Ryan discusses the Nuggets loss to the Phoenix Suns, whether the Suns are a threat to Denver, and predicts the West standings. by Pickaxe and Roll
50 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 can’t stop Devin Booker, lose Game 3 at Phoenix: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 121-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 as the Nuggets hold onto a 2-1 series lead. Devin Booker was unbelievable, scoring at will against everybody in this one but mostly Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Nikola Jokić was also unbelievable for the Nuggets and probably should have had more shot attempts down the stretch. Jamal Murray scored 32 points but took 29 shots to get there and missed most of his important shots in the fourth quarter. Michael Porter Jr. finally got going though, which is something the Nuggets can hold onto. Ryan discusses what happened in Game 3 and what it means for the rest of the series. by Pickaxe and Roll
52 min listen
Nuggets fall to the Suns death machine: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 140-130 loss to the Phoenix Suns as Devin Booker goes off for 49 points and 10 assists, leading the Suns across the finish line in Denver. Nikola Jokić shot the ball efficiently but had eight turnovers, and the Nuggets, while they played well, had several key mishaps that allowed the game to slip away. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and whether Denver can reach Phoenix's class even if they get healthy. by Pickaxe and Roll
46 min listen
Nuggets take care of business in the Capital city: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 127-109 win over the Washington Wizards as Nikola Jokić scores his 10,000th point while leading the Nuggets in every statistical category. He dominated Kristaps Porzingis tonight in just 26 minutes of play. The rest of the starters surrounded him with versatility and quality defense, while the bench was once again led by Bones Hyland. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and the injury updates to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. in this one. by Pickaxe and Roll
46 min listen
Has the magic left Ball Arena?: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 116-97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs as the Nuggets miss an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot. Nikola Jokić was going hard offensively but struggled despite scoring 41 points. Not enough players showed up around him, and the Nuggets once again proved incapable of playing defense on their home court. Ryan discusses why, as well as whether the magic will return to Ball Arena before the year is up. by Pickaxe and Roll
45 min listen
A winning road trip after all is said and done: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 127-112 win over the San Antonio Spurs to wrap up a grueling seven game road trip. Nikola Jokić was fantastic, dominating in his minutes and setting the tone for the Nuggets early and often. Markus Howard, Bones Hyland, and Facu Campazzo were tremendous in their minutes off the bench as well, which included 37 combined points from Howard and Bones. Ryan discusses the win, what it means for Denver, and why Denver shouldn't question where the production comes from but celebrate it anyway. by Pickaxe and Roll
41 min listen
Joker and Murray dominate, Nuggets win vs reeling Pelicans: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 122-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans as Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray show their skills as a dynamic duo. Jokić put up his 16th triple-double and is merely one assist away from averaging a triple-double completely. Murray put up 32 points on the most three-pointers he's attempted this season. Ryan discusses an elite game from the starters, another subpar bench performance, and where the Nuggets stand in the West in a series against every other West opponent. by Pickaxe and Roll
52 min listen

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All-Star Joker + Nuggets mid-season guard grades

All-Star Joker + Nuggets mid-season guard grades

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