MPJ and Bones score, Jamal exits, Nuggets defense looks lost

Nuggets struggle with physicality in loss to Knicks: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 106-103 loss to the New York Knicks that Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon both missed due to sickness. Jamal Murray played well for three quarters but struggled in the final frame. Michael Porter Jr. didn't play well in any of the quarters. The Nuggets struggled to match New York's intensity to close the game, and Ryan discusses why that matters (and doesn't matter) in a matchup without their superstar. by Pickaxe and Roll

42 min listen

Shorthanded Nuggets drop tough back-to-back vs Kings: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 127-126 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets had their chances to win the game, but they certainly didn't get any favors from the officials down the stretch. Bones Hyland had a nice bounceback game, while Michael Porter Jr. had a strong first half. Ultimately though, Denver's defense and clutch play undid them in the end. Ryan reacts to the starters without Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, the bench without Bruce Brown, and how seriously to take a loss on a back-to-back when as shorthanded as the Nuggets were. by Pickaxe and Roll

39 min listen

Nuggets defense falls apart in Boston: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 131-112 loss to the Boston Celtics as the defense struggles to get stops against an elite unit. Nikola Jokić found his way to some baskets offensively, but Jamal Murray and especially Michael Porter Jr. struggled to score efficiently tonight. The Nuggets just couldn't keep up. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and how the defense looks much different when facing a strong offensive attack. by Pickaxe and Roll

42 min listen

The Nuggets are completely and utterly uninspiring: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 124-103 loss to the Houston Rockets that saw Nikola Jokić return to the floor and Jamal Murray exit with a nagging thumb injury. Jokić played mostly poorly with several bad turnovers, and the Nuggets struggled to get stops against one of the worst teams in the NBA. Ryan also focuses in on the issues plaguing the Nuggets post All-Star break, notably their perimeter shooting and defensive rebounding.Finally, Ryan posits that the Nuggets are still contender, but there's no reasonable way they can be the favorite given a litany of weaknesses. by Pickaxe and Roll

57 min listen

Enver Nuggets because the D has gone missing: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Enver Nuggets 126-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers as the team left the D back in Denver. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray each had fine performances offensively, but the team as a whole continues to suffer for their defensive woes. The starters were the reason the Nuggets lost this game tonight, though the bench remains a disaster in its own right. Ryan discusses both units at length before addressing where the problems currently are and who needs to step up and lead a recovery effort. by Pickaxe and Roll

48 min listen

Nikola Jokic's HISTORIC 53 point night not enough; Suns tie series 2-2: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 129-124 loss to the Phoenix Suns despite Nikola Jokić's incredible 53-point night. The Suns only answer for Jokić was to outscore the Nuggets, and they did just that with incredible performances from Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and...Landry Shamet? Jamal Murray was good but not great, and the Nuggets struggled once again with Jokić off the floor. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and adjustments the Nuggets can and should make heading into Game 5 of a 2-2 series. by Pickaxe and Roll

52 min listen

The Nuggets like to party on Saturday night: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 126-101 beatdown against the San Antonio Spurs as just about everybody got involved with Denver's elite offensive attack. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray were in complete control. Bones Hyland put on an absolute show. Shocker, but Michael Porter Jr. shot 50% from three again. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and a personal goal to enjoy the journey of what should be a really fun Nuggets season. by Pickaxe and Roll

38 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

Michael Malone, Nuggets have some questions to answer after bad loss in New Orleans: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 121-106 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans as Nikola Jokić clearly showed up ready to play while the majority of Nuggets did not. Jamal Murray had an up and down game that was mostly down. Aaron Gordon matched up well with Zion Williamson. Unfortunately, the bench was horrendous, leading to some major questions about Denver's second unit going forward. Can Michael Malone get good performances out of Denver's bench? by Pickaxe and Roll

43 min listen

MPJ puts on a show, Nuggets roll in Chicago: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 126-103 win over the Chicago Bulls, wrapping up a 3-1 road trip. Michael Porter Jr. had a fantastic game on both ends of the court. Nikola Jokić was dominant without having to score. Jamal Murray worked through some early struggles but settled down later, helping bolster the second unit. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and why this road trip helped build some championship level character early in the year. by Pickaxe and Roll

42 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 get hit with a weekend from hell: Ryan Blackburn spends time recapping both Denver Nuggets losses over the weekend, a 114-108 hard-fought games against the Chicago Bulls and a 126-97 blowout at the hands of the Phoenix Suns. Both games were without Nikola Jokić, Michael Porter Jr., and Jamal Murray, and Denver's defense felt the effects just as much as the offense against two very good teams. Ryan then discusses the injury bug that has hit the team, including a scary prognosis for Porter's back injury. by Pickaxe and Roll

43 min listen

Nuggets fail their dress rehearsal game: Ryan Blackburn discusses the Denver Nuggets 108-99 preseason loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in which the Nuggets failed their dress rehearsal. Nikola Jokić looked good, and Will Barton appeared healthy, but the rest of the Nuggets showcased some major concerns in how they performed in the first game where the outcome was supposed to matter. Is it simply preseason malaise or something more? by Pickaxe and Roll

37 min listen

Calvin Booth addresses statements about Michael Porter Jr.: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, a 116-103 loss in which none of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. suited up. Ryan goes over his concerns with the Nuggets bench unit and takes stock of the options nearing the end of preseason. Then, Ryan discusses the comments made by Calvin Booth regarding Michael Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland stemming from an article written by Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer. by Pickaxe and Roll

42 min listen

The return of the Joker: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the second Denver Nuggets preseason game, a 118-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Nikola Jokić returned to action and looked like he hadn't missed a beat. Aaron Gordon and PJ Dozier continue to impress. Bones Hyland put together another strong performance as well. Ryan discusses all of the details from the game, from the Joker to the starters to the bench to the reserves. by Pickaxe and Roll

38 min listen

Nuggets lose to Jazz, avoid injury disaster to Nikola Jokić: Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 122-110 loss to the Utah Jazz on the second night of a back-to-back. The Nuggets avoided injury disaster to Nikola Jokić as he bumped knees with Rudy Gobert rather than something more serious, and Denver's starting lineup performed reasonably well in his absence. The bench continues to be awful though, and Ryan discusses the decision to stick with the same 5-man unit and a lot more of Denver's issues, including Michael Porter Jr.'s role in the offense. by Pickaxe and Roll

40 min listen

Nikola Jokić breaks assist record and Jamal Murray clutches up in win: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 122-118 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves as Nikola Jokić breaks the all-time franchise record in career assists. He finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists on the evening despite dealing with foul trouble. When Jokić was out, Jamal Murray kept the game afloat, scoring 28 points on efficient shooting, including three baskets in clutch time. Ryan discusses the starters' varied performance, the bench lineup struggles, and Joker's assist record and where it can go from here. by Pickaxe and Roll

50 min listen

Turnovers and missed opportunities on the road in Boston: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 108-102 loss to the Boston Celtics as the Nuggets blew a lead in the second half and were out-executed down the stretch. Nikola Jokić finished with a triple-double but also had nine turnovers. Facu Campazzo hit threes with the second unit tonight but closed the game with 17 straight minutes. Did Michael Malone make the wrong call? Ryan discusses, while also bringing some positivity with the Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. injury updates. by Pickaxe and Roll

45 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

Nuggets get DESTROYED by Knicks to wrap up road trip: Ryan reacts to Denver's 38-point blowout loss to the Knicks, what happens when the two-man game doesn't work, and what to make of Denver's road trip. by Pickaxe and Roll

44 min listen

How badly do the Nuggets actually want a championship?: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 113-105 loss at home to the New Orleans Pelicans as Nikola Jokić scores 25 points on just 10 shots...but only attempts 10 shots. Will Barton pressed too hard. Jeff Green pressed too little. The bench was fine, but they didn't help the starters out. DeMarcus Cousins was a healthy scratch (or maybe not healthy enough). Ryan discusses the loss, the effect of Murray and Porter missing so much time, and how seriously the Nuggets should think about going for a title this year. by Pickaxe and Roll

43 min listen

Nuggets survive Jokić absence to defeat LA Clippers: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 115-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers as Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. step up in the absence of Nikola Jokić, who rested a sore wrist and didn't make the trip to Los Angeles. Murray and Porter were both great, but it was an entire team effort with AG, KCP, and DeAndre Jordan rounding out the starting lineup with quality play. The bench remained functional as well and helped earn a tough W. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and the meaning of self-belief for a Nuggets team reaching new heights. by Pickaxe and Roll

39 min listen

Jokić vs Embiid lost by unanimous decision, Nuggets lose to Sixers: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 126-119 loss to the Philadelphis 76ers. Nikola Jokić vs Joel Embiid was a dream to watch in the first half and nightmare in the second. The Nuggets lost their composure and couldn't stave off the Sixers' 68-46 second half run. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and plays "Fact or Crap" with his own reactionary tweets from Saturday's morose affair. by Pickaxe and Roll

49 min listen

What happened to Nikola Jokic last night?: Ryan Blackburn discusses Nikola Jokic's poor shooting night and if it affects the Denver Nuggets going forward. by Pickaxe and Roll

37 min listen

Is this Nuggets loss to the Bulls a cause for concern?: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 117-96 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Nuggets dropped to 30-5 at home, playing with an uncustomary lack of urgency. Nikola Jokić's defense was bad. Jamal Murray couldn't find his three-point shot on the verge of the franchise record, and the Nuggets bench continues to struggle mightily. Is any of this cause for actual concern? Or was it just "one of those nights" in a long season? by Pickaxe and Roll

47 min listen

Nuggets drop game at Minnesota on back-to-back: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the second night of a back-to-back, one day after defeating the team with the best record in the NBA. Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon struggled with a matchup decision the T'Wolves made. Jamal Murray took too long to get into the game. The bench struggled against a bigger, stronger T'Wolves second unit. Ryan goes over what went wrong, what to be concerned about and whether various stats are "something, nothing, or everything" at this point in the season. by Pickaxe and Roll

42 min listen

Nikola Jokic's big night not enough as the Miami Heat win Game 2: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Game 2 loss for the Denver Nuggets to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. The Nuggets shot better in Game 2, but the Heat were incendiary, taking advantage of every defensive lapse the Nuggets made. Nikola Jokić's 41 points weren't enough, and Jamal Murray's game-tying three-point attempt came up just short before the buzzer. Ryan reacts to the starters, the bench, and what the Nuggets must change in Game 3. by Pickaxe and Roll

45 min listen

The Nuggets bench can’t get any worse, right?: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 109-97 loss to the Chicago Bulls as the bench falls into complete disarray once again. Nikola Jokić had an off night and still broke a record held by Larry Bird. The Nuggets starters had a positive plus-minus for the most part. The bench was still destroyed though, and Ryan discusses JaMychal Green and the rest of the bench options in bitter detail, along with mistakes made this offseason by the Nuggets front office. by Pickaxe and Roll

43 min listen

Nikola Jokic DOMINATES with triple-double in Nuggets win vs Pelicans: Ryan Blackburn discusses the Denver Nuggets 134-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans to improve to 7-1 on the season, the best record in the NBA. Nikola Jokic was dominant once again, while Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Julian Strawther all stepped up to fill the gaps left by the injury to Jamal Murray. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and what we learned from Denver's first game without their All-Star caliber point guard. by Pickaxe and Roll

34 min listen

MPJ finds his rhythm, Nuggets win 5th in a row vs Kings: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 113-106 win as Michael Porter Jr. pours in an efficient 30 points. Aaron Gordon was held out due to a shoulder strain, so MPJ stepped up and had one of his best nights of the season. Nikola Jokić had a Sombor Double of 20-9-11, and Jamal Murray capped it off with some clutch shotmaking and playmaking down the stretch. Ryan goes over the starters' performances, an interesting bench night, and what it means that the Nuggets are truly finding their stride. by Pickaxe and Roll

49 min listen

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MPJ and Bones score, Jamal exits, Nuggets defense looks lost

MPJ and Bones score, Jamal exits, Nuggets defense looks lost

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