Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets give up 1-seed in loss to Spurs

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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 drop another game to the Grizz, bench problems persist: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 108-106 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in which Nikola Jokić had a great game, but not even he could prop up Denver's bad bench unit. Bones Hyland continues to get more and more minutes as the veterans continue to struggle, and Jeff Green has yet to leave an impact for the Nuggets. Ryan discusses the bench, Will Barton's big quarter, Michael Porter Jr.'s night, and more. by Pickaxe and Roll

44 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 pitfalls that will stop the Denver Nuggets from winning a title: Ryan Blackburn discusses the 10 biggest pitfalls for the Denver Nuggets entering the 2021-22 season. Will Nikola Jokić stay healthy? Can Jamal Murray be the player the Nuggets need him to be when he returns? What if Michael Porter Jr. doesn't make the leap others assume he will make? Ryan discusses those scenarios and more, the biggest pitfalls that may prevent the Nuggets from winning the 2021-22 NBA championship. by Pickaxe and Roll

40 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

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

Who's in and who's out of the rotation on opening night?: Ryan Blackburn shares his major takeaways on the Denver Nuggets' third preseason game, an overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, before discussing the rotation once again. Bones Hyland has been a revelation in training camp and preseason. Will he be in the rotation on opening night? Who does he replace? Does Bol Bol get an opportunity? Ryan answers those questions and more. by Pickaxe and Roll

35 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

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Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets give up 1-seed in loss to Spurs

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets give up 1-seed in loss to Spurs

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