Nuggets Ink

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with the Nuggets struggling through a losing streak during the dog days of the NBA schedule. Among the topics discussed:

+ The Nuggets have lost four games in a row, with some concerning trends popping up. What's the concern level with the team? Are they tired? Bored? Is there a chance they could lose their grip on the top spot in the Western Conference?

+ Michael Porter Jr. was benched at the end of the Nuggets' home loss to the Brooklyn Nets in favor of Christian Braun. Are we really doing this again? Hasn't MPJ earned the right to have a bad quarter without there being repercussions?

+ The bench continues to scuffle, with trade deadline additions Reggie Jackson and Thomas Bryant struggling to establish themselves. Do the Nuggets have enough time to incorporate their new pieces? Who will coach Michael Malone trust come playoff time?

+ ESPN commentator Kendrick Perkins had some controversial things to say about Nikola Jokic's MVP case. What are we to make of his comments? Did he have any valid points?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene as the Nuggets gear up for the stretch run of the regular season. Among the topics discussed:

+ Nikola Jokic is now the prohibitive favorite to win a third consecutive MVP award... despite being picked second to last in the All-Star Game. How surprising is it that the margin has grown so wide between him and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo? Is it deserved? The boys debate that and dig into Jokic's time at All-Star weekend.

+ Bones Hyland was greeted by boos in his return to Ball Arena as a Clipper last weekend. Was that reaction from the Nuggets fans fair? What do we make of his comments, and the comments of Michael Malone and Calvin Booth, in the weeks following his trade to L.A.?

+ Michael Porter Jr. has come on of late, including a couple of big baskets late against the Clippers last week. What's clicking for MPJ?

+ Mike fields questions from his Twitter followers, including one who wants to know who the most dangerous play-in team might be for the Nuggets.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer chats with former Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf following the release of his Showtime documentary "Stand." Among the topics discussed:

+ Abdul-Rauf talk about his rise above meager beginnings in Gulfport, Miss., and what basketball did for him as a young man who grew up in poverty in a single-family home.

+ Mike and Abdul-Rauf explore the circumstances around his exile from the NBA after declining to stand for the national anthem prior to games, including his interactions with the league, teammates, fans and media.

+ Abdul-Rauf reflects on his time in Denver, both in the community and on the court, as well as his relationship with the Nuggets franchise. He also addresses what he thinks would be an adequate apology from the league given the abrupt end to his career.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after a wild NBA trade deadline that saw Denver send away Bones Hyland and acquire Thomas Bryant. Among the topics discussed:

+ After weeks of speculation, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth finally pulled the trigger on a deal sending Hyland to the L.A. Clippers. With the team getting back just two second-round picks, it's now evident the team felt it needed to remove Hyland from the equation. Was that calculation correct? How did it get to this point? And did the team inadvertently depress his value by not playing him the last couple of weeks?

+ In another deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nuggets turned Davon Reed and three second-round picks into backup center Thomas Bryant. What will the young post player add to Denver's roster? What will his role be with the Nuggets? Does this improve the team's championship hopes?

+ The Nuggets weren't the only team making moves at the deadline. Kevin Durant is now with the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers added a bunch of pieces around LeBron James and Anthony Davis while also sending away Russell Westbrook. So where do things stand now in the Western Conference after all of the action? Mike and Matt put together their new pecking orders in the West.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with the NBA trade deadline less than 24 hours away. Among the topics discussed:

+ Rumors are swirling about Bones Hyland being on the trading block. What is the likelihood he gets traded? Are the Nuggets selling low?

+ Who are the Nuggets targeting on the trade market beyond small forward? Who are some of the players they might hope to get back?

+ Who's in the playoff rotation for the Nuggets?

+ How did the Nuggets celebrate LeBron passing Kareem?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the team's return home from a three-game road trip. Among the topics discussed:

+ Reports have surfaced that the Nuggets are shopping Bones Hyland ahead of the NBA trade deadline. What are they looking to get in return? Is this simply a win-now move? How would a trade affect the rest of the rotation?

+ Joel Embiid got the best of Nikola Jokic in the final game of the Nuggets' three-game trip. How might that game affect the MVP race? What can be learned from the performances of both players? Are there any red flags that popped up in the loss?

+ Michael Porter Jr. returned to the lineup after taking a leave from the team as he tended to his family in the wake of a fatal car crash that allegedly involved his brother. What was his state of mind upon returning?

+ We take questions from readers, including one wondering about specific players who could be acquired at the deadline and another offering a harsh critique of Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer visits with Denver forward Aaron Gordon amid his best, most efficient season of his NBA career. Among the topics discussed:

+ What went into Gordon's offseason? What did he work on within his game? Where did he go? What did he do?

+ What goals has he made for himself as a player? How did those develop over time from his rookie season until now? And what has he done to realize those? How does he evaluate his own performances? What are the things he looks for when critiquing his own game?

+ Now two years into his time in Denver, what's his impression of the Nuggets and the culture that has been built within the franchise? What makes it so unique within the NBA? And what's it like to play alongside Nikola Jokic?

+ With an All-Star bid a distinct possibility, Gordon reflects on what it would mean to make the All-Star team.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert are joined by The Athletic's Sam Amick to talk a multitude of Nuggets topics. Among the topics discussed:

+ The Nuggets are sitting in first place in the Western Conference with an improving defense and one of the best offenses in the NBA. Just how real are the Nuggets' title chances? Where does the defense need to get to in order to get over the top and reach the Finals?

+ Sam Amick weighs in with his thoughts on Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth and what he's done early on handling the team's roster. What are his impressions of the new GM's approach thus far as a steward of Nikola Jokic's prime? Where can Booth add to supplement his team's chances at a title?

+ Who on the Nuggets roster might be able to bring something valuable back in a trade? How is Bones Hyland viewed around the league? Would anyone want to take on Michael Porter Jr. and his contract?

+ Amick gives his thoughts on Jokic's case for a third consecutive MVP. Will voter fatigue play a part in his chances?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with the Nuggets in first place and about to begin an extended homestand. Among the topics discussed:

+ The Christmas night game against the Phoenix Suns produced one of the first signature moments of the season: Aaron Gordon's hellacious dunk over Landry Shamet. Mike and Matt revisit that night, that moment and the Nuggets' recent surge with nine wins in their last 12 games.

+ Buy or sell: Will Bruce Brown keep up his career year from the 3-point line? Will Jamal Murray re-gain his shooting stroke from outside? Will Aaron Gordon make his first All-Star team? Will the Nuggets be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? And will the Nuggets finish the regular season with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference?

+ Mike answers questions from listeners, including one wondering why Christian Braun's defensive contributions aren't giving him more minutes, and another who wants to know who might be on the trading block if Nuggets GM Calvin Booth decides to make a move at the deadline.

+ Closing out the show, Matt reads the latest listener reviews from iTunes. And no, he's not 75 years old.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after a big win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Among the topics discussed:

+ Rookie forward Christian Braun was given his first NBA start Tuesday night due to injuries in the starting five, and the Nuggets promptly delivered their most impressive defensive showing of the season. Does correlation equal causation? If not, what can Denver do to solve its defensive woes?

+ Michael Porter Jr. has now missed 13 games in a row. At what point should the Nuggets start being worried about his long-term health and availability? How long before he returns to the lineup in full health?

+ The second unit remains a work in progress more than a third of the way into the season. Who should Michael Malone trust? Who needs more minutes? Who needs their minutes pulled back? Is Bones Hyland consistent enough to lean on as the leader of the bench mob?

+ Nikola Jokic is back to doing things only Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have done before — including an insane 40-point, 27-rebounds, 10-assist performance against Charlotte. Could the Serbian star actually overcome voter fatigue and win a third consecutive MVP?

+ If the Nuggets look to improve their roster at the trade deadline, do they have the requisite trade chips to bring something interesting back?