Pickaxe and Roll

Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 108-94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in which the starters were pulled in the third quarter in embarrassing fashion due to lack of effort. Nikola Jokić wasn't at his best, Aaron Gordon and Will Barton were poor defensively, and the bench didn't have enough firepower to stage a full comeback in the fourth quarter. Ryan breaks down the performance while also discussing why good effort can be difficult to achieve throughout the entire regular season.

In Part TWO of a two-part podcast, Ryan Blackburn brings on Dan Favale, writer for Bleacher Report and co-host of Hardwood Knocks, to discuss Denver Nuggets trade targets in more detail. December 15th has passed, and the Nuggets must bolster their rotation if they want to compete with the best teams in the NBA. Ryan and Dan discuss defensive wings like Justin Holiday and Kenrich Williams, rim protectors like Nerlens Noel and Tony Bradley, along with many others.

In Part 1 of a two-part podcast, Ryan Blackburn brings on Dan Favale, writer at Bleacher Report and co-host of the Hardwood Knocks podcast, to discuss the Denver Nuggets as championship contenders. What are Denver's strengths and weaknesses? How do they match up against the top teams in the Western Conference? How does that change when Jamal Murray returns? They also discuss the biggest holes in Denver's rotation now and going forward.

Ryan Blackburn discusses the Denver Nuggets game against the Brooklyn Nets being postponed, with the Nikola Jokić vs Kevin Durant battle having to wait just a little bit longer. Then, Ryan surveys the Nuggets and where they are as a team right now, from numbers to health to future prospects of playoffs. Finally, he breaks down the Grand Rapids Gold and how they're turning into the stomping ground for players hoping to make an NBA return.

Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 133-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks as Denver starts out the road trip the right way. Nikola Jokić played just 26 minutes, dealing with some foul trouble but also watching the rest of his team perform well in his stead. Bones Hyland set a new career high with 24 points. Facu Campazzo, Jeff Green, and Aaron Gordon also deserve plenty of credit in what was truly a team win.

Ryan Blackburn discusses the new COVID procedures laid out by the NBA to help prevent an increase in cases during the Christmas holidays, including the high profile players currently sidelined following the Thanksgiving outbreak. Then, Ryan discusses every team in the Eastern and Western Conference. Who are the contenders? Who are the sellers? Which teams in the middle of the pack could join the contenders with improved play or a trade? Which players could be on the move from the bad teams this year?

Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 124-107 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in which Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns dominated their respective matchups. Nikola Jokić had a triple-double, but he had very little help against a potent T'Wolves starting unit. Markus Howard also sustained what may be a serious knee injury, details we are still waiting on. Ryan discusses Denver's starters not rising to the occasion, the bench more or less looking the same, and the mounting injuries that may force Denver toward roster additions sooner rather than later.

Ryan Blackburn brings on Denver Stiffs contributor Asher Levy to discuss the Denver Nuggets via mailbag questions. From Twitter questions about Jamal Murray returning, to Bones Hyland comparisons to other young players, to playoff seeding, to trade and free agency candidates going forward, Ryan and Asher discuss a wide array of topics that will affect the Nuggets present and future.

Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 113-107 win over the Washington Wizards as Nikola Jokić goes full Joker against his former coach Wes Unseld Jr.. Jokić got a near 30-20-10 game before being ejected by eternal enemy Tony Brothers, and though the Nuggets nearly gave away the game without him, they had just enough of a cushion to win in his stead. Ryan discusses the first 30 minutes that saw the Nuggets go up by 30 points, the final 18 minutes that were emblematic of Denver's season, and the duality of Facu Campazzo in Denver's rotation.

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.