Pickaxe and Roll

Ryan Blackburn is joined by Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll to dive deep into the top half of the Western Conference. Which teams are set to contend? Which teams are set to fail? Can anybody stop a healthy Los Angeles Lakers roster? Will Jamal Murray return in time to vault the Denver Nuggets into contention? Which other teams deserve to join the top tier? They answer those questions and more.

Ryan Blackburn is joined by Ti Windisch, host of the Gyro Step podcast covering the championship winning Milwaukee Bucks, stops by to discuss the top of the Eastern Conference. They begin with Bucks and Denver Nuggets comparisons, bemoan the strength (or lack their of) of the contenders in the middle of the pack, and share optimism on a surprising team. Then, they talk about the actual East contenders in the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets.

Ryan Blackburn is joined by Greg Wissinger of The Kings Herald, an independent website covering the Sacramento Kings, to break down the bottom half of the Western Conference and where each team stands before the 2021-22 season. Will Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans bounce back? Can Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson lead the Memphis Grizzlies back to the playoffs? Will the Kings break their playoff drought? Ryan and Greg discuss that and much more.

Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets and Aaron Gordon agreeing to a four-year contract extension worth up to $92 million that could keep Denver's core together for years to come. Ryan discusses the contract value in a vacuum, why the Nuggets did the deal, what their other options were, and what's next for the Nuggets franchise. Hint: it's the luxury tax!

Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the growth and development of Nikola Jokić, from the player he currently is to the player he might still become, even greater heights for last season's MVP recipient. Could Jokić improve as a ball handler offensively? As a drop coverage big defensively? Ryan makes the case for that and more before Monday Positivity makes a return.

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.

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?

Ryan Blackburn goes over the news of the last week while on vacation, including the Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon contract extension reports and what they mean going forward. Then, he goes over the 10 five-man lineups that will help the Denver Nuggets win a championship, either this coming season or going forward. Lineups include perspective on the roster before and after Jamal Murray returns to the fold some time in February, March, or perhaps April.

Ryan Blackburn breaks down all things Nikola Jokić and evaluates his case as an all-time great. From statistics, to accolades, to playoff success, where does Jokić rank among the greatest players in the NBA? Both from a current and historical perspective, it's pretty clear that Jokić has a case to become one of the 10 to 15 greatest players in NBA history if he continues on his current trajectory (and earns some jewelry).

Ryan Blackburn evaluates the 2021-22 Denver Nuggets regular season schedule from multiple angles, including the most important games and the most important stretches. He breaks down the top 10 most interesting Nuggets games of the regular season before pivoting to general stretches that will define the narrative surrounding the Nuggets. In addition, when Jamal Murray returns will play a big part of Denver's regular season.