Turnovers and missed opportunities on the road in Boston

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 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

It's time to be honest about Facu Campazzo: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 122-118 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies as Denver's starters score 101 points and are almost universally positive, other than the minutes where they overlapped with the bench. Nikola Jokić had another triple-double, this time with zero turnovers, and Will Barton added 27 points and eight assists of him own. Unfortunately, the bench just didn't have it tonight. Ryan breaks down what went wrong, what to take away from Bryn Forbes' debut, and what to do with Facu Campazzo. by Pickaxe and Roll

47 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

A dominant Nikola Jokić helps Nuggets win Game 5, take control vs Suns: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 118-102 win to take Game 5 of their series against the Phoenix Suns. Nikola Jokić was his usual dominant self with another triple-double, passing Wilt Chamberlain for most in playoff history by a center. Jamal Murray started slow but figured things out in the second half. Michael Porter Jr. started FAST and played one of his best games as a Nugget. Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Bruce Brown also balled out on both ends. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and what it will take to recreate this performance in Game 6 on the road. by Pickaxe and Roll

51 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

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

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

The Nuggets are overwhelmed by the injury bug: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 120-109 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, marking their sixth straight defeat and the most since Michael Malone's first season as the Nuggets head coach. Denver appears overwhelmed by the injury bug, and though players continue to have good games here or there, the defense has suffered, the starters are tired, and there's nowhere else to turn until health improves. Ryan discusses the play of Facu Campazzo, Will barton, JaMychal Green, Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Čančar, and more in Denver's latest defeat on Friday night. by Pickaxe and Roll

43 min listen

MPJ and Bones score, Jamal exits, Nuggets defense looks lost: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 131-113 loss to the Chicago Bulls, dropping to 0-2 in the preseason. Nikola Jokić missed the game with a wrist issue, and Jamal Murray exited early with a tweak to his left hamstring. Michael Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland found ways to score, but the Nuggets defense looked lost once again. Ryan evaluates the starting unit and bench units before sharing his concern levels for different parts of the team. by Pickaxe and Roll

41 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

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

Perspective on a bad loss to Orlando and why Zeke must play more: Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets 108-103 loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. Nikola Jokić had a bad game and a terrible second half. Aaron Gordon's return was spoiled, Facu Campazzo's defense was bad, but the truth is, this game doesn't really matter. Ryan explains why, along with more important concerns. Then, he discusses Zeke Nnaji in more detail and why he deserves to play more going forward. by Pickaxe and Roll

45 min listen

Jamal Murray goes CRAZY! Nuggets are the best team in the NBA: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 128-108 win over the Atlanta Hawks as Jamal Murray goes off for 41 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. Nikola Jokić achieved another triple-double, Michael Porter Jr. had a strong scoring performance, and Christian Braun filled in for an injured Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Ryan goes over the starters, the bench, and how the Nuggets are making their case to be the best team in the NBA. by Pickaxe and Roll

47 min listen

Rim Stoppage can’t slow down Jokić, Nuggets win over Celtics: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 123-111 victory over the Boston Celtics as Nikola Jokić pours on another 30-point triple-double, comfortably dominating against a stout Celtics frontline. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon each had great moments, while Bruce Brown had 21 points filling in for Jamal Murray at point guard. Bones Hyland and the bench were solid as a whole. Ryan discusses an all-around great win from the starters, to the bench, to the 34-minute stoppage, and everything in between. by Pickaxe and Roll

46 min listen

Jokić dominates, Nuggets bounce back with win vs Detroit Pistons: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 119-100 win over the Detroit Pistons, snapping a four-game losing streak. Nikola Jokić went off with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jamal Murray had a solid bounce back game. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shot the ball well. It was a great recovery performance for a Nuggets team that needed it desperately. Ryan discusses it all on the latest episode. by Pickaxe and Roll

63 min listen

Nikola Jokic DOMINATES; Nuggets take a 2-0 series lead over the Suns: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns. A 97-87 rock fight didn't stop Nikola Jokić from dominating with 39 points and 16 rebounds, putting the Nuggets on his back in the second half. Jamal Murray struggled with his shot, but the rest of the Nuggets picked him up with elite defense on Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, the Chris Paul injury, and if Denver can take their defense on the road in Game 3. by Pickaxe and Roll

51 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

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

Jokić-Murray two-man game looks better than ever: Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets 115-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs to improve their record to 7-3 through 10 games. Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray are finding their synergy again, and the Nuggets won a game in the clutch because of it. Michael Porter Jr. didn't close the game, but it turns out he didn't need to. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench coming back down to earth, and why it's so important Jokić and Murray are finding their stride together. by Pickaxe and Roll

41 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

Jamal Murray hits Game Winner AGAIN to end Nuggets-Lakers series: Ryan reacts to Jamal Murray second game winner of the series and the Nuggets eliminating the Lakers from the playoffs. by Pickaxe and Roll

42 min listen

Nikola Jokic DOMINATES in return, Nuggets defeat Blazers: Ryan Blackburn discusses Nikola Jokic's dominance, Jamal Murray's poor shooting, Denver's win over Portland, and where the Nuggets stand through 50 games. by Pickaxe and Roll

45 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

Joker hits the game-winning dagger, Nuggets defeat Magic: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 119-116 victory over the Orlando Magic as Nikola Jokić hits the game-winning three-pointer over Franz Wagner with 0.2 seconds remaining. Jokić finished the game with a triple-double, leading the Nuggets to a shaky win that still counts the same. Aaron Gordon hit two clutch free throws after struggling, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a clutch three-pointer to keep Denver in it. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench struggles, and goes over major second half storylines for both the Nuggets and the NBA. by Pickaxe and Roll

47 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

Another Jokić triple-double! | Nuggets win vs Luka Dončić, Mavericks: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 118-109 win over the Dallas Mavericks as Nikola Jokić records his 21st triple-double. Jeff Green led all Nuggets scorers with 24 points. Michael Porter Jr. played an excellent game. Luka Dončić was awesome, but it didn't matter. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and where the Nuggets stand entering the All-Star break. by Pickaxe and Roll

49 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

Joker returns, hits game-winning shot, Nuggets survive vs Pelicans: Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 99-98 win over the New Orleans Pelicans as Nikola Jokić makes his return from a left hamstring strain in triumphant fashion. Jokić put together a 25-point triple-double and hit the game-winning floater with 16 seconds to go. There were a lot of things that went wrong, and Denver's shooting went dry in the second half, but the Nuggets survived. Ryan discusses the starters, a new bench lineup without Bones Hyland, and what the Nuggets can do with their $9.1 million trade exception at the trade deadline. by Pickaxe and Roll

54 min listen

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Turnovers and missed opportunities on the road in Boston

Turnovers and missed opportunities on the road in Boston

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