The NBA is finalizing its Return to Play format as 22 teams will travel to Orlando in July to finish off the 2019-20 NBA season and crown a new champion.  COVID-19 has changed the dynamics of this year’s playoffs as players return to the sport underconditioned, worried about safety, and understandably focused on social issues rather than basketball. Before the suspension of the regular season, teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers were favorites for the title.  But now that the rules have changed and new factors are thrown into the equation, are some teams better equipped... Read More

Basketball is an 82-game season in which the occasional upset is bound to occur.  Fresh off a big win over the Toronto Raptors, the Denver Nuggets got embarrassed at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night by the last place Golden State Warriors with the final score of 116-100. In sports terminology, it was the typical “trap game” as the Nuggets, a double-digit favorite, played poorly and underestimated their hungrier opponent in tasting defeat.  But to panic at this point seems extreme considering that Denver is still 41-20 with quality wins over the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks on their resume. But... Read More

The votes are starting to accumulate for the players hoping to make the 2020 NBA All-Star game next month in Chicago, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic is a sure thing.  The Nuggets are currently 28-12, third in the Western Conference, and Jokic is having another tremendous season averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, and over six assists a game.  The popularity of Jokic has him at fifth in voting in the West for the frontcourt players trailing only Lebron James (LAL), Anthony Davis (LAL), Kawhi Leonard (LAC), and Paul George (LAC).  While Jokic stands at tenth overall among all Western Conference players. Looking... Read More

As we take the empty champagne bottles to the recycling bin and begrudgingly grab our gym bags, deep inside we know the inevitable is just days, or weeks away.  The New Year’s Resolutions we have made to give up drinking, or finally get back in shape, just aren’t sustainable. The general problem is that we tend to make our goals too lofty.  We can renew our gym membership, but our five-days-a-week turns into much less than that, and by the time February comes around our New Year’s Resolution is just a faint memory.  Giving up alcohol seems plausible considering the new year generally begins... Read More

In celebration of the Denver Nuggets hot start and with next week being Thanksgiving, I’ve decided to name my 2019 NBA All-Thanksgiving Team.  Apologies to Aaron, Justin (both on the Pacers), and Jrue Holiday (Pelicans), who were just too obvious to make the cut, but there’s always next year. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets The big man makes the All-Thanksgiving squad because he loves to dish, is lousy at stuffing, and often gets burnt on the defensive end. Dragan Bender – Milwaukee Bucks   I don’t know about you, but every Thanksgiving I tend to go on a Bender, and for the rest of... Read More

Predicting how the Denver Nuggets will finish in the NBA West may take a mathematical algorithm that includes statistical analysis of teams and players.  Or maybe chemistry, or the lack thereof, will provide a better answer.  Will Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and the LA Clippers dominate as expected?  Is one ball enough for James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and the Houston Rockets?  Can Lebron James accept playing second-fiddle to Anthony Davis for the LA Lakers?  Welcome to the Wild West Kristaps Porzingis, Ja Morant, and Zion Williamson. With all the moves and roster overhauls, here’s a... Read More

The 2019-20 NBA Schedule was just released, and the calendar is full of exciting games and stars visiting the Pepsi Center this season. The Lakers with Lebron and AD, the Clippers with Kawhi and Paul George, Zion is coming, as are Harden and Westbrook.  But I want you to circle November 19th as a game you may want to attend. The Atlanta Hawks are coming to town. Now, before you stop laughing, it’s true that Atlanta was only 29-53 last season, they’re not a playoff team, and while Trae Young is fun to watch, it’s hardly worth dealing with rush hour traffic for.  But a few weeks ago, Vince... Read More

For some reason, my editor frowned upon my original idea entitled, “Who Doesn’t Want a Threesome?” so, I dropped it to a duo. With Paul George teaming up with Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers, and Lebron having tacos with Anthony Davis and the Lakers, the question begs the answer: where does the duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray rank among the NBA elite? The rules are simple.  Some guys are old, some guys are injured, but if you were starting a team tomorrow and had the choice of the following dynamic duos, how would they rank? Here’s how I see it. Lebron James and Anthony Davis—Los... Read More

The Denver Nuggets’ outstanding season ended prematurely last weekend as CJ McCollum poured in 37 points for the Portland Trailblazers, the Nuggets went cold and missed their last 15 three-point shots, and the Pepsi Center fans left the arena with a rare homecourt loss in a pivotal game seven finale. The defeat was disappointing, but the future looks bright as Denver’s young core of Nikola Jokic (24), Jamal Murray (22), and Gary Harris Jr. (24) showed that the team is formidable and on the rise. But if you’re thinking that the Nuggets should simply work on their shooting this summer, practice... Read More

The story became obvious as I sat down to write.  The Colorado Avalanche would eliminate the top-seeded Calgary flames in five games, and my fingers began to type.  Thoughts of Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Philipp Grubauer raced through my head.  Memories past were of Stanley Cups, Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Ray Bourque.  I would be sure to throw in Patrick Roy’s legendary playoff quote once said in response to an opponent’s trash talk. “I didn’t hear him because my two Stanley Cup rings were stuffed in my ears.” It was undoubtedly the story, the headline, the news of... Read More