DENVER STIFFS, A DENVER NUGGETS COMMUNITYABOUTGAME PREVIEWSARCHIVES Your best source for quality Denver Nuggets news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective. THE NUGGETS CAN’T SOLVE THEIR DEFENSIVE ISSUES, GO DOWN 3 2 hours ago · Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 116-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns, going down 3-0 in their second round playoff series. Nikola Jokić was presented with the MVP trophy at the NBA RELEASES NUGGETS-SUNS ROUND 2 SCHEDULE Today the NBA released the date and times for the Denver Nuggets second-round series against the Phoenix Suns. They are as follows: NBA just announced Nuggets-Suns Round 2 INJURY UPDATE: WILL BARTON AND PJ DOZIER RULED OUT FOR It wasn't the best of news on the Denver Nuggets injury front today as Will Barton III (right hamstring strain) and PJ Dozier (right adductor strain) have already been ruled out for Game 1 NUGGETS CLINCH THIRD SEED, WILL PLAY PORTLAND TRAIL Sunday was a day full of action across the NBA. Almost every seed was up for grabs in both the Eastern and Western Conference playoff

picture and at

THE NUGGETS WILL FACE THE BLAZERS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF Ryan Blackburn and Gage Bridgford, lead writer for Denver Stiffs, go in-depth on the Denver Nuggets after the regular season comes to a close. They briefly touch on the final game of the season IMPORTANT NBA PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR NUGGETS FANS TO WATCH Clinch Top-3 Playoff Spot = 7 combined Nuggets wins or Clippers losses. Clinch Top-2 Playoff Spot = 11 combined Nuggets wins or Suns/Jazz losses. The Top-2 DENVER NUGGETS WILL ALLOW FANS TO ATTEND GAMES IN BALL According to a Nuggets press release, the Nuggets will begin hosting fans in Ball Arena for home games beginning on April 2nd. Capacity laws set forth by the Colorado Department of Health and NUGGETS' CULT CLASSIC: SCOTT HASTINGS Scott managed to appear in 36 more games that season on a still bad, but not as bad Denver Nuggets team that featured the core of what

would come in

WHEN IT COMES TO NIKOLA JOKIC, WE’RE ALL BIASED When it comes to Nikola Jokic, we’re all biased. I still remember the moment I realized that I wanted to be an NBA writer. It was four years ago during the summer of 2015, roughly one year after DENVER STIFFS, A DENVER NUGGETS COMMUNITYABOUTGAME PREVIEWSARCHIVES Your best source for quality Denver Nuggets news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective. THE NUGGETS CAN’T SOLVE THEIR DEFENSIVE ISSUES, GO DOWN 3 2 hours ago · Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 116-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns, going down 3-0 in their second round playoff series. Nikola Jokić was presented with the MVP trophy at the NBA RELEASES NUGGETS-SUNS ROUND 2 SCHEDULE Today the NBA released the date and times for the Denver Nuggets second-round series against the Phoenix Suns. They are as follows: NBA just announced Nuggets-Suns Round 2 INJURY UPDATE: WILL BARTON AND PJ DOZIER RULED OUT FOR It wasn't the best of news on the Denver Nuggets injury front today as Will Barton III (right hamstring strain) and PJ Dozier (right adductor strain) have already been ruled out for Game 1 NUGGETS CLINCH THIRD SEED, WILL PLAY PORTLAND TRAIL Sunday was a day full of action across the NBA. Almost every seed was up for grabs in both the Eastern and Western Conference playoff

picture and at

THE NUGGETS WILL FACE THE BLAZERS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF Ryan Blackburn and Gage Bridgford, lead writer for Denver Stiffs, go in-depth on the Denver Nuggets after the regular season comes to a close. They briefly touch on the final game of the season IMPORTANT NBA PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR NUGGETS FANS TO WATCH Clinch Top-3 Playoff Spot = 7 combined Nuggets wins or Clippers losses. Clinch Top-2 Playoff Spot = 11 combined Nuggets wins or Suns/Jazz losses. The Top-2 DENVER NUGGETS WILL ALLOW FANS TO ATTEND GAMES IN BALL According to a Nuggets press release, the Nuggets will begin hosting fans in Ball Arena for home games beginning on April 2nd. Capacity laws set forth by the Colorado Department of Health and NUGGETS' CULT CLASSIC: SCOTT HASTINGS Scott managed to appear in 36 more games that season on a still bad, but not as bad Denver Nuggets team that featured the core of what

would come in

WHEN IT COMES TO NIKOLA JOKIC, WE’RE ALL BIASED When it comes to Nikola Jokic, we’re all biased. I still remember the moment I realized that I wanted to be an NBA writer. It was four years ago during the summer of 2015, roughly one year after HIGHLIGHTS: NIKOLA JOKIC RECORDS HISTORIC TRIPLE-DOUBLE AS 6 hours ago · There are not many positives to take away from tonight, but the performance by Nikola Jokic was another MVP worthy effort that needs to be recognized. After FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM A DEFINITIVE GAME 3 NUGGETS LOSS TO 6 hours ago · The Denver Nuggets spoiled the MVP celebration for Nikola Jokić with another losing effort against the Phoenix Suns to go down 3-0 in this second round playoff series. It turns out, getting

back

RECAP: NUGGETS BLOWN OUT FOR THIRD STRAIGHT GAME IN 116 7 hours ago · If you thought the Nuggets would magically find a way to defend the Suns or that if Nikola Jokic’s MVP trophy presentation would somehow light a spark in the team, you were gravely mistaken THE NUGGETS CAN’T SOLVE THEIR DEFENSIVE ISSUES, GO DOWN 3 2 hours ago · Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 116-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns, going down 3-0 in their second round playoff series. Nikola Jokić was presented with the MVP trophy at the DENVER DISAPPOINTS IN GAME 1, SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED? WHAT Game 1 escaped the Denver Nuggets as they lost 122-105 to the Phoenix Suns. The final score seemed to represent a blowout, but Denver was

ahead for

PREVIEW: NUGGETS HOPE TO NOTCH A WIN IN PIVOTAL GAME 3 VS 1 day ago · The old cliche is that a series doesn’t begin until the home team loses. That certainly hasn’t happened yet as the Suns dominated Games 1 and 2 back in Phoenix behind a well-balanced attack DENVER NUGGETS FILM FRIDAY: STOP THE BLEEDING 22 hours ago · Through two games, the trio of Facundo Campazzo, Austin Rivers and Monte Morris has scored a combined 35 points. Of those 35, 11 of them came in FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM ONE OF THE BEST GAMES YOU WILL EVER After an emotional three hours of basketball, we can finally exhale Denver. The 200th franchise playoff game for the Nuggets might have

been the

FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM PHOENIX’S GAME 2 GUT PUNCH The injuries are starting to catch up to Denver. Well, it was a nice ride. Jokic was carrying this team daily since the Murray inury, and it hasn’t really caught up to them until now. THE CHICK N’ NUGGETS GRILLED 1 day ago · In this week’s episode, I had a conversation with one of the original Stiffs that once ran Denverstiffs.com, Jeff Morton. Jeff shared his journey through Nuggets fandom from a DENVER STIFFS, A DENVER NUGGETS COMMUNITYABOUTGAME PREVIEWSARCHIVES Your best source for quality Denver Nuggets news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.

NUGGETS NEWS

Nuggets News on Denver Stiffs. Report: Jerami Grant leaving Denver to sign three-year, $60 million contract with Detroit INJURY UPDATE: WILL BARTON AND PJ DOZIER RULED OUT FOR It wasn't the best of news on the Denver Nuggets injury front today as Will Barton III (right hamstring strain) and PJ Dozier (right adductor strain) have already been ruled out for Game 1 FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM ONE OF THE BEST GAMES YOU WILL EVER After an emotional three hours of basketball, we can finally exhale Denver. The 200th franchise playoff game for the Nuggets might have

been the

NUGGETS CLINCH THIRD SEED, WILL PLAY PORTLAND TRAIL Sunday was a day full of action across the NBA. Almost every seed was up for grabs in both the Eastern and Western Conference playoff

picture and at

NUGGETS' CULT CLASSIC: SCOTT HASTINGS Scott managed to appear in 36 more games that season on a still bad, but not as bad Denver Nuggets team that featured the core of what

would come in

IMPORTANT NBA PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR NUGGETS FANS TO WATCH Clinch Top-3 Playoff Spot = 7 combined Nuggets wins or Clippers losses. Clinch Top-2 Playoff Spot = 11 combined Nuggets wins or Suns/Jazz losses. The Top-2 THE FIVE WORST DENVER NUGGETS OF ALL TIME Actual Number One This Time - Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Tskitishvili was the fifth pick of the 2002 NBA draft, two picks ahead of fellow Nuggets rookie teammate Nene Hilario. Most every NBA team had 2003: THE YEAR THAT CHANGED THE DENVER NUGGETS FOREVER New, 111. comments. It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 10 years since the Denver Nuggets selected Carmelo Anthony in the 2003

NBA Draft. It

WHEN IT COMES TO NIKOLA JOKIC, WE’RE ALL BIASED When it comes to Nikola Jokic, we’re all biased. I still remember the moment I realized that I wanted to be an NBA writer. It was four years ago during the summer of 2015, roughly one year after DENVER STIFFS, A DENVER NUGGETS COMMUNITYABOUTGAME PREVIEWSARCHIVES Your best source for quality Denver Nuggets news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective. NBA RELEASES NUGGETS-SUNS ROUND 2 SCHEDULE The start times for games 5,6, and 7 are undecided, but it is nice to see Denver avoiding early start times. Most teams, including the Nuggets, are creatures of habit, so they should be

NUGGETS NEWS

Nuggets News on Denver Stiffs. Report: Jerami Grant leaving Denver to sign three-year, $60 million contract with Detroit INJURY UPDATE: WILL BARTON AND PJ DOZIER RULED OUT FOR It wasn't the best of news on the Denver Nuggets injury front today as Will Barton III (right hamstring strain) and PJ Dozier (right adductor strain) have already been ruled out for Game 1 NUGGETS CLINCH THIRD SEED, WILL PLAY PORTLAND TRAIL Sunday was a day full of action across the NBA. Almost every seed was up for grabs in both the Eastern and Western Conference playoff

picture and at

NUGGETS' CULT CLASSIC: SCOTT HASTINGS Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no other player in Nuggets history outside of Joe Wolf who epitomizes "Stiff" as much as one man. This

man has

IMPORTANT NBA PLAYOFF SCENARIOS FOR NUGGETS FANS TO WATCH Clinch Top-3 Playoff Spot = 7 combined Nuggets wins or Clippers losses. Clinch Top-2 Playoff Spot = 11 combined Nuggets wins or Suns/Jazz losses. The Top-2 THE FIVE WORST DENVER NUGGETS OF ALL TIME Actual Number One This Time - Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Tskitishvili was the fifth pick of the 2002 NBA draft, two picks ahead of fellow Nuggets rookie teammate Nene Hilario. Most every NBA team had 2003: THE YEAR THAT CHANGED THE DENVER NUGGETS FOREVER New, 111. comments. It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 10 years since the Denver Nuggets selected Carmelo Anthony in the 2003

NBA Draft. It

WHEN IT COMES TO NIKOLA JOKIC, WE’RE ALL BIASED When it comes to Nikola Jokic, we’re all biased. I still remember the moment I realized that I wanted to be an NBA writer. It was four years ago during the summer of 2015, roughly one year after DENVER NUGGETS: TRADE RUMORS Denver Nuggets: Trade Rumors on Denver Stiffs. Denver Stiffs trade deadline thread: Part I. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 18, and as always, the rumors are flying fast and furious. NIKOLA JOKIĆ NAMED NBA 2020-21 MVP 6 hours ago · As the 41st pick in the NBA Draft, Jokic is the lowest-drafted player ever to win the MVP award, and the first MVP in Denver Nuggets NBA history. Shaquille O’Neal was the last center to

win the

GAME 1 RECAP

11 hours ago · In this week’s episode, Jena and Reilly give their reactions to the Denver Nuggets loss in Game 1 and recap all the events going on around the league including Coach of the Year. After a

locked

NUGGETS MELT DOWN IN THIRD QUARTER, LOSE GAME 1 TO SUNS 19 hours ago · Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 122-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the first game of the second round. The Suns did some impressive things offensively while the Nuggets fell RECAP: NUGGETS LET GAME 1 SLIP AWAY AS SUNS BEAT DENVER 1 day ago · In a game that looked as if the Denver Nuggets were controlling, the Phoenix Suns used a big second half run to pick up a 122-105 victory in Game 1. The Nuggets seemed to PREVIEW: NUGGETS LOOK TO TAKE GAME 1 AS THEY BEGIN SECOND 1 day ago · After a hard fought series against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Denver Nuggets begin their second round series against the Suns tonight in Phoenix. After beginning last series with a loss,

the

WHAT TO EXPECT AGAINST THE PHOENIX SUNS, INCLUDING The Denver Nuggets will meet the Phoenix Suns for the 4 th time this season on Monday. Denver owns a 2-1 record against them, but every

game was

FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM A RUNAWAY NUGGETS LOSS TO THE SUNS IN 22 hours ago · Nikola Jokić wasn’t himself tonight. It was a rough game for Nikola Jokić overall. Nuggets fans are often used to the dominant scoring and playmaking; however, it seemed like Jokić

hit a wall

FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM ONE OF THE BEST GAMES YOU WILL EVER After an emotional three hours of basketball, we can finally exhale Denver. The 200th franchise playoff game for the Nuggets might have

been the

SIXTH MAN: DENVER’S KEY FACTORS, AND A VENT SESSION ABOUT Game 5 between the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers was an absolute thriller. We saw incredible passes, unbelievable shots, but most importantly Denver’s role players stepped up Skip to main content clock menu more-arrow no yes Denver Stiffs homepage Horizontal - White Denver Stiffs a Denver

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PREVIEW: NUGGETS HOST LEBRON, LOS ANGELES LAKERS IN WEST SHOWDOWN BEFORE ALL-STAR BREAK

New,

412 comments

It’s about to go down.

By Ryan Blackburn

@NBABlackburn

Feb 12, 2020, 5:30am MST

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Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY

Sports

The final game for the Denver Nuggets

before the NBA

All-Star break happens to be a big one. The Los Angeles Lakers

, holders of

the top seed in the Western Conference and armed with two superstars, are coming to town tonight to stake their claim on the West. LeBron

James and

Anthony Davis

have

formed one of the most fearsome duos the NBA has ever seen from a physical standpoint. Very few teams have the personnel to stop them. That doesn’t mean the Nuggets won’t try, and it doesn’t mean the Nuggets don’t have their own unstoppable dup either. Nikola Jokic

and Jamal

Murray have

been outstanding during Denver’s four-game winning streak. Jokic has averaged 25.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in his last four, which conveniently omits a spectacular performance against the Detroit

Pistons in which

he had 39, 10, and 11. Murray

has

averaged 28.3 points and 5.3 assists himself, shooting 48.4% from three-point range in the process. Both players are on fire. When these two top teams in the West meet, it very well may be a Conference Finals preview. Having home court advantage matters in a playoff series, so this game hold some extra weight. If the Nuggets win this one, they assure themselves of not losing a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Lakers. Given that these two teams should finish with somewhere between 55 and 60 wins, that matters. So, let’s see who wants it more right before the break: -------------------------

THE BASICS

WHO: Los Angeles Lakers (40-12) vs Denver Nuggets (38-16) WHERE: Pepsi Center | Denver, Colorado

WHEN: 8:00 PM MT

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN, Altitude, NBA League Pass RIVAL BLOG: Silver Screen and Roll

PROJECTED MATCHUPS

NUGGETS VS LAKERS

POS

DEN

LAL

EDGE

POS

DEN

LAL

EDGE

PG

Jamal Murray

LeBron James

Lakers

SG

Gary Harris

Avery Bradley

Even

SF

Torrey Craig

Danny Green

Nuggets

PF

Jerami Grant

Anthony Davis

Lakers

C

Nikola Jokic

JaVale McGee

Nuggets

BENCH

Monte Morris, P.J. Dozier, Jordan McRae, Keita Bates-Diop, Paul

Millsap

Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma,

Dwight Howard

Even

INJURIES: Will Barton

and Michael

Porter Jr.

are

assumed out, though that is unconfirmed. Mason Plumlee

is

definitely out.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR SIZE MISMATCH is something the Nuggets rarely have to deal with given

Nikola Jokic

is their

center, but the Lakers are unique. LeBron James

is always a

matchup nightmare, while Anthony Davis

has spent

just 37% of his minutes at center this year, according to Basketball Reference, despite having the wingspan of a pterodactyl. Denver usually starts Paul Millsap

at power

forward, and Jerami Grant

is probably

best used as a LeBron matchup 1-on-1. Unfortunately for Denver, Millsap will probably come off the bench and Grant

will be

forced to guard Davis

with Jokic

on LA’s center. That creates a tough cover for all three of Torrey

Craig (on

LeBron), Grant, and Jokic. Can Denver manage it? Will they go down several points early? Will they play all three of Grant, Millsap, and Jokic together? It’s an interesting plot point. JOKIC’S POST GAME is Denver’s most important outlet for late shot clock offense or when the Nuggets need to settle down. Against the Lakers in two previous matchups, Jokic spent most of his minutes being guarded by McGee and Davis. He has figured out how to score on McGee consistently, but Davis still gives Jokic some issues. How will Jokic handle that matchup when it inevitably comes in a late game situation? Can Jokic get Denver a bucket when needed? He has for most of the year, but this is his final test. MURRAY OFFENSIVELY VERSUS AVERY BRADLEY DEFENSIVELY is a different matchup than Murray is used to. More often that not, opponents defend Murray with lengthy wings. The Portland

Trail Blazers

tried

Trevor Ariza

on him,

then the Jazz used

Royce O’Neale

, then

Phoenix split time between a traditional defender in Ricky Rubio

and a

lengthy wing in Mikal Bridges. While that may still happen with Danny

Green and

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

,

Bradley

will more than likely get the first crack at guarding Jamal. Bradley

is smaller

but quick, extremely pesky, and loves to live in the jersey of the offensive player he’s defending. Can Murray create space when defended by Bradley? Right now, Murray is on a heater, so I wouldn’t be surprised by anything at this point. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREThe 3 biggest NFL storylines worth following this

offseason

MORE FROM DENVER STIFFS * The Denver Stiffs Show - Falling just short of the Lakers before

All-Star Break

* Recap: Nuggets lose in overtime to Los Angeles Lakers 120-116 * GameThread: Lakers @ Nuggets * Nick’s Nuggets: 5 things you should know about the Denver

Nuggets

* Highlights: Paul Millsap jumpstarts Nuggets comeback with 22 points on his 35th birthday * Unbelievable determination makes the Nuggets a true title

contender

MOST READ

*

Recap: Nuggets lose in overtime to Los Angeles Lakers 120-116 Denver ran out of gas tonight.

*

The Denver Stiffs Show - Falling just short of the Lakers before All-Star Break Ryan, Jena, and Brandon discuss Denver’s loss to Los Angeles before as well as Denver’s chances in a playoff series

*

Nick’s Nuggets: 5 things you should know about the Denver Nuggets Jokic’s MVP play could lead a young team deep into the playoffs

*

GameThread: Lakers @ Nuggets

*

Jamal Murray is

reminding the NBA just how special the Nuggets can be In his three games since returning from an ankle injury, Murray has pulled out the

flamethrower

FIND TICKETS

*

SUN Feb 23

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets 4:00 PM - Pepsi Center - Denver, CO 2,666 tickets available

*

TUE Feb 25

Detroit Pistons @ Denver Nuggets 7:00 PM - Pepsi Center - Denver, CO 2,687 tickets available

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