Lots to talk about in Nuggets Country, here’s what we’ve been cooking up on the latest Locked on Nuggets with Swipa and Ryan Blackburn.
Is Nikola Jokic Having the Best Season Ever?
“Honestly, as you look at the numbers—advanced data, BPM, PER, regular raw data, EPM—all the stuff is saying there literally hasn’t been another year like this.”
“Thirty-two points per game, second most in the NBA. Leading the league in rebounding, second in assists per game, 1.8 steals per game as a center—that’s just nuts. Fifty percent from three? Unreal.”
“If Joker keeps this up—thirty-two, thirteen, and ten on 50-50-88 splits—and pushes the Nuggets deep into the playoffs, we’re talking the stuff of legends.”
What’s Holding Back the Nuggets?
“You can’t have the greatest season of all time and be a .500 team. It’s just impossible.”
“This team has been discombobulated—not showing up against the Clippers in the second half, losing to the Wizards, and missing opportunities left and right. If they had just taken care of business, they could be 15–7 right now instead of 12–10.”
“The bench has been horrific, and the chemistry is off because they’re putting new pieces in the lineup while key guys like Murray and Aaron Gordon are out. It’s all about getting a runway to play together.”
Looking Ahead: Nuggets’ Next 10 Games
“This upcoming stretch is not a hard schedule. If the Nuggets are serious contenders, they need to go 8–2. Their floor is 6–4; their ceiling is 9–1. Anything less than that and something’s got to give.”
“We’re going to find out what they’re made of. If they go 5–5, it’s officially trade season. Calvin Booth’s got to look at the roster and figure out what needs to change.”
“If Denver can come out of this stretch at 21–13, they’ll be positioned as the third seed, and everything about their season shifts. But they’ve got to prove it.”
Jokic’s Championship Mentality
“This team loves to procrastinate. They have this championship mentality where they believe they can flip a switch and be good enough. But so far this season, that switch hasn’t been potent enough.”
“Jokic is putting this team on his back, but they need someone else to step up—whether it’s Jamal, MPJ, or Aaron Gordon. They can’t keep relying on him to carry the volume.”
“If they get to the Western Conference Finals, it’s going to feel like Joker dragged them there, not that it was a formula where he was just the most important piece of a great team.”
The Bet That Could Change Everything
“If they go 9–1, you’re getting the Tommy Shelby haircut. And if they go 5–5, you have to shave the beard. Keep the mustache, but the beard stays off for a full week.”
“This team has the talent to make a statement during this stretch. Whether they do or not—well, we’ve got bets riding on it!”
