Ryan Blackburn here, the host of the daily Locked On Nuggets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nuggets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nuggets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Injuries Piling Up For Denver Nuggets
Nov 19, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar (31) grabs his knee during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
On Thursday afternoon, Michael Malone spoke to local media after practice and shared disappointing news about forward Vlatko Cancar.
The forward injured his left knee during the second quarter of Tuesday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, coming down awkwardly. He limped off the floor and never returned to the game.
When asked about his status today, Malone lamented that Cancar’s poor injury luck, via Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Gazette:
“I just feel awful for him right now. [We’re] kind of weighing our options to see what we can do with him. He’s listening to everything to make the best decision for him...It could go a couple of different ways. We’re still gathering information, letting the knee calm down a little bit. I don’t want to get, like, doom and gloom, but obviously he’s out for the foreseeable future.”
It’s a painful situation for a player like Cancar, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL in the same knee. Cancar spent all season rehabbing and working his way back. He was just starting to develop a rhythm in the Grizzlies game before the newest knee injury occurred.
The Nuggets haven’t had a significant number of major injuries like other teams this season, but this injury to Cancar is a significant one. DaRon Holmes II is already out for the season after suffering a torn achilles tendon in July. Aaron Gordon is currently out with a calf strain. Jamal Murray missed some time due to a concussion. Nikola Jokic is currently out due to personal reasons but may be back tonight.
The problem the Nuggets will run into is the strain placed on every rotation player with having fewer options at Michael Malone’s disposal. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Christian Braun are all averaging 35+ minutes per game. Peyton Watson is averaging close to 32 minutes per game as a starter. Seven players are currently averaging 24+ minutes per game on the year. Dario Saric might be back to being an every day player.
At some point, the Nuggets are going to either sustain another injury or wear down their entire rotation. While the minutes for Braun, Watson, and Julian Strawther are extremely valuable for their development, it’s still a heavy burden to bear.
While Porter has proven to be reliable and consistent when playing these minutes in years past, Murray has often worn down. As much as Nuggets fans want to see Murray take the next step and carry the team more often, the byproduct of that is a higher level of injury risk.
Then there’s Jokic. He carries the most responsibility in the NBA. That hasn’t changed in the last five years and won’t change any time soon.
We will see what happens to the Nuggets rotation going forward. Hopefully, the Nuggets don’t overplay their current rotation and can find times to extend minutes to Hunter Tyson, Zeke Nnaji, and others.
They’ve had close wins, technical wins, nail-biters and blow-outs; they’ve (reportedly) turned down superstars and and currently sit third in the west with a record of 11-5 — In a Western Conference finally coming alive, can the Houston Rockets keep this up?
The Rockets are on pace to tie or surpass the franchise’s win record of 64, set by a team led by James Harden in 2017-2018. It was Harden’s — and all the failed years of being in the running for title contention — ghost that still hung over the franchise as recently as last season, no matter that Harden himself has been part of three different rosters since he sulked his way out of Houston. Everything from the Rockets brand of basketball to the team’s waylaid trajectory back into competition had been set and then upended by him.
It was something of an exorcism then, that Houston handily beat Harden’s current team, the Clippers, in back-to-back games this week.
What feels especially lasting about the winning pace the Rockets have set is that there’s plenty room for the team to improve. Houston’s sitting at 25th overall in field goal percentage, 27th in three-point percentage, and is still claiming the ninth overall offensive ranking in the league. Their starters have all been shooting well below their career bests, and yet, nothing about the Rockets’ wins have looked harried.
For a team that has an average of just four years NBA experience between them, there’s a wealth of patience. When the Rockets have been pressed this season, or teams like the Pacers and Bulls have tried to rush them with pace, they fall back on snapping passes and sinking into ball movement. There are still sequences of ISO ball and flubbed defensive rotations, but Houston has leaned into their transitions as opportunities to reset. No doubt in part to having the always unflappable Fred VanVleet driving this thing, plus the veteran offensive ballasts of Jeff Green and Dillon Brooks.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Legacy Will NBA expansion bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle? Find out. (The Athletic)
Biz Amid their early-season tank, the Sixers expected to scour the trade market for power forwards. (Real GM)
Statement Russell Westbrook made a powerful statement after a recent Nuggets practice, emphasizing the importance of team unity and resilience in their pursuit of championship success. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Denver Nuggets are set to host the Dallas Mavericks in tonight’s game, with the Mavericks missing their star player, Luka Doncic. Check out the game preview for insights on matchups and strategies. (Denver Stiffs)
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Franz Wagner A First Round Fantasy Basketball Player?
Nov 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) celebrates with guard Jalen Suggs (4) after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a 3-point basket with 2.5 seconds left in the game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic edged out the LA Lakers with a 119-118 victory. The game was a showcase of talent and strategy, with the Magic overcoming a deficit to secure the win. Franz Wagner was the standout performer, continuing his impressive form with a stellar 37 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists. His all-around game, including four steals and four threes, solidified his status as a top fantasy asset. Wagner’s recent performances have elevated him to first-round value in fantasy leagues, making him a potential sell-high candidate, though his current form might make holding onto him equally appealing.
Dalton Knecht’s Role and Performance
Dalton Knecht played a significant role for the Lakers, logging the most minutes on the team. While his 17 points, four rebounds, and one assist were solid, they highlighted the limitations in his fantasy profile. Knecht’s reliance on scoring and shooting efficiency means that while he’s a valuable asset, his contributions in other categories remain limited. Fantasy managers should monitor his role closely, especially as the Lakers adjust their rotations.
Anthony Black’s Consistency Concerns
Anthony Black’s performance was less consistent, with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists on 25% shooting. While his recent games have shown flashes of potential, this outing underscores the volatility in his production. Fantasy managers who picked up Black for his upside should consider holding him through the Magic’s favourable schedule but remain cautious about his long-term consistency.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nuggets podcasts.
Nuggets POSTCAST: Nuggets trounce Suns in Game 1 The Denver Nuggets took care of business against the Phoenix Suns, 117-90 for their second straight win. Aniello Piro breaks down the game on tonight’s Locked On Nuggets POSTCAST.
Jamal Murray CLUTCH again! Jokic and Nuggets survive in New Orleans Matt and Ryan break down the Denver Nuggets overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans led by Jamal Murray, Russell Westbrook closing over Michael Porter Jr., and more.
Help the Nuggets Help Themselves Matt and Swipa break down Nikola Jokic’s performance and whether he needs more help.
