Matt Moore 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.
What Do the Nuggets Need?
Oct 17, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn/Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
On the latest edition of Locked on Nuggets, Ryan Blackburn and Swipa talked about the injury to Nikola Jokic, whether the Nuggets can hold onto the No.2 seed in the West and more.
“Jokic, elbow injury. What does this mean? How long will this linger? The Denver Nuggets, they lose 128 to 108 in Denver to the Houston Rockets off the back of a Jalen Green shooting masterclass who’s on a resurgence the last twenty games or so.”
“The Nuggets cannot win a championship unless Jamal Murray looks like what he did in the 2023 run. I don’t think there is any combination of things that could happen that’s like yeah, Murray wasn’t good but they still won a championship.”
“If Mike can’t generate more than four shot attempts against a team like the Rockets where he’s got Dillon Brooks guarding him, that’s going to be tough. It’s going to be tough, and I think it is pretty referential on the playoffs and how physical that game is going to be.”
“Porter has immense value. If I just do last three seasons with Jokic, he’s averaging seventeen and a half, six point four. But he’s shooting forty-nine, forty-two, eighty on a sixty-two true shooting. So that is a massive difference in efficiency.”
“I saw Jokic messing with his elbow, I think, in the Mavericks game live. You know, elbow injuries could be as little as nothing, and then they could also be something else. Until we find out more, there’s just no reason for me to speculate.”
“Jamal Murray’s ability to snake, find his target, get to mid-range, either hit that little fadeaway he likes to hit or get all the way down to paint and get a nice lay-in—it’s so impressive. But on top of that, his three-point shot, it’s continued to go up and up as the year goes on.”
“If Jamal does decide to fire it up, he honestly becomes one of the most unstoppable guard scorers in the NBA.”
“You probably won’t get to play versus the Pacers with no Tyrese Haliburton. You know, in the West, you’ve got to play through a lot of guys. So, for me, I want them to get as high of a seed as possible to get the most advantageous matchup and to get home-court advantage for as long as they can.”
“The question is how much of an issue and whether he can rise above that, whether he can continue to get better. I think he can. He’s still young enough and malleable enough that I think he can adapt to those situations and be all right.”
“If Nikola Jokic’s elbow injury turns out to be minor, the Nuggets should be able to rebound. But without Jokic, the road gets that much tougher.”
Jan 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the rest of the NBA season could just be various instances spent listening to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go WOOOO to varying decibels and degrees of excitement? It would be, to borrow from a master gone too soon, Lynchian.
If not that, then to watch the Thunder and Cavaliers play each other, over and over, until April 13th. I suspect we still wouldn’t have our fill of these two teams but don’t fret, we’d have a riveting seven game series. Each game a competitive and tight feast for the eyes.
To really get an understanding of how, though relentless pressuring and seamless switching, the Thunder have run away with the first overall defensive rating. That even against a team like Cleveland who pride themselves on the way they’re able to take care of the ball, and their communication skills, OKC can pluck the ball out of the hands of an opponent on a fastbreak, a drive, as if they were walking right up to a kid and taking candy from their hands.
Of course, this all makes it sound like watching these two teams in perpetuity is going to look heavily lopsided for the Thunder. The matchup last night was a wallop for the West, for sure, but Cleveland showed why they’ve been coolly leading the East and the entire league. Rainbow threes from Mitchell, light lobs over the heads of every Thunder player — just then upturned to watch — between Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, and fadeaway shots from the corner care of Max Strus.
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.
Fans NBA fans reacted strongly to the news about Jimmy Butler ahead of the Nuggets-Heat game. The anticipation was palpable, reflecting the excitement and engagement of both fanbases. Fan reactions highlighted the significance of this matchup. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Michael Malone provided an update on Nikola Jokic’s injury, emphasizing the importance of patience and recovery. Malone’s statement reassured fans of the team’s strategy to handle the situation. (Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Denver Nuggets are set to face the Miami Heat in South Beach. The preview outlines key matchups and strategies, preparing fans for an exciting game. Read about the upcoming clash. (Denver Stiffs)
Ranking The NBA power rankings discuss the standout performances of the Thunder and how they impact the league, including the Nuggets’ position. Delve into the power rankings for a comprehensive analysis. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball News Roundup: The Tanking In Utah
Jan 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale/Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers are taking tanking to a whole new level. The Jazz have been sitting players like John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler for various reasons. While I understand the incentives for tanking, the odds of getting the number one pick are not high. The NBA has been cracking down on teams resting healthy players, but these two franchises seem to be pushing the boundaries.
As a fantasy analyst, I’ve been advising people to avoid high picks from these teams due to the risk of shutdowns and reduced playing time. It’s frustrating to see this level of blatant tanking, especially when it impacts fantasy basketball managers.
The Memphis Grizzlies are another team to watch, with Ja Morant constantly appearing on the injury report. While they’re not tanking like Utah and Portland, Morant’s frequent injuries are concerning for fantasy managers.
In other news, Donte DiVincenzo is out with a toe sprain for the Knicks, which could lead to increased minutes for Mike Conley. However, I wouldn’t rush to add Conley in most leagues.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nuggets podcasts.
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NBA West Squad: Is Nikola Jokic Enough to Return to NBA Finals? In this episode of the Locked On NBA Squad Show West, your Locked On hosts discuss the current state of the West as the playoff picture continues to take shape.
The Nuggets Defense Remains An Enigma | Is This Jokic’s Fault? | Can They Win A Ring? Swipa discusses Denver’s defensive issues, Nikola Jokic’s responsibility for those struggles with an expansive offensive role, and whether Denver can still win a championship.
