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.
Aaron Gordon should start for the Denver Nuggets soon...right?
Jan 21, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) reacts with guard Christian Braun (0) after a play in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
On the latest episode of Locked On Nuggets, Matt Moore and Ryan Blackburn discussed the Denver Nuggets starting lineup dilemma and how to solve it.
Here are some highlights of their discussion and important quotes:
How long will Aaron Gordon be okay with coming off the bench?
Matt Moore: “If you pay Aaron Gordon what you pay him, how does he not start? ... The [Timberwolves] game is a good example of this. There are going to be games where you just need more wing and forward defense.”
Ryan Blackburn: “I’m sensing a little bit more frustration on his part...the way that he’s not been able to extend those minutes a little bit.”
Should Russell Westbrook be removed from the starting lineup?
Blackburn: “The team is so good in those minutes with Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic that [Westbrook starting] has become a conversation, and it’s one that I did not expect to be having.”
Moore: “Should they just go to a Flex Starter where some games Russ starts and some games Aaron starts? I don’t know that they would have a problem with that setup.”
Jan 20, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) rebounds beside center Nick Richards (2) in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. | David Richard/David Richard-Imagn Images
It’s hard to pinpoint problems for a middling team. Very bad and excellent teams at least have one thing in common, which is that their deficits are easy to spot. With a team languishing in the middle of the standings, not so bad they’ll slide to the bottom and not good enough to climb past the more competent contenders above them, the deficits stack up and shuffle from day to day.
The Suns are firmly in this category.
There’s personnel issues, that much is clear after center Jusuf Nurkic said over the weekend that he and head coach Mike Budenholzer have no relationship. Not a bad relationship, not a testy one, but none whatsoever. Nurkic also said that he and Budenholzer didn’t speak for two months, and that Budenholzer didn’t tell Nurkic he’d be coming off the bench. That goes directly against what Budenholzer told media when he made the decision.
It’s a strange departure given that Budenholzer travelled to Croatia in the summer, shortly after the Suns hired him to replace the one season shoes of Frank Vogel, to spend time with Nurkic. Nurkic admired Coach Bud’s accountability, and the way he in turn held his players accountable.
“That’s the number one thing I noticed about him that’s different from any coach in my career,” Nurkic said, back in October. “I’ve had a lot of them. I was really amazed he got over and spent a few days with me.”
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.
Analysis Boston Celtics legend, Paul Pierce, draws a monumental comparison between Nikola Jokić and Larry Bird, highlighting the Denver Nuggets star’s unique blend of skills and court vision. Jokić's game is praised for its revolutionary impact on the NBA. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon updates fans on his recovery, stating he is feeling better but still not at full strength. His status remains day-to-day as he continues to monitor his progress. Gordon’s recovery is crucial for the team’s upcoming games. (Sports Illustrated)
Rumor As the NBA trade deadline approaches, each team is described with two words, capturing their current status and potential moves. The Denver Nuggets are positioned for strategic decisions that could shape their playoff push. Team descriptions provide insights into possible trade scenarios. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Recapping All 30 NBA Teams For Fantasy Basketball
Jan 25, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) reacts after making a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The NBA action over the weekend was intense, with 15 games providing plenty of storylines to dissect. Let’s dive into some of the most notable performances and developments.
In Paris, the Indiana Pacers bounced back from their previous loss with a dominant 136-98 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Tyrese Haliburton led the charge with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in just 28 minutes. Andrew Nembhard continued his solid play with 15 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, though I’m not convinced he’s a must-roster player in standard leagues.
The Golden State Warriors are becoming increasingly difficult to figure out. With Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green sidelined, Steve Kerr’s rotations were unpredictable. Trayce Jackson-Davis saw only 14 minutes, making it hard to justify holding onto in most formats. The flavour of the month seems to be Brandin Podziemski, who put up 17 points, three rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 28 minutes.
Injury Updates Shake Up Rotations
Several teams are dealing with significant injuries that are impacting their rotations. The Atlanta Hawks will be without Trae Young for their upcoming game, while De’Andre Hunter is questionable. This could open up opportunities for players like Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic to see increased usage.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nuggets podcasts.
The Latest Denver Nuggets Trade Rumors and Questions Matt and Ryan break down a crazy NBA Trade Deadline and what the Denver Nuggets are currently looking at. They also react to the Altitude-Comcast dispute being resolved.
NBA West Squad: Luka Doncic Shocking Trade and the look Spurs with De’Aaron Fox The NBA West Squad Show tackles the seismic trade of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. Hosts from various Western Conference teams discuss the fallout, including potential trade packages other teams could have offered for Doncic.
Are the Nuggets Content At the Trade Deadline? | Nuggets Beat Pelicans | Luka Trade Afterthoughts The Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Pelicans by 12 and MPJ has his best game of the year. Are the Nuggets content to stand pat at the deadline?
