A team that finally has a plan it seems.

LOUD NOISES!

Still keepin' that seat warm for The Anchorman.

This game will NOT be determined by the Hernangomae.

Pre-Game Thoughts: Everyone on this Knicks roster is a point guard, shooting guard or a power forward. No exceptions. That's really all there is is to know.

When first these two teams met in NY on game seven, Denver enjoyed the TPM contribution of five in double figures, lead by Murray's +20 and Jokic's +27, had two players in the red and lost a close one, 116-110. Porzingis received MVP chants in that one (again, 7th game of the season) when he shot ft's in what I hope was sarcasm from a usually savvy fan-base in the Garden. NY opened it up on a 9-0 run, in a season for the Nuggets in which everything seems to come and go in runs.

New York who last faced off against the world champs sans Zinger, put up a valiant effort in defeat and are showing signs of stemming the tide in what has been a bad previous 12 games (3-9) with 2 of the wins coming in the last 5.

The Knicks are obviously lead by rising star Kristaps Porzingis and receive healthy contributions from Kanter and Hardaway offensively (as well as Beasley and Lee of late) and J.Y.D-fense from O'Quinn, so clearly one of the big keys in this one will be the health of Zinger and Kyle.

Since we never know from night to night who will start or be in the rotation for Denver it's hard to provide much in terms of a scouting report other than to say that Murray is en fuego, Big Honey is as good as any center in the league when he's engaged (not concerned with officiating), Harris is the teams steadiest player though if he plays tonight, he'll be doing so on a bum foot/ankle, Barton seems to now be the starting SF and pretty much everything else is up to Michael Malone and the execution of the players on court.

Go Nuggets!

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And now what none of you come here for; how about some basketball nerdery?!?!

(After these messages... Er Nicknames)

New York Knicks Roster

Coach: Jeff "Cheeky" Hornacek

Denver Nuggets Roster

Coach: Michael "Mr Imagination" Malone

Update: Millsap had successful left wrist surgery and is expected back some time around the all star break. Faried is questionable with an ankle injury he apparently sustained from within the doghouse for the Nuggets. Harris is questionable with a sore foot. As for NY, Zinger is questionable with irritation of the knee, as is O'Quinn.

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Data: Open this link in a new tab for the definition of TPM™

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TPM™ Game 48 NY

Jamal Murray: +15

Emmanuel Mudiay: +10

Monte Morris: N/A

Gary Harris: +23

Will Barton: +18

Malik Beasley: -1

Torrey Craig: -3

Wilson Chandler: +9

Juancho Hernangomez: N/A

Richard Jefferson: N/A

Paul Millsap: N/A

Kenneth Faried: N/A

Trey Lyles: +15

Darrell Arthur: +0

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +29

Mason Plumlee: +13

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Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta

Jamal Murray: 47 Games +448

Emmanuel Mudiay: 36 Games +331

Monte Morris: 1 Game +1

Gary Harris: 44 Games +671

Will Barton: 47 Games +484

Malik Beasley: 42 Games +59

Torrey Craig: 17 Games -18

Wilson Chandler: 44 Games +284

Juancho Hernangomez: 17 Games -17

Richard Jefferson: 14 Games -5

Paul Millsap: 16 Games +173

Kenneth Faried: 30 Games +34

Trey Lyles: 42 Games +343

Darrell Arthur: 7 Games -19

Tyler Lydon: 1 Games -3

Nikola Jokic: 41 Games +571

Mason Plumlee: 47 Games +176

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +9.53

Emmanuel Mudiay: +9.19

Monte Morris: +1.00

Gary Harris: +15.25

Will Barton: +10.30

Malik Beasley: +1.40

Torrey Craig: -1.06

Wilson Chandler: +6.45

Juancho Hernangomez: -1.00

Richard Jefferson: -0.36

Paul Millsap: +10.81

Kenneth Faried: +1.13

Trey Lyles: +8.17

Darrell Arthur: -2.71

Tyler Lydon: -3.00

Nikola Jokic: +13.93

Mason Plumlee: +3.74

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 47:

*Credit DomP on the Spreadsheet. It's as if my (nerdy) baby (TPM™) learned to speak

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Analysis:

Qtr2- Mudiay is rockin' a fresh "do". Let's hope we have a reverse Sampson situation. Barton has REALLY been struggling to finish at the rim lately. Not sure what that's all about. The Nuggets lead is down to 6 at 9:39 as "The Other" Beasley is having his way with the second unit for Denver. I still don't get why Craig seems to have supplanted Beasley in the rotation, especially in light of his 2-way contract situation. Denver is severely undersized in this Mudiay, Craig, Barton, Chandler & Lyles unit. Burke is playing very well for the Knicks, blowing by Barton at will (UCWIDT?) and the lead is 3 at 8:05. Lyles is the first Nugget in double figures as he gives them an 8 point lead at 7:26 but he is REALLY struggling on D against Willie B.

The 2nd unit for Denver has redeemed themselves nicely and the lead is back up to 12 at 6:33. All 9 Nuggets to play have scored as the starters begin to trickle in at this point. Make that a torrential flood, as they are all in with the exception of Chandler being in for Barton. NY is in the bonus already at 6:19, down by ten. 2 straight three's by Harris make it a 14 point lead as he becomes the 2nd Nugget in double digits. Chandler is the 3rd, soon after at 4:13. Kanter nabs his 3rd foul at 3:44 and is forced to sit, down by 17. Murray does the same at 2:04 for Denver up 16 but remains in inexplicably. Lyles gets his third foul with under a minute to go. Plumlee interferes on a 40 foot heave by Barton at the buzzer, that appeared as though it was going in. That's unfortunate. Denver is paced in TPM by Lyles +10, Plumlee +11 , Murray +12 & Harris +24; they have four others nipping at double figures and they lead 73-60 at the half.

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Halftime: Smoke break? You know it.

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Qtr3- The Buff's are still hangin' tough with the 'Cats as they trail 70-75 with less than 2 minutes to play. The Avs trail the Blues 2-1 with 9:46 to play in the game. NY scores the first four against the listless Nuggets. Plumlee is the 4th Nugget to reach double figures at 10:45. Zinger gets his 4th foul at 9:19 but remains in. This could be huge as Big Honey is really struggling to defend him. A valiant effort for CU but it was not to be as they fall 71-80 in AZ. NY is the aggressor but Denver still leads by 11 at 7:32. Jokic now has 7 assists. Kanter gets his fourth foul and Jokic is going right at the two bigs for NY who are both in foul trouble and rightly so. The Denver lead is 8 at 5:33. Zinger gets his 5th foul at 5:13 and Horny-Cheeky lost that gamble. Now lets get Kanter! Jokic is the 5th Nugget in double figures. Murray does not look right this half and I have to wonder if he's having concussion symptoms again after getting popped in the 2nd QTR. The Avs fall 1-3 to the Blues and now have a 2 game losing streak after their recent hot stretch. Murray is the 6th Nugget in double digits. He then nabs his 4th foul at 1:36, leading by 7 but remains in. I don't get this. Why risk it, especially given that he's out of sorts? NY cuts it to 6 on a Beasley drive at 1:15. They then attempt to hack-a-Plumlee with the ball yet to be inbounded resulting in a free point for Murray and the Nuggets. Mudiay comes in for Murray after-which. Denver is paced in TPM by Murray +12, Plumlee +13, Jokic +18 & Harris +23 and lead 99-92 after three.

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Qtr4- Barton is the 7th Nugget in double digits as he stretches the lead to 8 at 10:45. Offensively this has been a clinic by the Nuggets. Not so on the other end, to put it mildly. There are currently seven Nuggets in double figures TPM which would be a new intergalactic record if it stays that way. Six different players have at least three assists for Denver. The bench is floundering for the Knicks and Denver stretches the lead all the way up to 17 at 10:00. Jokic is one assist away from a 2D. Mudiay has had a nice bounce-back game after three solid outings followed by a stinker last time out. Barton is having a bounce-back 2nd half as he often does. Jokic has GOT to stop compounding errors with unnecessary fouls. HOW have the coaches not yet addressed this with him? I have to assume it's on them as he raises his hand afterward in acceptance of the foul as if it's what he should be doing, rather than hustling back on D. The lead is down to 10 at 6:33 as Beasley is killing the Nuggets. Burke & Beasley have been very impressive for NY tonight. Murray is in for Mudiay at 6:25 and immediately turns it over. He is definitely not right. Looks like we'll have the starters + Chandler - Plumlee to close out on this evening. Zinger fouls out at 4:49 with the Knicks trailing by 10. Harris has all but disappeared in the 2nd half. The Denver lead is ten at 3:09. Big Honey has a 2d at 2:25 (points/assists). Darth/Beasley check in for the Nuggets at 1:05 and this one is ova! The Nuggets beat the Knicks for the 10th straight time in the mile high city. Denver is paced in TPM by everybody and win 130-118

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Final Thoughts: Well the OFFENSE ain't broken anymore, vs NY at least.

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The Nuggets Win!

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