Exhibit A: CP3's abrasive personality results in what appears on the surface to be a break for Denver, as only two of these characters are in action. Unfortunately one is Lebron and the Lakers best chance of winning games in a re-tooling season, is and shall continue to be, for this season anyway, having Lebron take over games, made easier tonight by necessity. Obviously he should have that mindset on national TV vs an undefeated Western Conference foe, while armed with a limited assembly of effectual teammates available.

Exhibit B: And if he can't get the job done, surely 3/4ths of the goon squad will.

Keepin' the seat warm for Barton, who seems to be in a best case time-frame in terms of returning from an injury that required surgery. He should be back in the lineup by around December 15th.

Nuggets vs Lakers: The case for Denver's demise

I care not for spittle. We'll not be talking about the "incident". I'm still bitter that the national media's attention was focused squarely on that rather than giving Big Honey credit for once again besting Wilt Chamberlain in the annals of history.

When last these two teams squared off, Denver enjoyed double digit TPM performances from only two players, led by Jamal Murray +20 and the dearly departed Wilson Chandler +30. Three players were unfortunately in the red, led by Lyles -11 and the Nuggets lost an untidy contest in LA, 112-103. Murray was booed loudly that night, following his immature decision to show up Lonzo Ball in their previous encounter. Big Honey struggled mightily on the defensive end against the since-jettisoned Brook Lopez and Julius Randle, in what was a poorly officiated game that the Nuggets lost all on their own through lack of defensive intensity.

As for this game, obviously these are not the same rosters, particularly so in the case of the Lakers. Over the off-season, they low-key-finagled a milquetoast free-agent acquisition of some sort, in landing this LeBron fellow (please see Exhibit A), which facilitated the glorious gathering of goons (see Exhibit b.) While Rondo, whom I quite like, and Ingram who is growing on me, will be unavailable tonight, there are still potential weapons surrounding King James, though quality depth is not ammunition in the Lakers arsenal. Kuzma, who is not at all loved by the stat-nerd community, still seems to find a way to step up big against the Nuggets, despite their arm-chair laptop taunting. Stephenson exhibited in his last game that he is still capable of flashing complete stat-lines, reminiscent of his glory days in Indiana, blowing Lebron kisses aside. Hart is off to a hot start, Pope is capable and a world renowned flopper and Pierre can still dunk and block shots. That is the extent of things on this evening for the Lakers but I fear that it will be just enough to snap the Nuggets unbeaten streak out of the gate this season, if Denver is not completely focused. In short, no Lebron James team is to be slept on, full-stop.

Am I required to insert a period following full-stop? Help me out EMH™ first-responders (English-major hecklers, the vast majority of the people who bother interacting with me.)

One thing I will say about Murray's ill-advised taunting of Lonzo Ball, is that it has at least created in the eyes of the Lakers and their fans, a rivalry that previously only existed in Denver fans, following the Trevor Ariza inbound-unpleasantness of the Western Conference Finals in '09. This was vividly illustrated by Randle becoming enforcer VS Murray / Walton going nanners following the taunt and again Randle going tough guy on the unsuspecting Jokic in the closing seconds of the last game, while the Staples Center crowd over-celebrated their regular season game 68 victory.

Denver's best hope tonight will be to make hay in the brief moments in which Lebron sits. This is entirely possible as they clearly have the edge in terms of bench play. As Denver Stiffs head writer Adam Mares pointed out in tonight's pre-game piece:

Mason Plumlee shot 15 for 18 in the two preseason games against the Lakers thanks in large part to their decision to play super small with their second unit

Prediction: Denver 107 - Lakers 109. This is definitely the Nuggets toughest test thus-far in the season, primarily due to the sudden national attention Lebron provides, which has been previously absent for Denver and you don't win 82 games in a season.

Go Nuggets!

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If you are viewing the pre-game version of the TPM piece; and you enjoy Gonzo-basketball reporting, I invite you to please join me after the game where the same link will lead you to the post game version. In it, all of the disjointed/unsightly blanks below will be filled, complete with data/analysis and more snark than "Snarknado VI: Snakenado", which I'm told is about a pessimistic, albino, black mamba who emerges from micro-bursts to torment the people of Los Angeles with shady tweets.

There be monsters; shameless, personal plug alert! (by permission of Denver Stiffs): If you are in the market for clothing, featuring the four major Denver sports franchises as well as CU, please open this link in a new tab to see if there is anything you are interested in. You don't have to order from the link of course if you are in the Denver Metro area, as I'm more than happy to meet up with you (please refrain from bringing rotten tomatoes), drastically lowering the cost, as Poshmark takes a healthy cut as well as shipping & handling. Thanks in advance!

Unique, hard to find, one of a kind and custom gear of your favorite team

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

(After these messages... Er Nicknames)

Los Angeles Lakers Roster

Denver Nuggets Roster

Update: MPJ and I.T. are sleeping on Ice, awaiting intel as to when their services will be required. Rookie Jared Vanderbilt will have to wait to make his rookie debut until long after R.O.Y. candidate Thomas Welsh, as he recovers from an actual injury. Finally, Barton had successful surgery on his abductor and hip. He will be evaluated for return in mid-December. As for LA, suspensions aside, no injuries have been reported.

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

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TPM™ Game 5 LAL

Jamal Murray: +20

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +35

Gary Harris: +14

Malik Beasley: -2

Torrey Craig: -10

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: N/A

Will Barton: N/A

Juancho Hernangomez: -6

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: -2

Trey Lyles: +11

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +12

Mason Plumlee: +10

Thomas Welsh: N/A

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Total TPM™

Jamal Murray: 5 games +80

Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0

Monte Morris: 5 games +74

Gary Harris: 5 games +87

Malik Beasley: 5 games +7

Torrey Craig: 4 games -13

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 1 games +1

Will Barton: 2 games +33

Juancho Hernangomez: 5 games -5

Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0

Jared Vanderbilt: 0 games +0

Paul Millsap: 5 games +32

Trey Lyles: 5 games +32

Tyler Lydon: 2 games +2

Nikola Jokic: 5 games +115

Mason Plumlee: 5 games +35

Thomas Welsh: 3 games -1

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +16.00

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +14.80

Gary Harris: +17.40

Malik Beasley:+1.40

Torrey Craig: -3.25

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 1.00

Will Barton: +16.50

Juancho Hernangomez: -1.00

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +6.40

Trey Lyles:+6.40

Tyler Lydon: +1.00

Nikola Jokic: +23.00

Mason Plumlee: +7.00

Thomas Welsh: -0.33

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 4:

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

Analysis:

Qtr2- Lyles finally drills his inaugural three of the year and this has already been his best game of the young season. This Lebron James character is difficult to defend. I just realized that I'm wearing my old Denver Rockets throwbacks; Lakers colors. A perfectly timed commercial break allows me to execute an in-game wardrobe change. It's been fun to watch Pierre and Plumdog go at it for the last several minutes, now adorned with my Kiki Vandeweghe, green trimmed, black, rainbow skyline jersey from the early 80's. I'd forgotten how much I missed TNT games for their long commercial breaks, which allow me to catch up. Juancho has lead feet defensively tonight. Why are they talking about such a boring non-sport (it's at best a competition/pastime/gross neglect of public resources) as golf, during a frenetically paced, action-packed actual sport such as basketball? Who is Phil Michelson and why is he on my screen? I'd prefer Jack Nicholson if I had my druthers. It's even-Steven, 41 each at 6:10.

GET THIS GOLFER OUT OF THE BROADCAST! This has been the best game so far for Morris. I'm switching over to Altitude. I seriously can not take any more golf. Denver leads 51-47, largely due to the efforts of Monte, who undoubtedly is showing off for his main squeeze Amber Rose in her home town. LA is picking up the defensive intensity and they take the lead by two at 1:32. Pierre seems to think his role this evening is to annoy the piss out of Big Honey and to this point, he's certainly achieving that. Jokic is FINALLY the first Nugget to reach double figures in scoring with just seconds to go in the half. No players for either team are in any sort of serious, individual foul trouble. Kuzma, as he seems to always do, sticks a three to close out the stanza. Denver is paced in TPM by Murray +11 & Morris +21, as they trail 58-57 at the half.

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Qtr3- One of the keys to the game, the Nuggets bench has been a mixed bag, with Morris, Plumlee and Lyles all excelling, while getting no contribution from Beasley and a negative contribution from Juancho. Rik Smits, Shaq? Now THAT'S Shaqtin a fool. Reggie Miller agrees with the analog, which shows you what type of crew we are dealing with here. It also calls into question Charles Barkley's Nugget fandom. The TNT crew finally begins to analyze basketball for the first time since the early moments of the first period and at this point, I almost want them to go back to golf. At least the golfer had some valuable NBA insight. The teams are trading buckets early and the Lakers lead by three with 8:59 to go. Murray becomes the 2nd Nugget to reach double digits. A three, on very good ball movement, by Jokic brings the score back to even.

Craig's lack of size defensively is being exposed on this night. He's getting out-rebounded tenderized and cooked, like so much charcuterie from the bistro that bears his name. Is Voltron considered Anime? Golf... fucking Golf! Lonzo Ball is already a superior defensive player. It doesn't bode well for Denver that their weakest position due to injury, SF, happens to be the primary spot occupied by Lebron. LA leads by 6 on the strength of a 10-2 run. James takes what will likely be a very short breather at 3:47 and if Denver has any design of stealing one on the road, they need to produce now. Big Honey is PISSED as he backs center Kyle Kuzma down for the third possession in a row. He's taking over and the score is once again tied with 2:30 to play. Morris becomes the third Nugget to achieve double figures in scoring. Jokic has a 2D with 22-10-2. No players for either team are in any sort of serious, individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Jokic +15, Murray +16 & Morris +25 as they lead 89-87 after three.

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Qtr4- Former rookie of the year candidate Thomas Welsh, doesn't appear likely to figure into tonight's outcome. Denver scores the first two buckets and lead by six at 10:46. Murray with the left handed jam over Pierre! He joins Jokic in the 20 point club. Denver is treading water with 3/5th's of their starting lineup on the bench vs James and the Lakers, still leading by five at 8:24. Interestingly, Harris replaces Murray rather than Morris at 7:50. That's a level of nuance not previously exhibited by Coach Malone. The lead is six at 6:55. Plumlee, Lyles and Morris make five in double digits, in short order, for Denver. Jokic replaces Plumlee with 5:45 to go, as James takes a breather. Lance sticks two straight, ill-advised, contested jumpers from beyond the arc and the lead has disintegrated, just like that, to two points. Denver should consider running a three guard closing offense, to try to take advantage offensively, since no one can guard Lebron anyway and all three guards have it going tonight for the Nuggets. Craig... does not.

Shockingly, Malone does precisely that, as 'Sap checks in with 4:20 to go (smoke 'em if you've got 'em.) It's knotted up at 108 with 3:49 left, as James and his his 3D return to the court. LA immediately takes the lead on a dunk by Lebron and all momentum lies squarely with the Lakers, with Lance Stephenson's crazy heaves as the catalyst. Craig comes in for Morris at this point. Not a fan of this move. Harris becomes the 6th Nugget to reach double figures. Big Honey is struggling to find the mark down the stretch tonight and the Lakers lead by five, on the strength of a 17-4 run as Jokic nabs his fifth foul at 1:39 and it's not looking good for the Nuggets. As focused as he was from the outset, is about equal in effect, to the lack of focus currently on display by not just him but the team on whole. Murray has an impressive 2D with 22-10 but just one assist. He's fouled while shooting a three & hits 2-3 at the line but the Lakers still lead by five with under a minute to go and that's just about it. The foul game commences in earnest with :25 to go and a five point deficit and this one is done. The Nuggets are paced in TPM by Plumlee +10, Lyles +11, Harris/Jokic +12, Murray +20 and Morris +35 as they suffer their first defeat of the year, 114-121 in LA.

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Final Thoughts: Lack of execution down the stretch coupled with lack of depth at the SF position, was the Nuggets undoing in this one. Barton's absence will be felt against superstar players like Lebron but there is no shame in 4-1. The Nuggets have yet to win a game in which Jokic wins the opening tip.

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We Suck Again!

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