Very cool, if highly misleading, "team photo."

Trust me, kicking a man while he's down indeed leaves me feeling the need to bathe but I swore on the day of the Melo trade, in which I constructed/burnt this poster in effigy that my disdain would remain, even in vain.

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 Houston: Until proven otherwise, the Rockets OWN the Nuggets gold.

When last these two teams squared off in game 60 of last season, the Nuggets enjoyed double figure TPM contributions from four players led by Malik Beasley +10, Mason Plumlee +13, Nikola Jokic +20 & Will Barton +21. With Torrey Craig playing in the G-league at the time, only one player was in the red for that encounter, Devin Harris -9, en route to an all-things-considered, heartening defeat in Denver, by a score of 119-114 after being blown out by scores of 130-104 & 125-95 respectively, in their two previous encounters last season.

Denver played without Millsap on that similarly cold, February evening in the Mile High City. The Nuggets as always, struggled with the pick and roll vs Houston, Harden was called for a charge; the first in his career and while Denver showed grit and determination (is it possible to exhibit one but not the other?) it was simply not enough to overcome Harden's MVP line of 41-8-7, not to mention one of the more poorly officiated games of the entire season. Jokic acquitted himself for his defensive struggles in the P&R with an uncharacteristically aggressive game on the other end, yielding a line of 21-14-8 on 7-18 shooting and Denver will need both an offensively potent game from Big Honey tonight, as well as continued exhibition of his improvement in hedging/recovering.

The existential question re: grit has me thinking; can a piece of shit be not only sentient but in tune with it's surroundings? I ask because I heard "you ignorant piece of shit" yelled angrily at high volumes and directed at separate inanimate objects altogether (further confusing the matter) as my dad worked on vehicles of all manner when I was young, no less than eleventy brazillian times. Speaking of Brazilians, Clint Capella is not from there at all but Switzerland and Nene is still one of my all time favorite players/people.

As for this game, Houston has wildly under-performed to the tune of a 5-7 record to date but there is not a world in which I envision them ending out the regular season without having earned home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Melodrama is nearing it's conclusion and while the loss of Ariza can not possibly be overstated, a team featuring Paul/Harden in the P&R with Capella/Nene in the late season is STILL a contender. I'm of the opinion that the NBA championship will be won on the home court of either this Rockets team (not to be confused with this rockets team, or this one, or this one, or this one, or even this one or this one and certainly not this Rockies team and most definitely not this one... laps... multiple...already taken) or that of the Warriors, prior to the formality of besting whichever team comes out of the east, be it Toronto, Boston or Philly, as zero other leastern conference teams can be taken seriously, even when viewed under the concentrated lens of legit conference contenders in their half of the docket.

Prediction: Denver 109 - Houston 121

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 s 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)

Houston Rockets 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 Houston, Capella is 50-50 with a knee injury, Melo is out with late-onset-karma, Knight is out with a knee injury, Nene is out with a calf injury and Green is out with an ankle injury.

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

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TPM™ Game 14 HOU

Jamal Murray: +7

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +17

Gary Harris: +8

Malik Beasley: +1

Torrey Craig: +5

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: N/A

Will Barton: N/A

Juancho Hernangomez: -2

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +3

Trey Lyles: +4

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +14

Mason Plumlee: +10

Thomas Welsh: N/A

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Total TPM™

Jamal Murray: 14 games +198

Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0

Monte Morris: 14 games +191

Gary Harris: 14 games +193

Malik Beasley: 13 games +31

Torrey Craig: 12 games -6

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 3 games -2

Will Barton: 2 games +33

Juancho Hernangomez: 13 games +8

Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0

Jared Vanderbilt: 0 games +0

Paul Millsap: 14 games +117

Trey Lyles: 14 games +103

Tyler Lydon: 4 games +1

Nikola Jokic: 14 games +254

Mason Plumlee: 14 games +87

Thomas Welsh: 3 games -1

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +14.14

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +13.64

Gary Harris: +13.79

Malik Beasley: +2.38

Torrey Craig: -0.50

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: -0.67

Will Barton: +16.50

Juancho Hernangomez: +0.62

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +8.36

Trey Lyles:+7.36

Tyler Lydon: +0.25

Nikola Jokic: +18.14

Mason Plumlee: +6.21

Thomas Welsh: -0.33

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 11:

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

Analysis:

Qtr1- The Nuggets trot out their post-Craig (RIP) injury-replacement starting five, consisting of The Blue Arrow, Just Gary Harris, Juancho "The Mouthful" Hernangomez, The Anchorman & Big Honey. The other Rockets counter with CP3. Harden, Tucker, Ennis & Capella. As I'd figured, these new "City Edition" jerseys do not translate well to television. They look extremely hollow from a distance. Murray gets an early theft from Harden, who jumps over his back, only contacting the ball long after an elbow to the back of Murray's head, resulting somehow in a jump ball and I fear that we have the same officials from the last time Denver played Houston. Harden is called for a moving screen; an OBVIOUS make-up call. Sheesh! Jokic is getting switched onto James Beard & vice-versa in sub-optimal situations for both men, defensively speaking. Houston leads 10-7 as they head into their first break.

Harris is 2-2 from distance and that is obviously a welcome change. Denver leads by one at 5:30 as Morris is first off the Pine for the Nuggets. Contrary to popular opinion, I think Denver should go directly at Harden in the post each and every time down the court, as long as the Rockets insist on switching. Force him to expend defensive energy for a change, not to mention risk foul trouble. Gary is now 3-3 from the arc and Denver leads by three with 3:35 remaining. Plumlee/Lyles are next in for the good guys at 2:29 with a two point lead. Harris is the first Nugget to reach double figures in scoring for the Nuggets. Beasley is in for Denver at 1:17, leading 26-23. Houston does not look like a very good defensive team this season. Could Ariza really have made this much of a difference? Has the athleticism regressed or has the effort simply waned? Tucker earns his second foul at 1:03. Plumlee does the same shortly thereafter. Stop the presses, Morris gets his first turnover since Indy was a pup. The Nuggets are paced in TPM by Harris +11 as they lead 30-27 after one.

Qtr2-The Plumlee/Morris duo has an excellent feel for one another. Morris is proving to be adept at hitting the corner three. Unfortunately, Mason nets his third foul at 10:30. Denver's bench unit is outplaying their Houston counterparts. The Rockets have no answer for Lyles defensively. These officials are amateurs! Capella nabs two quick fouls and if the Nuggets do not attack him for remaining in the game, heads should roll. Denver allows two straight threes and a dunk, on lackadaisical defense and Houston now leads by three at 6:48. Monte ties it up with a three off of a Millsap steal/assist and in doing so becomes the second Nugget to reach double digits in scoring.

Another Jokic post vs Harden, another foul on The Beard. Rinse/wash/repeat! Juancho seems nervous/tentative tonight for some reason. Houston leads by one with two to play. Millsap does EXACTLY what Harden did earlier, diving on a player following a steal and is called for a foul! This has been a forgettable first half on both ends of the floor for The Blue Arrow. The bench unit for Denver has once again outperformed the starters and yes, Monte deserves to be starting/closing in a three guard lineup over Juancho. A Murray jumper gives the Nuggets a one point lead heading into halftime. Jokic is just under 3D pace with a line of 8-4-5. Denver is paced in TPM by Morris +11 & Jokic +14 as they lead 55-54 at the half.

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Qtr3- Seriously, keep getting Jokic into the post on Harden. It's a no-brainier! The teams are trading buckets early as the pace has increased. Denver has become careless with the ball and Murray/Jokic both have early, ugly turnovers on lazy passes. The Rockets lead by two at 8:48. Harden is thankfully cold tonight but we can't expect that to be the case the rest of the way. Houston is deploying a three guard lineup, why can't we? It's even-Steven at 66 with a little over seven minutes to play. Big Honey and The Anchorman make four Nuggets in double figures as Denver trails by five at 6:15. Denver is struggling in defensive rotations. Monte replaces Murray at 4:50. Perhaps that will help, though the two larger culprits have been Juancho and Jokic.

Millsap earns his fourth foul at 4:20 (smoke 'em if you've got 'em), sending Harden to the line for two freebies, and he's replaced by Lyles. A three for The Beard gives Houston a five point lead with 3:15 remaining. Juancho has yet to sit in the third and he needed to several minutes ago, as Harden is beginning to gain traction. The Rockets have expanded the lead to ten as Harden finally sits, while Juancho remains in. Was Juancho not taking a break in the third an oversight by myself or by the Nuggets brass? I'm genuinely wondering as it seems impossible that he played the entire third as poorly as he's played defensively and as little (the highly overrated gravity factor aside) as he's contributed offensively and as loose as the Nuggets grip on the outcome has become. Craig makes an appearance and I don't hate this utilization. Denver is paced in TPM by Morris +11 & Jokic +13, as they trail 76-86 after three.

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Qtr4- The refs appear to have swallowed their whistles here. Jamal obviously bats a ball out on the fast break and they award Denver the ball anyway. Craig of all people sticks a three followed by a Murray layup and the lead is down to four. In a FAR more suitable role, Craig is an impressive +7 in TPM, over the course of just 3 1/2 minutes of court time. Juancho is STILL on the floor at 7:16, down four. I don't have any way of looking it up at the moment but I have to think he MUST have sat for a portion of the third period that I simply missed. Houston now leads by eight and whether he sat in the third or not, his ass requires a seat on the bench while the starters - him + Monte should be in to close this one, or Denver will drop their fourth in a row. Murray makes five in double figures. The preceding is precisely the unit that is in the game when the Nuggets return from a commercial break.

Millsap immediately nabs his 5th foul, of the offensive variety. It was highly questionable to say the least. Harden, with help from these horrendous officials has scored the last nine for the Rockets, who lead by 11 with 4:49 remaining and it's not looking good. What did Millsap do to these refs I wonder? He's such a nice guy. Harden hacks the bejesus out of Jokic and earns a blocked shot for his effort. This is getting ugly fast. Denver lost this one all on their own and Harden doesn't make the rules, he's just adept at exploiting them but it can not be overstated how horrible these officials are, as 'Sap fouls out with 3:10 to go, trailing by 15. For shits & giggles, Juancho checks in and to his credit, immediately drains one from distance. Denver cuts it to 11 with 2:30 to go and CP3 acquires both an aneurysm and a T. The Joker has a 2D with 1:26 remaining, down by ten and that's pretty much it. Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee +10, Jokic +14 & Morris +17 & as they lose in embarrassing fashion once again to this team, 99-109.

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Final Thoughts: The Nuggets may never reacquire their gold from this squad. Denver loses for the third straight time at home. Will the disgruntled Broncos fans and transplants who are giving the Nuggets a try for the first time continue to show up at the Can? Juancho played all but nine minutes, leading the team by a wide margin, so he must NOT have sat in the third period. Was this Malone's turn to make a childish point? If it's broke don't fix it? Gravity means exactly nothing (in my playing days it was called standing around when I should have been cutting) if your teammates can't shoot, so you better start defending someone Juancho. In an unimportant oddity, this was the second game in a row in which my predicted score for the Nuggets, wound up being that of the opponent. Odd indeed.

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We Suck Again!

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