Dangerous deer, dudes. (And lady-dudes / everything in between)

Marquee match-up, men. (And women / everything in between)

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 Milwaukee: They're There. They'd better care... and get used to it!

I'm not going to bother spending much time talking about the Bucks because a) The Nuggets just recently played them and you can read all about my glowing impressions of this team here and b) someone at their site is inexplicably sensitive to my posting a simple link to my piece in their pre/post game threads, despite my expressed/stated intention to have people open my link in another tab so as to remain in their discussion and that I too would remain there to discuss the game with them. How I was warned and sited for "posting with the sole intention of advertising" while others are allowed to link articles from huge conglomerates which actually generate gainful revenue is entirely beyond me. Theirs is the only blog which hasn't welcomed me in my three years of covering the Nuggets. Moving right along.

When last these two teams squared off in game 13 of this season, Denver enjoyed double figure TPM contributions from four players led by Paul Millsap's +29. Only one player was in the red for that encounter, Juancho -2, en route to a disappointing defeat in Denver by a final score of 114-121. Freaky Greeky had an MVP line of 22-9-8-2-1 on 11-18 shooting from the floor, Brook went bonkers from Boulder (a career high 8-13, largely from WELL beyond the arc) and Brogdon, Middleton and Bledsoe did Brogdon, Middleton and Bledsoe things. Millsap was an impressive 5-8 from distance himself, on the way to a fine line of 25-8-6 with two blocks. Jokic was exceptional for some guy but not great for what is now expected of him and Monte Morris had likely his best game of the season, even if much of it doesn't appear in the box score.

As for this game, please see above. In lieu of in-depth analysis with regard to this Milwaukee group, it is my duty to share a PSA I penned on another platform this afternoon, in attempt to make the holiday season slightly more manageable for all:

Go Nuggets!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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

(After these messages... Er Nicknames)

Milwaukee Bucks 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. Millsap is probable tonight with an ankle injury. Finally, Barton had successful surgery on his abductor and hip. He will be evaluated for return in mid-December. As for Milwaukee, Donte DiVincenzo is out with an injury to one of his quads, John Henson is also out with a writs injury and D.J. Wilson (hammy) is questionable.

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

__________________________________________________________________________________________

TPM™ Game 17 MIL

Jamal Murray: +12

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +13

Gary Harris: +22

Malik Beasley: +11

Torrey Craig: N/A

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: N/A

Will Barton: N/A

Juancho Hernangomez: -7

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +0

Trey Lyles: +6

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +21

Mason Plumlee: +10

Thomas Welsh: N/A

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Total TPM™

Jamal Murray: 17 games +235

Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0

Monte Morris: 17 games +222

Gary Harris: 17 games +265

Malik Beasley: 17 games +64

Torrey Craig: 13 games -5

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 4 games +0

Will Barton: 2 games +33

Juancho Hernangomez: 16 games +37

Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0

Jared Vanderbilt: 0 games +0

Paul Millsap: 17 games +132

Trey Lyles: 17 games +140

Tyler Lydon: 5 games +4

Nikola Jokic: 17 games +335

Mason Plumlee: 17 games +95

Thomas Welsh: 3 games -1

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +13.82

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +13.06

Gary Harris: +15.59

Malik Beasley: +3.76

Torrey Craig: -0.30

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: +0.00

Will Barton: +16.50

Juancho Hernangomez: +2.31

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +7.76

Trey Lyles: 8.24

Tyler Lydon: +0.80

Nikola Jokic: +19.71

Mason Plumlee: +5.59

Thomas Welsh: -0.33

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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 second iteration of the post-Craig (RIP), injury-replacement starting five, consisting of Morris, Harris, Juancho, Millsap & Jokic. The Bucks counter with Bledsoe, Brogdon, Middleton, Antetokounmpo & Lopez. The Bucks uniforms are hideous! Both teams are playing with pace early, though in a sloppy manner as Denver leads 5-4 at 9:13. Murray is extremely cold to start this season and this game is no different. The Nuggets lead 7-5 heading into the first break at 7:06. Lopez has quadrupled his season total for rebounds with 6 at this point. Denver is moving the ball exceptionally well they just can't convert, even from down low.

Additionally they are starting to struggle in transition D as they trail by two at 5:12. Morris is first off the pine for the good guys at this point. Harris is starting to get going as the Bucks finally begin to miss and the Nuggets lead by four at 3:16. Four early assists for Gary. Plumlee/Lyles are in for Denver up six at 2:12. Beasley is in at 1:45 of a six point game. Two straight threes for Milwaukee ties it up. The bench unit for the Nuggets had the look of a slow start once again, prior to two straight buckets and that's the difference after one. No players for either squad are in any sort of serious individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Harris +12 as they lead a good one, 29-25 after one.

Qtr2- The Nuggets are starting to play effective defense on B2B possessions, something that has been scarce of late. They lead by 11 as Milwaukee is also being careless with the ball, on the strength of a 7-0 run. Murray is now as hot as he was cold at the outset and the lead is 12 at 8:41. The Bucks suddenly can't buy a bunny. Two threes by Beasley and Denver leads by 15 at 8:19. The bench has obviously stepped up big thus-far. Where/what the fuck is Freddie's custard and do we even have them in Denver? 8-9 Nuggets players have scored with only Lyles remaining scoreless. The lead is 15 as Denver's starters begin filtering back in.

After less than a minute of action the Nuggets starting five is now in tact with 5 to play and a 13 point lead. Murray is the first Nugget to reach double figures but everyone other than Millsap has more than two points for Denver. It is The Blue Arrow, not Big Honey, who may be hunting a 3D in this one, with a line of 11-5-4. The Bucks are struggling at the charity stripe and the Nuggets do not object. Kick save by the Canadian Murray, results in a turnover. Milwaukee cuts it to 10 on the strength of a 7-0 run as it is Denver who is now struggling from everywhere on the floor. No players for either squad are in any sort of serious individual foul trouble. The Nuggets are paced in TPM by Beasley +10, Jokic/Harris +12 & Murray +13 as they lead 56-46 at the half.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Qtr3- The Greek Freak is going to have to contain his elbows at some point. He's already taken out each of the Nuggets starting back court. Michigan should just give the upper peninsula to Wisconsin. It's Milwaukee eight - Denver three and the Nuggets lead is down to five with 10 to play. The Joker is the second Nuggets player to reach double digits in scoring. The lead is still seven for Denver at 8:39 but the momentum favors the Bucks. Juancho earns a ridiculous offensive foul that simply isn't called on a known commodity, his fourth. I wish NBA officials would just call fouls that occur, regardless of the name on the back of a jersey. How hard is that really? The Nuggets lead by six with seven minutes remaining. The Alphabet is too long (seemingly more than 26 characters) for Millsap and two straight post up dunks cut it to two at 5:39, prompting a timeout by Malone.

Why does the Bucks star continue to jack up threes when he can dunk the ball on virtually every play? Denver will take that all night. The good guys score six straight and the lead is back up to eight at 3:52. Milwaukee is in the bonus at this point; not altogether a bad thing for the Nuggets. Denver, like the rest of the league can not defend The Greek Freak down low. Henceforth I'm calling him Kathy for shorthand. The Nuggets still hold a tenuous one point lead with just over two minutes to play. Harris makes three players in double figures for Denver. The Bucks have all the momentum and a riled-up crowd as they take a three point lead on 10-13 shooting this period. The PITP discrepancy on the night is 22-6! The third period mercifully comes to a close with Milwaukee owners of a one point lead. Denver is paced in TPM by Beasley +11, Murray +12, Morris +13, Harris +17 & Jokic +20 as they trail 78-77 after three.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Qtr4- Morris makes four Nuggets players in double digits as it's knotted up at 83 with nine minutes to go. The teams are trading buckets and it's Denver 87 Milwaukee 86 after a three by Beasley at 7:15. He's played another fine game off the bench and becomes the fifth Nugget to reach double figures. Kathy checks back in and this is the key moment in the game at 6:20 with Denver leading by two. A three pointer followed by another long jumper and the Bucks lead by three with 4:15 to go. Kathy is afforded far too much star-leeway by the officials. It'd be nice if Jokic ever gets that respect. No one for Milwaukee has more than three fouls which is VERY hard to believe. It isn't as if Denver hasn't attacked the paint all night. The lead is up to six and it's not looking good for the Nuggets if they can't stem the tide at 3:50.

A called set for Big Honey results in a three point play from the post. Just what the doctor ordered. Denver follows this with a 24 second violation forced, defensively. I should note that all five starters are in to close this out for the Nuggets. Lopez drills a three followed by an alley-oop dunk by Kathy and it's looking grim for the gold with under two minutes to go. Denver is falling apart at the end yet again. Harris hits a three and there is still hope, down five with under a minute to play. Murray and Middleton trade three's and they're back to where they were half a minute ago with the same amount of time remaining. Recency bias on that pole there Altitude. The Brow is clearly the MVP this year. His absence and his teams performance when he was out speaks volumes. Harris and Juancho both clank threes and that's all she wrote. Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee +10, Beasley +11, Murray +12, Morris +13, Jokic +21 & Harris +22 as they lose 98-104.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Final Thoughts: The Nuggets are a bad team at the moment. Not a BAD bad team, but not a particularly good one.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

We Suck Again!

Denver Nuggets Nuggets vs Bucks coverage Brew Hoop