While hardly alone, two-way talents (I mean that in the traditional sense) Lowry and Leonard are the heart and soul of the Raptors attack. A rarity amongst the NBA elite.

Two of Canada's finest have been thrust into greater time-shares with the myriad injuries which have befallen the Western Conference's top team.

Keepin' the seat warm for Barton, Harris and Millsap.

For context with regard to the statistical aspects of this piece, please open this link: TPM™

A brief statement with regard to this piece on whole:

As a means to avoid repeating myself I will include this descriptive diatribe in all TPM posts going forward.

Sure I like statistics; ever since I was a child collecting sports cards and later a pre-teen who ran pre-internet fantasy sports leagues on ink/paper/spreadsheet for the four major US pro-leagues, I've been fascinated by box-score stats but I'm by no means an expert.

I created TPM (which has been around longer than RPM incidentally and unlike them, I fully disclose my non-proprietary system and I contextualize the action rather than being a boring, mysterious, predictive metric) because it does add immediate and accessible context to what we see and what the numbers indicate, which I like.

While the data is meticulously tracked and demonstrably sound, I'm a creative type, not an engineer. Algorithm is the bane of my existence in fact. I'd far rather approach life with the intrigue of expected surprise than attempt to get to the bottom of why things are the way they are. There are many engineers in my family so I totally understand that joy can be derived from finding solutions to problems, I just can't relate. It's not fun for me. THIS is for the most part, not fun for me.

Now I'm a 41 year old man who was born the year after the team I love joined the NBA. I happen to have a lifetime of experience with this sport in several different capacities, including playing (highly underrated within the writing community) so I understand basketball theory in a way most (by no means all) pundits do not.

I was in this case interested in a data-driven approach, which if I'm honest has sapped nearly all fun out of taking in games for me. I get very few days/nights off during the season. One piece requires several hours of research and data entry and all tracking/analysis is done in real time and published mere moments after each game's completion, 82 times (more this season) per year.

As such, the analysis portion is about 90% (I've run the numbers) creative writing with sarcasm generally indicated through italics, non-sequitur humor and hyperbole, in an attempt to steal back some of the joy this endeavor has snatched away.

Hopefully there is a little something here for everyone but if you came just for data or are averse to colorful language, this is not the place for you. I have no way of knowing how many people even read this so I'll not be affected even remotely if you choose not to indulge. For those of you who do, I greatly thank you for the support.

Nuggets vs Toronto: B2B revenge games vs the NBA's elite; this time the Raptors fly in with vengeance on their mind.

When last these two teams squared off in game 23 of this season, the Nuggets (lap) enjoyed double figure TPM contributions from four players led by Nikola Jokic: +36 . Only one player Monte Morris: -2 was in the red for that game, as the Nuggets earned a signature victory in Toronto by the score of 106-103.

And then everyone became injured and by everyone I mean everyone who hadn't already been out for the entire year.

As for this game, Since they have played so recently in Toronto, I'm not going to dive too deeply into their roster as not a whole lot has changed in just over one week's time but if you are interested in more scoop on the Raptors, please feel free to check out my piece from the last encounter here.

Prediction: Denver 111- Toronto 115

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)

Toronto Raptors 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. Harris is out indefinitely with numerous ailments of lower extremities. Millsap is out for the next 1.5 months with a broken big toe in his right foot. Murray is "banged up" everywhere but specifically with a bone bruise of the right shin as well as a right forearm injury but he's tough as nails and gutting it out. Barton had successful surgery on his abductor and hip. He is week to week (whatever that means.) As for TOR, Norman Powell is out with a shoulder injury as is Jonas Valanciunas with an injured thumb, while Pascal Siakam is a game time decision with a balky back, as is Kyle Lowry with a thigh injury.

Re-Up: Lowry and Siakam are both out and are joined by Fred VanVleet on the inactive list. Finally a team that is in the same boat as the Nuggets.

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Data:

TPM™ Game 29 TOR

Jamal Murray: +17

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +8

Nick Young: -1

Gary Harris: Injured

Malik Beasley: +11

Torrey Craig: +6

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: N/A

Will Barton: Injured

Juancho Hernangomez: -2

Michael Porter Jr.: Injured

Jared Vanderbilt: Injured

Paul Millsap: Injured

Trey Lyles: +5

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +13

Mason Plumlee: +11

Thomas Welsh: N/A

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Total TPM™

Jamal Murray: 29 games +476

Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0

Monte Morris: 29 games +346

Nick Young: 2 games +4

Gary Harris: 21 games +315

Malik Beasley: 29 games +148

Torrey Craig: 24 games +11

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 6 games +5

Will Barton: 2 games +33

Juancho Hernangomez: 28 games +58

Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0

Jared Vanderbilt: 0 games +0

Paul Millsap: 26 games +238

Trey Lyles: 29 games +170

Tyler Lydon: 9 games +9

Nikola Jokic: 29 games +566

Mason Plumlee: 28 games +211

Thomas Welsh: 5 games +2

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +16.41

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +11.93

Nick Young: +2.00

Gary Harris: +15.00

Malik Beasley: +5.10

Torrey Craig: +0.46

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: +0.83

Will Barton: +16.50

Juancho Hernangomez: +2.07

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +9.52

Trey Lyles: 5.86

Tyler Lydon: +1.00

Nikola Jokic: +19.52

Mason Plumlee: +7.54

Thomas Welsh: +0.40

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 27:

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

Qtr1- The Nuggets trot out their 7th iteration of the injury-replacement starting five, consisting of Murray, Craig, Juancho, Plumlee & Jokic. The Raptors counter with how the hell should I know?!?!?! Do they even know? It seems it'll be Wright, Green, Leonard, Miles and Ibaka. The Roman Column of Juancho/Jokic/Plumlee severely outsizes their Canadian counterparts. Denver scores the first five and lead by said margin at 9:40. Leonard is defending Big Honey and doing it well, as the Rap's take an 8-7 lead. Juancho is invisible early but the Nuggets lead 9-7 at the time of the first break at 6:51. Wilt Chamberlain and King Kong are BOTH on ladder duty for tonight's telecast, according to Marlowe, clearly taking an all-hands-on-deck approach, required of not just the team but the play-by-play guys of late.

Plumlee earns his second foul at 5:53 and must check out. He's got to get a handle on his extreme, nightly foul pace if he's to continue starting. He's replaced by Morris. Beasley also checks in at this time. Toronto has zero quit in them and it's even-Steven at 14 with 4:37 to go. Could this be the night in which Craig leads the good guys in TPM for the first time? All Nuggets to have played thus-far have scored, with the exception of Juancho. Beasley is making the offensive impact he could not vs OKC and Denver takes a five point lead with two minutes remaining. Lyles is in at this time and immediately contributes a swat but Toronto is not going away. They tie it up with a three by Miles. Denver is paced in TPM by Craig +6 as they are all knotted up at 23 after one.

Qtr2- Nick Young is in for the Nuggets to open the second quarter. The Raptors are the vastly superior defensive squad and I don't care what the deeply misleading rankings and heavily flawed metrics would indicate on the matter. The Raps score the first seven of the second and Denver's bench unit is ice cold. A three by the Nuggets pulse regulator, Monte Morris gets Denver off the snide. The Nuggets tie it up on the strength of a 7-0 run. Lyles is playing spirited defense for a change. It's Plumlee's night to wear a hole in my pad apparently. The Nuggets trail by one at 6:45. The scoring is low as you might expect from two extremely depleted lineups.

Plumlee nabs a phantom foul and must exit at 4:22. No bueno. Denver is now going to The Joker in the post on Kawhi; backing him down, scoring, rinse, wash & repeat. Denver leads by three with 3:13 remaining. Leonard is by far the best defender in the league (Suck it Draymond) but he's simply too small for Nikola who is FINALLY the first player for either team to reach double figures in scoring at the 3:06 mark. Toronto once again takes a one point lead on a J by Leonard and this game has the feel of one that'll go down to the wire, just like last time these two squads met. Denver is ice cold to close and the Raps take a six point lead with under a minute to play. Denver is paced in TPM by Beasley/Jokic +5 as they trail 39-47 at the half.

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Qtr3- The Nuggets will have to drastically improve upon their abhorrent 35% first half shooting if they have any designs of pulling out the W tonight. The Raps are still hot while the Nuggets are still cold and they extend the lead to 15 prior to Torrey FUCKING Craig of all people, sticking B2B threes in what is turning out to be one of the strangest games of the year. Leonard is simply attacking each time down and Denver has no answer for his drives. Torrey makes two in double figures for the Nuggets who trail by 11 at 9:33. Jokic is pissed off at the lack of foul calls against and he's playing aggressively as a result. The lead is down to seven at 7:56. One of Toronto's coaches (help me out Raps fans, is this Nurse?) has an oppressively loud voice. Annoying in it's Thibitude. A floater by Morris and the lead is a more manageable four.

I think perhaps more annoying than the decibel level of the unknown coach is the fact that his voice can be easily heard over an eerily silent canned crowd. Wright increases the lead back up to nine on a three point play at 5:15. That was NOT a kicked ball ref! Without Millsap, Denver has no one who can even remotely contain Leonard as the Raps lead by 13 at 3:53. It's not looking good for the Nuggets. Juancho finally scores (from the line) at 3:05 and the lead is eight. Craig continues to chuck from distance but as always, water seeks it's level and Mother Nature is undefeated. Morris once again regulates with a three of his own that is nothing but net, making him the third Nugget to reach double figures. Fortunately for the good guys, Leonard isn't playing 48 minutes tonight and the lead is down to six with under a minute remaining, on the strength of a 9-2 run. Denver is paced in TPM by Morris +10 & Beasley +11 as they trail 68-72 after three.

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Qtr4- In honor of the conclusion of Jokic week (is it ever not Jokic week) at Denver stiffs, I give you "Extreme Jokic Edition TPM" from roughly two years ago. One glimmer of hope for the Nuggets is the fact that Plumlee is well rested and avoided picking up a fourth foul in the third period, in some excellent game management by Malone/restraint from Mason. He's the defensive leader with 'Sap absent and vital to nearly all victories. Morris ties it up with a layup, on the strength of a 15-2 run, largely with Leonard on the bench. A Murray three gives the Nuggets the a two point lead; "a flurry from Murray" sayeth the always cheeky Marlowe. Leonard checks in at 9:25 with Denver leading by three. Toronto has missed nine straight shots while Murray went from zero to en fuego just when Denver needed it most. The Nuggets lead by eight, seemingly out of nowhere, on the strength of a 20-3 run! That x-mas commercial in no way, accurately depicted the size of an actual cooked Ostrich and DON'T ask me how I know! Murray makes four in double figures for Denver. A dunk by Kawhi stops the bleeding for the Raptors. Lyles gets his first bucket at 7:02.

Big Honey returns at 6:23 with an eight point lead. Toronto is now 0-8 from beyond the arc before OG FINALLY makes one at 6:07. Toronto, one of the NBA's elite free throw shooting teams is in the penalty with a full four minutes to play which is obviously sub-optimal. You can't afford to allow a great shooting team at the end of a road trip to get a break and score at the same time. Leonard hits two at the charity stripe and the lead is down to three. Ibaka gets hit with his fifth foul with 3:15 to go. Plumlee makes five in double figures for Denver who lead by three at 2:39. Nikola flexes after a tough shot in the lane drops and the lead is seven at 1:41. Ibaka fouls out and Juancho is so happy! Juancho is still on the bench for the record. Ibaka earns an immature T given the timing of it, which Murray converts and the lead is now eight. OG Hits a free throw with chicken on the line. CHICKEN I SAY, NOT ostrich! Jokic puts the nail in the Raptors coffin with a put-back with less than a minute to go and this one is ova! Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee/Beasley +11, Jokic +13 & Murray +17 as they "put on the Ritz" according to Marlowe, earning a 95-86 victory at home.
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Final Thoughts: Another beautifully putrid victory for the league's second youngest and far and away the most injured team, your Western Conference leading Denver Nuggets!

Jamal Murray might just be the most delightful little fucker in town

-My friend Andrew

Denver is 6-0 vs Golden State/OKC/Boston/Toronto. They held their opponent under the century mark for a league leading 13th time and for the first time emerge victorious in five games of scoring under 100 themselves. Mazzy and I are having chicken dinner any old way (for realzies) home cooked my my mom no less, cause we are winner-winners.

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The Nuggets Win!

Denver Nuggets Raptors vs Nuggets coverage Raptors HQ