One of these guys is Luca, no?

This guy (take a lap Rasmussen!) Speaking of, Hawks/Nuggets (lap) fans alike should all fondly recall milquetoast superstar Blair Rasmussen from the 80's. I'm awaiting delivery on one of his scarce #41 Nuggets jerseys.

Keepin' the seat warm for Barton, Harris and Now Millsap. For fucks sake!

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 Atlanta II: May the Tyler Lydon era commence in earnest!

It would be easier to list the players who AREN'T injured at this point for the Western Conference's top team by record. 60% of the starting lineup is injured in Harris, Barton and Millsap, the presumed 6th man Isaiah Thomas who has yet to suit up, their prized can't-miss rookie Michael Porter Jr and defensive-stopper-rookie Jared Vanderbilt are all absent, all either for the majority/totality of the year or in the case of Millsap for at LEAST the next month and a half. I've never seen anything like it! This team is impossibly in first place by virtue of having beaten Golden State in their lone encounter (not to mention all other teams in the Western Conference not named Houston, as well as Toronto and Boston from the East.) Simply put, without superstar performances from Jokic/Murray and or the cavalry beginning to filter in from amongst the Mash unit, their reign atop the West is going to assuredly be short lived.

Some good may actually come of all of these seemingly insurmountable injuries. The NBA's second youngest team is getting valuable rotational minutes from the likes of Juancho, Morris & Beasley and as a result we are seeing them blossom right before our eyes. The next man up with the unfortunate injury to Millsap, would seem to be Lyles. Perhaps a starting nod will be exactly what he needs to refocus and get his shot dialed in. He more than most, tends to let his defense fall by the wayside when his J is awry so a well calibrated Lyles is a dangerous all-around player. I'm hopeful that Lyles' increased role will mean bench minutes for Lydon who has been impressive in his very limited action thus-far.

When last these two teams squared off in game 15 of this season, the Nuggets (lap) enjoyed double figure TPM contributions from a season high tying seven players led by Nikola Jokic: +30. Only Mason Plumlee: -5 was in the red for that encounter, as the Nuggets won in convincing fashion (to put it mildly) 138-93 in the Mile High City.

As for this game, even without a win this could easily be considered amongst the top 10 five game road trips in the history of this Nuggets franchise, all things considered but If they can manage a victory in Georgia and salvage a 4-1 trip, I'd have to place it at or extremely close to the top

Since these two teams have met recently and having already gone over the preposterous injury situation surrounding the Nuggets there isn't a whole lot more to say but for more scoop on this Atlanta team, please feel free to check out my game 15 summary here.

Prediction: Denver (lap) 121 - Atlanta 107.

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)

Atlanta Hawks 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 expected to play through knee soreness after banging kneecaps with PG13. Murray is "banged up". Barton had successful surgery on his abductor and hip. He is week to week (whatever that means.) Millsap suffered a broken toe, derailing what has been an excellent season and he'll like be out til the end of January minimum. As for ATL, Alex Poythress is questionable with an ankle injury, as are Jeremy Lin & Omari Spellman with back and hip maladies, respectively. Taurean Prince is out with an ankle ailment.

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Data:

TPM™ Game 26 ATL

Jamal Murray: +9

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +15

Brandon Goodwin: N/A

Gary Harris: Injured

Malik Beasley: +15

Torrey Craig: +4

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: +24

Mason Plumlee: +12

Thomas Welsh: All the TPM!!!

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Total TPM™

Jamal Murray: 26 games +425

Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0

Monte Morris: 26 games +308

Brandon Goodwin: 0 Games +0

Gary Harris: 21 games +315

Malik Beasley: 26 games +133

Torrey Craig: 21 games -6

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 6 games +5

Will Barton: 2 games +33

Juancho Hernangomez: 25 games +62

Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0

Jared Vanderbilt: 0 games +0

Paul Millsap: 25 games +238

Trey Lyles: 26 games +156

Tyler Lydon: +7 games +9

Nikola Jokic: 26 games +516

Mason Plumlee: 26 games +182

Thomas Welsh: 4 games +2

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +16.35

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +11.85

Brandon Goodwin: +0.00

Gary Harris: +15.00

Malik Beasley: +5.12

Torrey Craig: -0.29

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: +0.83

Will Barton: +16.50

Juancho Hernangomez: +2.48

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +9.52

Trey Lyles: 6.00

Tyler Lydon: +1.29

Nikola Jokic: +19.85

Mason Plumlee: +7.00

Thomas Welsh: +0.50

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 23/21:

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

Analysis: There will be no analysis tonight and TPM will be submitted late as I've an emergency WRT my dog. I'll track the data from my DVR at my earliest availability.

Qtr1- The Nuggets trot out their 5th iteration of the injury-replacement starting five, consisting of Murray, Craig, Lyles, Millsap & Jokic. The Hawks counter with Young, Bazemore, Dedmon, Huerter & Collins.

Denver is paced in TPM by as they lead after one.

Qtr2- The

Denver is paced in TPM by as they at the half.

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Qtr3- The

Denver is paced in TPM by as they after three.

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Qtr4- The

Denver is paced in TPM by as they

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Final Thoughts: The Nuggets lose 106-98. My dog survived a very scary incident today and I spent most of my day in the pet hospital but she looks like she'll be ok thankfully.

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We Suck Again!

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