Coach Pringles, take CP3 out this time when up 36, 10 minutes after all Nuggets Starters have exited.

Ugggh! That P&R though!

Still keepin' the seat warm for The Anchorman.

Denver vs Houston: Uncle!

There are no two ways about it; this years Rockets OWN the Nuggets and it's not even competitive. On the rare occasions in which they aren't masterfully maneuvering Denver's dreadful defenders, meticulously monopolizing myriad mismatches, duly desired (take a lap Patrick!) in the half court, their fall-back plan is to utilize Harden/CP3 in the P&R which inevitably results in dunks for whichever big man (usually Capella) happens to be on the receiving end, because the Nuggeys guards and Jokic are simply put, clueless as to how to defend it, particularly against perhaps the two best P&R guards in the league.

When last these teams met just five games ago, Denver was paced in TPM by a mere TWO players in double figures (Morris +19 & Lyles +24), while Craig registered a team low for any individual in a game this season of -22 en route to a 104-130 defeat, the second such embarrassing loss vs Houston in two meetings. Only Lyles of the three figures to see any action in this one.

I've said my peace about my distaste for Pringles leaving starters out there ten minutes after Malone had called off the dogs so I won't delve deeply into that this time, since apparently that is something he's known to do against all teams in blowouts (not just in both occasions vs Denver this season) and Rockets fans don't appreciate it any more than I do. Obviously, the way to prevent that is to show up against this team for once and make certain that when CP3 and Capella are out there in the 4th, it's because they damned well need to be, so that my final thoughts can be even remotely more celebratory than last time:

Final Thoughts: I'm going to go smoke two cigarettes simultaneously and then cry as I sit down in the shower, water sprinkling down upon me haphazardly.

Denver isn't going to somehow learn at this point in the year how to defend this team (or any for that matter) so here's hoping that Malone instructs the team to hearken back to the Doug Moe era teams of the 80's-90's, draw up zero plays, let Big Honey and company go to work and attempt to outscore the Rockets.

Alex will be notating the analysis for me again tonight so's I can sit back, track the TPM and enjoy me some NBA basketball for a change. Again, still my words, I just don't have to concentrate on typing. Thanks Al!

Go Nuggets!

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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

Coach: Mike "Coach Pringles" D'Antoni

Denver Nuggets Roster

Coach: Michael "Mr Imagination" Malone

Update: Millsap had successful left wrist surgery and is expected back in a matter of days, Lydon is out for the year after tearing up his knee in the G-League, Plumlee is probable with a calf strain and Craig is out with a G-League loop-hole related injury for Denver. As for Houston, only Gordon is listed as out with an illness, and Nene is out with age.

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

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TPM™ Game 60 HOU

Jamal Murray: +8

Devin Harris: -9

Monte Morris: N/A

Gary Harris: +3

Will Barton: +21

Malik Beasley: +10

Torrey Craig: N/A

Wilson Chandler: +8

Juancho Hernangomez: N/A

Richard Jefferson: N/A

Paul Millsap: N/A

Kenneth Faried: N/A

Trey Lyles: +8

Darrell Arthur: N/A

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +20

Mason Plumlee: +13

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Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta

Jamal Murray: 59 Games +622

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: 42 Games +396

Devin Harris: 5 Games +0

Monte Morris: 3 Game +20

Gary Harris: 56 Games +847

Will Barton: 59 Games +656

Malik Beasley: 50 Games +70

Torrey Craig: 26 Games -31

Wilson Chandler: 54 Games +348

Juancho Hernangomez: 21 Games -16

Richard Jefferson: 15 Games -5

Paul Millsap: 16 Games +173

Kenneth Faried: 32 Games +25

Trey Lyles: 54 Games +427

Darrell Arthur: 15 Games +4

Tyler Lydon: 1 Games -3

Nikola Jokic: 53 Games +839

Mason Plumlee: 52 Games +203

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +10.54

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: +9.43

Devin Harris: +0.00

Monte Morris: +6.67

Gary Harris: +15.13

Will Barton: +11.12

Malik Beasley: +1.40

Torrey Craig: -1.19

Wilson Chandler: +6.44

Juancho Hernangomez: -0.76

Richard Jefferson: -0.33

Paul Millsap: +10.81

Kenneth Faried: +0.78

Trey Lyles: +7.91

Darrell Arthur: +0.28

Tyler Lydon: -3.00

Nikola Jokic: +15.83

Mason Plumlee: +3.73

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 59:

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

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Analysis:

Qtr2- Lyles giveth, Lyles taketh away; Denver's matador defense is on full display. Same song second verse, could be better but it's worse. All apologies, Dr Seuss sneaked into The Pat Cave and usurped Alex' duties between periods. 43-28 @ 10:06. Beautiful dish by Plumlee results in a bucket for Lyles. Plumlee is having a positive impact on the game but his teammates are not capitalizing for the most part. The bench unit lead by Plumdog has cut the lead to 11, largely through defense and transition. Unlike in recent games, the bench is carrying Denver @ 7:17. Malone is calling plays, CP3 is alerting the team as to what they are, Denver started performing offensively when Malone stopped calling plays: Stop it! Barton is the first Nugget to reach double figures. Harden draws yet another 4-point play, this one of the completely erroneous variety, however he fails to convert the free throw as the Rockets lead by 10 @4:40. Barton and Old Mud have both nabbed three fouls.

Gary hacks the bejesus out of Harden to demonstrate to the officiating crew what an actual foul looks like. Jamal is the second Nugget to reach double-digits. Beasley is playing well but failing to convert. Harden fouls for the second time in his career. Big Honey has got to be wondering if there is a lid on the rim at this point. Jamal picks up his third foul and checks out. Foul trouble is becoming a serious issue for Denver's perimeter defenders. Houston's entire offense at the moment is predicated on the fake and rake and why not, since Denver is falling for it. Old Mud picks up his fourth foul! Once again things are not looking promising for the good guys as Houston leads by 17 with under a minute left to play. Anderson is the first Rocket in foul trouble with his third. Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee +11 & Barton +14, as they trail 66-52 at the half.

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Halftime: Smoke break? Stupid question, stupid section.

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Qtr3- Barton travels and is rewarded with a 3-pointer. CP3 and Harden have got to be the most intelligent back-court pairing in the history of the league in terms of navigating loopholes. Denver cuts it to eight @ 9:30 as Houston plays with uncharacteristic nonchalance. "In a world where one can spell [nonchalance] without looking but misspells the city of the other team; Huston we have a problem" -Alex. Harden draws YET ANOTHER fake and rake on a play in which Chandler LITERALLY, not figuratively, only breathed on him. The Rockets lead by 12 @ 4:51 Barton nabs his fourth foul. Jokic has a 2D @ 5:45 as he becomes the third Nugget to reach double figures. He is now three assists shy of a 3D. Big Honey's water-polory has been ever-present but ineffective in the third. The Nuggets only hope is for the bench to show as they did in the first half. Only Lyles has been inserted thus far. Ally is speaking about Jimmy Butler in the past tense; bad news for the Wolves. The ball is out of bounds; refs decide "when in doubt, Houston ball". Lyles is the 4th Nugget to reach double digits. Denver is paced in TPM by Lyles & Plumlee +11, Jokic +12 and Barton +14 but have their work cut out for them, down 92-79 after three.

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Qtr4- What do you know? Old Mud draws the first four point play of the day for the good guys. The bench unit for Denver is playing just ok this time which basically spells doom for the Nuggets according to my above, one ingredient formula. In what seems to be developing into a pattern, Old Mud is having a nice 2nd half following a poor first. The Rockets still lead by 15 however at 8:19. The Nuggets have 50 PITP and still trail by 14 at 7:10. Anderson gets his 5th foul as Denver's starters check in at 6:48, down by 14. The Nuggets cut it to 9 after a transition &one by Barton. Jamal legitimately fouls Harden at 5:50 so I made a note of it. He hits 1-2 and the lead is ten. Are the Rockets running out of steam? Gary cuts it to seven 5:06 and the crowd is finally engaged.

Capella CLEARLY bats the ball out of bounds and after much deliberation the refs decide they do not have any leg to stand on in terms of rewarding Houston, so Denver gains possession. The Nuggets are in the Bonus at 3:37, down just 5. It's a six point game with 2:33 to play after a Harden FT. Big Honey cuts it to four on a finally-fixed water-polo tip at 2:00. The eleventy brazillianth phantom call sends The Beard back to the line and he extends the lead to 6 with 1:17 to play. STOP FUCKING CALLING PLAYS FOR CP3 MALONE! Jokic cuts it to four again with :19 to go but it's too little, too late. The Nuggets battled hard but were simply outclassed by IMHO the best team in the league, once again (seventh straight victory overall vs Denver.) Harden goes off for 41-8-7. Denver is paced in TPM by Beasley +10, Plumlee +13, Jokic +20 & Barton +21 but it was not to be, as the Rockets win 119-114.

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Final Thoughts: It bears repeating, no matter the outcome of this one, lets seriously not breathe life into bad nicknames Stiffs. There are enough VERY GOOD nicknames on the team as is. Hey they somewhat showed up tonight! Points! To all Houston fans, I apologize for my cynicism but Denver has been getting utterly hosed by the officials as of late.

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We Suck Again!

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