They Aight... If you're into that whole "best back-court in the NBA" thing.

Welcome aboard "Old Mud." Sad to see the Nuggets give up on you far too early "Young Mud."

Still keepin' the seat warm for The Anchorman.

Denver vs Houston: The new-look Nuggets won't be in play yet but they must continue their excellent recent effort against the elite, in order to pull out a W vs arguably the best team in the NBA.

Pre-Game Thoughts: In the wake if the trade that we all saw coming but I was dreading nonetheless, Denver takes on The Rockets, a team who last keelhauled the Nuggets in their third worst loss of the season in terms of team TPM total (+16 combined) in a 125-90 defeat. In that game Denver enjoyed ZERO double figure contributions in TPM and had two players in the red; part of which could be explained by the fact that it was the first game after the devastating injury to Millsap/suspension of Malone but most of it was due to the fact that the Rockets are just that good.

In the Big Honey era, Denver has had no answer for the Harden/CP3 P&R with either Nene or Capella and HOU was the first team this season to exploit Denver in what has since then been a pattern; switching into mismatches, of which there are many amongst their defensive starting unit and getting the exact match-up they want on virtually every time down the court. When that doesn't work, getting Jokic involved in the P&R and lobbing to a capable big man for an uncontested dunk is never a bad option. In short, while Denver matches up extremely well with GS, HOU is the polar opposite.

The Rockets who boast of the leagues leading scorer (by a wide margin of almost 4 points) in Harden, also have two other players averaging nearly 20 points (CP3/Gordon), and SEVEN PLAYERS AVERAGING OVER DOUBLE FIGURES! Let that all sink in. Additionally, Capella averages nearly 11 boards and 2 blocks to go along with 14.3 points, Harden and CP3 both average over 8 assists per game, Harden Paul & Ariza all average above 1.5 steals and 5 of their top 8 scorers shoot at or around .380+ from distance.

Is it any wonder that they are winners of 6 straight, 15 out of their last 17 and are just one game behind the Warriors who lead the NBA in win%?

Without the services of Old Mud (slang for Old Milwaukee beer for those of you not in the know, as Devin hails from there) or Young Mud (the dearly departed Mudiay: Credit DomP), we can expect to see a lot of Barton running the point but that's really no different than usual since he often refuses to allow actual PG's to handle the ball.

Clearly, Denver has their work cut out for them tonight "Goin' back to Houston." (Hint: You won't catch the reference unless you listen to the song in it's entirety)

Go Nuggets!

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 some time around the all star break, Lydon is out for the year after tearing up his knee in the G-League, Plumlee is out with a calf strain Old Mud is not yet active pending physical etc & Craig is questionable with a hamstring injury, for Denver. As for HOU, Joe is questionable with an elbow injury as are Gordon with a back injury, Ariza with a hamstring injury, and Anderson with an ankle injury.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________________________________________________

TPM™ Game 54 HOU

Jamal Murray: +4

Devin Harris: N/A

Monte Morris: +19

Gary Harris: +2

Will Barton: -9

Malik Beasley: +1

Torrey Craig: -22

Wilson Chandler: +7

Juancho Hernangomez: +1

Richard Jefferson: N/A

Paul Millsap: N/A

Kenneth Faried: N/A

Trey Lyles: +24

Darrell Arthur: +1

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +4

Mason Plumlee: +N/A

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta

Jamal Murray: 54 Games +561

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: 42 Games +396

Devin Harris: 0 Games +0

Monte Morris: 2 Game +20

Gary Harris: 51 Games +780

Will Barton: 54 Games +559

Malik Beasley: 46 Games +64

Torrey Craig: 25 Games -29

Wilson Chandler: 49 Games +279

Juancho Hernangomez: 19 Games -16

Richard Jefferson: 15 Games -5

Paul Millsap: 16 Games +173

Kenneth Faried: 32 Games +25

Trey Lyles: 49 Games +396

Darrell Arthur: 12 Games +7

Tyler Lydon: 1 Games -3

Nikola Jokic: 48 Games +706

Mason Plumlee: 50 Games +187

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +10.39

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: +9.43

Devin Harris: N/A

Monte Morris: +10.00

Gary Harris: +15.29

Will Barton: +10.35

Malik Beasley: +1.39

Torrey Craig: -1.16

Wilson Chandler: +5.69

Juancho Hernangomez: -0.84

Richard Jefferson: -0.33

Paul Millsap: +10.81

Kenneth Faried: +0.78

Trey Lyles: +8.08

Darrell Arthur: +0.58

Tyler Lydon: -3.00

Nikola Jokic: +14.71

Mason Plumlee: +3.74

__________________________________________________________________________________________

TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 54:

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

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Analysis:

Qtr2- The Nuggets have already utilized 9 players which is highly abnormal for them. Darth has been shooting much better of late with increased PT. Imagine that? Capella already has 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who lead by 12 at 9:30. The Nuggets are playing an all bench unit vs the likes of CP3, Gordon, Capella & Anderson and it results in a 14 point lead for HOU at 8:43. Murray & Chandler are Malone's counter-move at this time. Barton is having a dreadful night and he usually plays very well against this team. He's -7 in TPM at the moment. Capella has a 2D already at 6:50 for the Rockets. Big Honey returns at this point. Gary is 0-5 and Denver, 2-16 from downtown as they trail by 14 at 4:28. That as well as Capella's interior dominance are the story in this game.

Gary misses another from deep and is now 0-6, 1-8 overall, on mostly good looks. Too much wine with RJ last night? Denver hasn't won in Houston since Big Honey's very first game as a pro. The lead is up to 19 at 2:44 and it's not looking good for the Nuggets. Gary is smartly taking it inside with his shot not falling, to his credit. Denver still has nobody in double figures as Jokic exits with 2 fouls; a smart move by Malone, at 1:25. Chandler and Craig also have 2 fouls but who do you replace them with on this night? I'd say Lyles and Beasley (the latter of whom was their top performer vs HOU in terms of TPM last time) but what do I know? Chandler finally becomes the first Nugget in double figures. No players for either squad are in any sort of individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Lyles +9 as they have their work cut out for them, down 63-46 at the half.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Halftime: Smoke break? Stupid question, stupid section.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Qtr3- Big Honey is the 2nd Nugget in double digits. He is still utterly clueless in help defense vs Capella in the P&R. He picks up his 4th foul and takes a seat due to exactly this described cluelessness, as the Rockets increase their lead to 21 at 9:13. Let's go with Darth at the 5 Malone. Correction; Jokic stays in which I question. Harden and Capella are making the Nuggets look like the little sisters of the poor and they lead by 24 at 8:11. It's time to inject some seldom used players in the hopes of catching lightning in a bottle and at worst, you then have the option of resting the regulars in the 4th QTR, with a date in Phoenix looming tomorrow night. Malone disagrees and all starters remain in for Denver. It's 56-81 HOU at 7:21.

This is the type of game that could cause the young Nuggets to develop some bad habits and that's precisely what occurred following their first encounter with Houston. Barton traveled about 4 times on one drive just now and he's of course rewarded with free throws. Craig is the lone bench player to enter at 6:30. Big Honey is most likely done for the night. The lead is now 28 at 5:04 And all starters but Jokic remain in. Malone FINALLY agrees and inserts Juancho, Morris, Lyles and Beasley. Lyles is the lone bright spot for Denver tonight. Harden & Capella remain in at 2:19, up 22. Lyles is just the 3rd Nugget in double digits. Capella mercifully checks out at 1:31 with 23-23! Only Jokic, who is likely done for the evening is in foul trouble for either squad. Denver is paced in TPM by Lyles +15 but have already lost, down 97-70 after three.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Qtr4- CP3 and Capella are inexplicably STILL out there. Pringles pulled this bullshit last time with CP3 and it's classless! Once is questionable, twice is a pattern. CP3/Harden have 16 FT's, Denver as a team has 13 but this is for the most part due to lack of penetration on Denver's part. It's 111-76 at 8:58. I get that CP3 and Harden are their primary ball-handlers but there is NO REASON at all Pringles couldn't turn the reigns over to Gordon (or anyone else vs our G-League call up Morris) to close it out. Harden and Capella FINALLY check out at 8:45, up 36! This only confirms that CP3 was out there to rub it in. So unnecessary! Morris is impressive in his first extended minutes of the season. This has been "Clear a roster spot for" Torrey FUCKING Craig's worst game as a pro, by far and he's got an almost impressive -19 TPM score thus far. The lead is 33 at 4:25. Morris throws nice, crisp chest passes, particularly on the perimeter. Morris is the 4th Nugget to reach double figures. This one is thankfully, history. Denver is paced in TPM by Morris +19, Lyles +24, Craig finishes a season low for any Nugget -22 and they manage to embarrass themselves almost as much as Coach Pringles himself did in defeat, 104-130

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

We Suck Again!

Denver Nuggets Nuggets vs Rockets coverage Nuggets vs Rockets coverage