Wiz Kids.

Our nation's capital has always been extreme.

The band is back together but is it too late?

Nuggets vs Wizards:

When last these two teams faced off, Denver enjoyed double digit TPM performances from four players, lead by +19 from Big Honey, only Chandler was in the red (-8) en route to a close defeat in game three of the season, 109-104.

Denver is given only a 37% chance of winning this one by something called Five Thirty Eight, whatever nerd-craft gamble-witchery site that is. Have I ever mentioned how little I care for NBA gambling? Not because I have any deep seeded loath towards gambling, hurt feelings over certain ex-referees who shall remain nameless, addiction or anything of the sort. Hell I've done my time with vice addiction of all sorts. Gambling was never a part of my regimen but I can certainly identify with the appeal and or tendency.

What I can not stand is what gambling has done to most conversation pertaining to basketball, particularly in NBA blogs, or professionally-published online-article comment sections such as ESPN, CBS, etc; reputable news sources, YouTube, hell anywhere you can find a comment section where trollery can proliferate and fester in earnest (and no, I'm not speaking specifically or even at all about SBNATION)

All nuance, human element, theory, context, variables and often times simple common sense, gets thrown out the window and often times ridiculed, as the conversation is inevitably steered toward robotic probability, based upon predictive analytics which invariably are borne of undisclosed, proprietary formula as a means for these data collection entities to protect their cash cow.

That my friends, is a run-on sentence. I Bet you didn't predict that! Ok, my less casual readers certainly could but they most certainly do not fit the profile of NGP's (nerdgamblophiles.)

This results in said nerdgamblophiles informing any and everyone unfortunate enough to post innocuous basketball theory related topics in a BASKETBALL BLOG, that they are incorrect in all manner of opinions, based on predictive formulas that these NGP's literally could not possibly understand (again due to proprietary non-disclosure) any more than to say that the predictive nature of these metrics has a good track record.

It's analogous to simulating an entire season of an NBA video game to see if you can win, based on number adjustment, without enjoying actually playing the game itself. This notion makes me want to smoke two cigarettes at once while chugging a bleach/tide-pod cocktail.

The very reasons I was drawn towards the sport I love are all inadmissible in the court of public geekery as each gambling algorithm savant does their best to more contrarian than thou themselves into any and all topics; many of which they have no business interjecting in the first place. Does not compute! Error! Abort! Access denied!

I'm better off calling "104.3 The Fan" (for those of you who may be visiting from D.C. or elsewhere, this is a Denver sports-radio station that ONLY talks about every minute detail of the Denver Broncos, 24-7-365) to talk about the Nuggets because at least they won't present me with a binary response; just an uninformed one, likely about who should play right guard for the Broncos and in which round they should draft a backup nose tackle.

I find that exponentially more appealing than 0001010001010001.

In case you haven't noticed yet, I'm attempting to set a new intergalactic record for pretentious usage of the semi-colon in this diatribe. I'd settle for silver in snarcasm if I can't reach the semi-colon podium... the semi-colodium as it's known by in some circles.

Apologies for the lack of in depth analysis in terms of the game at hand but I do like to mix things up from time to time in my piece. It's a gamble so perhaps more people will relate than my computer bank previously predicted in beta. That answer is of course: 42.

Prediction: Denver 124-Washington 121

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)

Washington Wizards Roster

Coach: "Long Shot" Scott Brooks

Denver Nuggets Roster

Coach: Michael "Mr Imagination" Malone

Update: Lydon is out for the year after tearing up his knee in the G-League, Chandler is probable with the ever-present hip issues and "Gary Harris" is out with a mild sprain of the left knee, and no illness can slow a savvy veteran like 'Sap. He's strong as an ox (with one bad hoof) and good to go, for Denver. As for Washington, Wall is due to return any day now from his knee injury, Scott & Meeks are both questionable with illnesses.

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

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TPM™ Game 73 WAS

Jamal Murray: +29

Devin Harris: +5

Monte Morris: N/A

Gary Harris: N/A

Will Barton: +11

Malik Beasley: N/A

Torrey Craig: +3

Wilson Chandler: +3

Juancho Hernangomez: N/A

Richard Jefferson: N/A

Paul Millsap: +5

Kenneth Faried: N/A

Trey Lyles: N/A

Darrell Arthur: N/A

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +4

Mason Plumlee: +16

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Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta

Jamal Murray: 72 Games +837

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: 42 Games +396

Devin Harris: 16 Games +93

Monte Morris: 3 Game +20

Gary Harris: 65 Games +948

Will Barton: 72 Games +833

Malik Beasley: 58 Games +92

Torrey Craig: 30 Games -15

Wilson Chandler: 66 Games +480

Juancho Hernangomez: 22 Games -20

Richard Jefferson: 19 Games +2

Paul Millsap: 29 Games +261

Kenneth Faried: 32 Games +25

Trey Lyles: 64 Games +440

Darrell Arthur: 18 Games +4

Tyler Lydon: 1 Games -3

Nikola Jokic: 66 Games +1063

Mason Plumlee: 65 Games +254

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +11.63

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: +9.43

Devin Harris: +5.81

Monte Morris: +6.67

Gary Harris: +14.58

Will Barton: +11.57

Malik Beasley: +1.59

Torrey Craig: -0.50

Wilson Chandler: +7.27

Juancho Hernangomez: -0.91

Richard Jefferson: +0.11

Paul Millsap: +9.00

Kenneth Faried: +0.78

Trey Lyles: +6.88

Darrell Arthur: +0.22

Tyler Lydon: -3.00

Nikola Jokic: +16.11

Mason Plumlee: +3.91

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 71:

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

Analysis:

Qtr2- Both teams are now relentlessly and wisely attacking the rim, largely to no avail. Jokic is STILL ice cold and the Wizards cut it to two at 10:52. Craig is having his first B2B solid-effort-string, since Hector was a pup. The teams are basically trading buckets, as the Denver lead is four at 8:46. Jokic is now just 1-7 from the floor. Keep shootin'. Shoot better. Denver turns the ball over for just the first time at 7:35. Millsap's D has been exceptional tonight. Craig checks out after perhaps his best stint of the season, up four at 5:55. The one night I chose not to start The Blue Arrow in fantasy! He's en fuego and the lead balloons to 13 on the strength of a "9-0 scoring blitz" at 3:39. It just occurred to me that I also have Barton, Chandler & Millsap on my fantasy squad and if it means Nuggets victories, hell, I'll sit them all the rest of the season, despite being in the midst of our league's playoffs.

Barton and Jokic are seen arguing amongst themselves, presumably about which of them is the worse defender. Washington cuts it to six on the strength of a 7-0 run of their own, at 2:16. Jokic is still shooting and starting to slowly find his mark. Earlier in the year he'd have retired his shot by now. He's the 2nd Nugget to reach double digits. Marlowe busts out his nightly "Wilt Chamberlain on a ladder couldn't have gotten to that one", as a Helter-Skelter first half comes to a close. No players for either squad are in any sort of serious, individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Chandler +10 & Murray +23 and lead 55-43 at the half.

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Halftime: Smoke break? Stupid question, stupid section.

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Qtr3- Jokic is still in the red in terms of TPM as we begin the 2nd half. He sticks two straight threes whilst allowing two on the other end and so it goes. It is raining threes for both squads and Jokic can't seem to hold onto the ball in what I'm told is a frigid arena tonight, as the Wizards cut it to eight at 8:20. Both teams are scoring at will at the moment, with the Wizards exhibiting slightly more of said will. It is a six point margin at 5:47. Old Mud and Plumlee check in and seem to be righting the ship at 4:01. Washington is undoubtedly playing with far more purpose, as they are humming the ball around unselfishly, on the perimeter. Denver needs to be very careful not to lose momentum with Big Honey sitting. The lead is still five with 2:50 to play in the third but you can just sense a tide shift looming. Malone wisely calls a timeout at this juncture.

Jokic checks in at it's conclusion. He has a mere one assist on the evening; an illustration of Denver's lack of movement without the ball. Plumlee and Jokic are both in for this stretch to close out the third. Washington takes the lead on a Beal three but Old Mud takes it right back on a three of his own. Beal decides, "This is fun" and re-returns the favor, with exactly one minute to play. Old Mud HILARIOUSLY does the same! This is a lot of fun, if not easy on the ol' ticker. We've got a barn burner ladies and gentlemen. Old Mud is the third Nugget to reach double figures. No players for either squad are in any sort of serious, individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee +14 & Murray +23 and lead 78-76 after three.

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Qtr4- Everyone and their dog is texting me at the moment. Denver has simply GOT to find a way to get open looks for Murray in the 4th if they'd like to steal one on the road tonight. The Nuggets lead by three at 9:25. Unbeknownst to myself, Washington has defeated the Nuggets in three straight meetings. "Mike Scott is not exactly Pete Maravich with the passing", deadpans Marlowe. Torrey Craig makes four Nuggets in double digits as Denver leads by four at 8:17. Old Mud & Plumlee are obviously working together in their down-time as they have a very nice on-court chemistry working lately, especially in this game. Oubre has impressed me tonight; perhaps they're willing to part with Porter? The officials are swallowing their whistles on both ends. Denver leads by four at 6:04. Big Honey and The Blue Arrow check in at this time. Barton is the fifth player to reach double figures for the good guys. The Polish fellow whom I'd previously believed to be African-American, drains a three and the lead is down to one for Denver at 4:48.

Folks are not going to believe me when they look at Big Honey's line after this one and compare it to his TPM score but I speaketh the truth! Jokic is pushed into a screen but called for a foul. The Wiz retake the lead at 4:20 (smoke 'em if you got 'em) with a bunny. Jamal answers with his first open look/first three of the 2nd half. The Nuggets lead by two and it's gone from a barn-burner to a nail biter over the course of one quarter's time. Barton sticks a huge three and the lead is now five with 1:21 to go. Mutombo, er I mean Barton goes on to obtain a clutch block against Oubre and Denver has possession at 1:11. Hastings just saw a shiny thing; Ally Sturm on the jumbotron. Washington is playing the foul game and they had one to give. One more foul and Barton heads to the line where he calmly sinks both, giving Denver a six point lead with 1:01 to play. Oubre scores off of an offensive rebound and the margin is down to five with :465 to go. Murray dribbles it down to :415 before being fouled and hitting both from the charity stripe. Beal drills a WIDE THE FUCK OPEN three and the lead is down to four at :323. Compounding this error, Old Mud turns over the old "Charles Barkley inbound off the player facing away" pass, into a turnover but Washington fails to convert, following two Barton freebies and that's all she wrote. Denver is paced in TPM by Barton +11, Plumlee +16 & Murray +29 and they win it, 108-100 in D.C!

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Final Thoughts: That was a huge, absolutely necessary, roadie for the Nuggets. Home-town Kid, Barton was clutch at the end of this one. Denver's free throw shooting down the stretch was paramount, in securing this enormous, road victory. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

The Nuggets Win!

Denver Nuggets