This is quite likely the most unfair Photoshop job to take place outside of the Kardashian kompound (ask Jordan Clarkson or Tristan Thompson, they Know).

The outcome if this contest, thankfully does not rest upon who wins this particular match-up.

Is Barton available? IS the band back together?

Nuggets vs Cavs II: Denver can not exhibit a Cavalier attitude towards effort or they'll lose ground on the top seeded Warriors in the West.

When last these two teams squared off in game eight of this season the Nuggets (lap) enjoyed double figure TPM contributions from four players led by Juancho +24. Two players were in the red for that match-up led by DAP: -5 as the Nuggets won in an ugly blowout, if there can be such a thing, 110-91.

In that game Denver received an excellent contribution from Juancho, something that has been a rarity in recent days for this squad. That night in Cleveland he scored 23 points on 6-10 shooting including a sizzling 5-8 from downtown. Obviously, signs of life out of Juancho would be welcome but he's unlikely to play tonight due to his nagging abdominal strain.

With the team getting healthier, I advocate giving a week or more off to the young Spaniard so he can return to form because it's aparent that this injury is causing him to be a major liability on defense (I've observed opponents targeting him in fact, in nearly every game since his injury was made public knowledge) and his shot has suffered as well. There will come a time within this season in which his spacing will be exactly what Denver needs and he must be physically fit in order for this to be a weapon in the Nuggets arsenal.

As for this game, It's Denver's second straight at home versus Leastern Conference cellar-dwellers and it would be a good time for the Nuggets to prove that they are no longer prone to losing focus and playing down to the level of competition in B2B games, as the schedule becomes brutal in February and March and Denver needs to maintain separation between themselves and the latter half of the West's playoff teams.

Now here are some numbers you can use:

The first one is courtesy of Tiddy and I quite like this brand of simple, contextual math:

Jokic averaging 19.6 right now.

slowly raising his average to above 20. He would have to score 36 tonight to get it to 20 for the season.

- ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown

If Jokic accomplishes this, I call for a celebration of Tiddy in the post-game thread!

Cleveland gives up 113.7 PPG by their opponents on average, to Denver's 106.3

The Cavs average 102.8 ppg offensively to the Nuggets 111.0

This results in a net rating for Cleveland of -10.8 and +4.7 for Denver

Cleveland is 4-20 on the road while Denver is 19-4 at home

In terms of conference record The Cavs are 7-22 to the Nuggets 18-9 mark which is important only in as much as understanding the strength of schedule involved as the Western Conference is as much as ever, the stiffer competition.

Denver is also the only team in the league that is undefeated (6-0) within their division which also means next to nothing aside from using it as a barometer in the strength of competition level

Denver of course is second in the Western Conference standings, 1.0 games behind the Warriors while Cleveland currently resides in 15th place in the Leastern Conference, 24.5 games out, which is good for dead last in the NBA.

When it comes to the other meaningful statistical box-score production the comparison is as follows:

(team with advantage in bold)

CLE: RPG 42.2 APG 20.1 SPG 6.83 BPG 2.59 FG% .444 FT% .796 3% .356

DEN: RPG 46.8 APG 27.4 SPG 7.89 BPG 4.57 FG% .466 FT% .751 3% .357

The numbers on whole obviously favor the Nuggets but as anyone who reads my piece knows, I don't believe any statistic or even a complex, predictive conglomeration of statistics are nearly as accurate in indicating actual results as are the unquantifiable variables of "Mo & flow™" momentum and the ability to find the zone. To that end, Denver has won 13 of their last 18, while Cleveland have been victorious in just one of their last 14 games (the lone win coming against the lowly, Lebron-less Lakers).

For Denver, individual consistency is simply not a thing for this squad so it's more difficult to predict how a player will contribute based upon trends; particularly so as the starters begin filtering back from injury and roles are altered/redefined in the coming games. Jokic has been consistently good but in different ways seemingly every night.

With that said, Big Honey is a legit MVP candidate and an emerging superstar, while Murray is coming into his own as Robin to The Joker's Batman (I'm not certain how that works either) while Millsap/Harris provide secondary options when things get problematic on offense; simultaneously carrying the bulk of the defensive burden and the Nuggets boast one of the deepest benches in the league, even without Vandy, I.T. and MPJ.

There are of course many other variables at play including match-ups; styles make fights. For example, The Nuggets are very good while conversely, the Cavs are quite literally the worst. Kidding aside though, Cleveland like seemingly everyone, shoots free throws better than Denver... so there's that.

Prediction: Denver 136 (lap ) - Cleveland 97. I'm calling another blowout, seeing as how my score prediction vs Chicago was so close to being exact.

Side-note: Data only tonight as Saturday is my busiest day, as evidenced by this only being published 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

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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)

Cleveland Cavaliers Roster

NO	Name	POS	Age	HT	WT	College	Salary
8	Jordan "Kardashian" Klarkson	PG	26	6' 5"	194 lbs	Missouri	$12,500,000
15	Sam "Sconie" Dekker	SF	24	6' 9"	230 lbs	Wisconsin	$2,760,095
9	Channing "Pod-God" Frye	F	35	7' 0"	255 lbs	Arizona	$1,512,601
3	George "Over The" Hill	PG	32	6' 3"	188 lbs	IUPUI	$19,000,000
10	John "Dutch Boy" Holland	SG	29	6' 5"	205 lbs	Boston University	G-Money
1	"He Aint" Rodney "Rodgers" Hood	SG	26	6' 8"	206 lbs	Duke	$3,472,887
26	Kyle "Kutcher" Korver	SG	37	6' 7"	212 lbs	Creighton	$7,560,000
0	Kevin "Excitation" Love	PF	30	6' 10"	251 lbs	UCLA	$24,119,025
22	Larry "The Cowboy" Nance Jr.	PF	25	6' 9"	230 lbs	Wyoming	$2,272,391
12	David "Wait, I Thought He Was Cleveland's Tight End" Nwaba	SG	25	6' 4"	219 lbs	Cal Poly	$1,512,601
16	Cedi "Hailey Joel" Osman	SF	23	6' 8"	215 lbs	Parts Unknown	$2,775,000
20	Billy "Brag" Preston	SF	21	6' 10"	240 lbs	Kansas	G-Money
2	Collin "Sexy" Sexton	PG	19	6' 2"	190 lbs	Alabama	$4,068,600
5	JR "Glue" Smith	SG	33	6' 6"	225 lbs	Parts Unknown	$14,720,000
13	Tristan "Kardashian" Khompson	C	27	6' 10"	238 lbs	Texas	$17,469,565
41	Ante "Pro" Zizic	C	21	6' 11"	254 lbs	RIP Tony Bourdain	$1,952,760

Denver Nuggets Roster

NO	Name	POS	Age	HT	WT	College	Salary
5	Will "The People's Champion" Barton	SG	27	6' 6"	190 lbs	Memphis	$11,830,358
25	"Mutant" Malik Beasley	SG	22	6' 5"	195 lbs	Florida State	$1,773,840
3	Torrey "FUCKING" Craig	SF	27	6' 7"	215 lbs	USC Upstate	$2,000,000
2	Brandon "Hopefully Contributes To Many The" Goodwin	PG	23	6' 2"	180 lbs	Florida Gulf Coast	$630,032
14	"Just" Gary Harris	SG	24	6' 4"	210 lbs	Michigan State	$16,517,857
41	Juancho "The Mouthful" Hernangomez	PF	23	6' 9"	230 lbs	Espana	$2,166,360
15	Nikola "Big Honey" Jokic (AKA The Joker)	C	23	7' 0"	250 lbs	Gotham	$24,605,181
20	Tyler "Not just Anunobody" Lydon	PF	22	6' 10"	225 lbs	Syracuse	$1,874,640
7	Trey "The Swiss Army Spork" Lyles	PF	23	6' 10"	234 lbs	Kentucky	$3,364,249
4	Paul "The Anchorman" Millsap	PF	33	6' 8"	246 lbs	Louisiana Tech	$29,230,769
11	Monte "Ratio" Morris	PG	23	6' 3"	175 lbs	Iowa State	$1,349,383
27	Jamal "The Blue Arrow" Murray	PG	21	6' 4"	207 lbs	Kentucky	$3,499,800
24	Mason "Plumdog Millionaire" Plumlee	PF	28	6' 11"	235 lbs	Duke	$12,917,808
1	Michael "The Sleeper Cell" Porter Jr.	PF	20	6' 10"	210 lbs	Missouri	$2,894,160
0	Isaiah "Ice" Thomas	PG	29	5' 9"	185 lbs	Washington	$1,512,601
8	Jarred "The Amalgamated Version Of A Dude I Once Bought Weed From On Haight Ashbury" Vanderbilt	PF	19	6' 9"	214 lbs	Kentucky	$838,464
45	Thomas "Irvine" Welsh	C	22	7' 0"	255 lbs	UCLA	G-Money

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. Juancho is out with an abdominal strain. As for Cleveland, Henson is out with a wrist injury, as are Nwaba with an ankle injury, Thompson with a foot injury, Love with a toe injury and Nance with a knee injury. no excuses tonight Denver!

Re-up: Barton and Harris are both in tonight and the band is OFFICIALLY back together. now if only we could see them together in the starting lineup.

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Data:

TPM™ Game 45 CLE

Jamal Murray: +32

Isaiah Thomas: Injured

Monte Morris: +18

Brandon Goodwin: +2

Gary Harris: +4

Malik Beasley: +6

Torrey Craig: -4

Will Barton: +10

Juancho Hernangomez: N/A

Michael Porter Jr.: Injured

Jared Vanderbilt: Injured

Paul Millsap: +9

Trey Lyles: +19

Tyler Lydon: -4

Nikola Jokic: +23

Mason Plumlee: +8

Thomas Welsh: N/A

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Total TPM™

Jamal Murray: 45 games +797

Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0

Monte Morris: 45 games +531

Brandon Goodwin: 12 games +19

Nick Young: 3 games -2

Gary Harris: 27 games +404

Malik Beasley: 45 games +292

Torrey Craig: 41 games +16

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 6 games +5

Will Barton: 6 games +61

Juancho Hernangomez: 43 games +5

Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0

Jared Vanderbilt: 0 games +0

Paul Millsap: 37 games +335

Trey Lyles: 42 games +248

Tyler Lydon: 17 games -1

Nikola Jokic: 45 games +1001

Mason Plumlee: 45 games +350

Thomas Welsh: 9 games +18

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +17.71

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +11.80

Brandon Goodwin: +1.58

Nick Young: -0.67

Gary Harris: +14.96

Malik Beasley: +6.49

Torrey Craig: +0.39

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: +0.83

Will Barton: +10.17

Juancho Hernangomez: +0.12

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +9.05

Trey Lyles: 5.90

Tyler Lydon: -0.06

Nikola Jokic: +22.24

Mason Plumlee: +7.78

Thomas Welsh: +2.00

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 42:

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

Qtr1- The Nuggets again go with their 8th iteration of the injury-replacement starting five, consisting of Murray, Beasley, Craig, Millsap & Jokic. The Cavs counter with Sexton, Burks, Hood, Osman & Zizic.

Denver is paced in TPM by Jokic/Murray +15 as they lead 37-25 after one.

Qtr2- The

Denver is paced in TPM by Morris +10, Jokic +13 & Murray +24 as they lead 70-46 at the half.

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Qtr3- The

Denver is paced in TPM by Morris +13, Jokic +23 & Murray +32 as they lead 101-76 after three.

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Qtr4- The

Denver is paced in TPM by Barton +10, Morris +18, Lyles +19, Jokic +23 & Murray +32 as they win big, 124-102
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Final Thoughts: That'll do pig.

The Nuggets Win!

For context pertaining 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.

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