Yahoo Sports fantasy pre-draft darling Allen & 1st time all star Russell goofing around.
My personal pick for best backup PG in the league (a fair argument could me made for Monte Morris), Colorado's own Spencer Dinwiddie. Get well soon!
The band may NEVER be back together! Murray is questionable with a nasty ankle injury, while Harris simply can't seem to shake his myriad, season-long leg injuries. Additionally it appears that The Anchorman is Absent with an ankle ailment to go along with his still-broken right big toe, so Denver's elite depth will undoubtedly be tested this evening.
Nuggets vs Nets II: Revenge game?!?!
When last these two teams squared off in game 12 of this season the Nuggets (lap) enjoyed double figure TPM contributions from only one player, Nikola Jokic: +26. Four players were in the red for that match-up, led by Torrey Craig: -8 as the Nuggets were defeated in one of only four occasions in which that has occurred this season in The Mile High City, 112-110.
As for this game, There is no doubt in my mind that the Nuggets badly want this one. The loss to the Nets as well as the two losses to the Bucks sting most as they are the only teams to have beaten the Nuggets at home without revenge. Denver can only dream of avenging their losses to the Bucks as that would mean they are in the NBA finals so perhaps with that in the back of their minds, the Nuggets are able to dig deep, depleted depth / exhausting road trip & all to eke one out In NY tonight.
Now here are some numbers you can use:
Brooklyn gives up 111.5 PPG by their opponents on average, to Denver's 106.5
The Nets average 111.1 PPG offensively to the Nuggets 111.7
This results in a net rating for Brooklyn of -0.3 and +5.2 for Denver
Brooklyn is 16-12 at home while Denver is 14-12 away from the friendly confines of The Pepsi Can.
In terms of conference record, the Nets are 20-15 to the Nuggets 23-10 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 of course is 2nd in the Western Conference standings, 1/2 game behind the Warriors while Brooklyn currently resides in 6th place in the Leastern Conference, 12.5 games out.
When it comes to the other meaningful statistical box-score production the comparison is as follows:
(team with advantage in bold)
BKN: RPG 46.4 APG 23.5 SPG 6.6 BPG 4.1 FG% 44.9 FT% 75.0 3% 35.2
DEN: RPG 46.3 APG 27.4 SPG 7.8 BPG 4.5 FG% 47.2 FT% 75.2 3% 35.6
The numbers on whole 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, The Nuggets have won 15 of their last 20 & 8 of their last 10 while the Nets have been victorious in 12 of their last 20 games & 6 of their last 10.
For this young Nuggets group, (fourth youngest in the NBA; was youngest at the start of the season but tank-moves made by CHI/NY/PHO have rendered them younger, since) individual consistency is simply not a thing 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 Barton is the much needed secondary ball handler/play-maker for when things go awry; a natural scorer/creator and the Nuggets boast one of the deepest benches in the league, even without Millsap, Harris, Murray, I.T. and MPJ.
There are of course many other variables at play including match-ups; styles make fights. For example, Brooklyn absolutely torched the early season Nuggets by shooting 28-42 or 66.7% from downtown. It remains to be seen if that is an issue of personnel or it was an isolated incident but it goes without saying that Denver loses if the Nets torch the nets again.
Prediction: Denver (lap ) 107 - Brooklyn 105
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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
Also, my DIY music production and videos can be heard/seen here if you don't value your ear-balls & eye-drums.
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And now what none of you come here for; how about some basketball nerdery?!?!
(After these messages... Er Nicknames)
Brooklyn Nets Roster
| NO | Name | POS | Age | HT | WT |
College | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 |
Jarrett Allen "Gargantuan Ginsberg" |
C | 20 | 6' 11" | 237 lbs | Texas | $2,034,120 |
| 9 | DeMarre "Joe Barry" Carroll | SF | 32 | 6' 8" | 215 lbs | Missouri | $15,400,000 |
| 33 | Allen "Wants To Rule Land Of Earth" Crabbe "People" | SG | 26 | 6' 6" | 212 lbs | California | $18,500,000 |
| 17 | "Retread" Ed Davis | PF | 29 | 6' 10" | 225 lbs | North Carolina | $4,449,000 |
| 8 | Spencer "All Growed Up Goatee" Dinwiddie | PG | 25 | 6' 6" | 210 lbs | Colorado |
$1,656,092 |
| 6 | Jared "Studly" Dudley | SF | 33 | 6' 7" | 237 lbs | Boston College | $9,530,000 |
| 35 | Kenneth Faried "His Conscience Of The Ridiculous Manimal Moniker... I Hope" |
PF | 28 | 6' 8" | 220 lbs | Morehead State | $13,764,045 |
| 21 | Treveon "Candy" Graham | SG | 25 | 6' 5" | 225 lbs | Virginia Commonwealth | $1,512,601 |
| 12 | Joe "Gary" Harris | SF | 27 | 6' 6" | 218 lbs | Virginia | $8,000,000 |
| 24 | Rondae "Thanksgiving In" Hollis-Jefferson | SF | 23 | 6' 7" | 217 lbs | Arizona | $2,470,357 |
| 00 | Rodions "Fallout" Kurucs | SF | 20 | 6' 9" | 210 lbs | Parts Unknown (RIP Tony Bourdain) |
$1,618,320 |
| 22 | Caris "Beuller... Beuller..." LeVert | SG | 24 | 6' 7" | 204 lbs | Michigan | $1,702,800 |
| 30 | Dzanan Musa "Lini" |
SG | 19 | 6' 9" | 195 lbs | Europa? |
$1,632,240 |
| 13 | Shabazz "Mataz" Napier | PG | 27 | 6' 1" | 180 lbs | Connecticut | $1,942,422 |
| 10 | Theo "Huxtable" Pinson | SG | 23 | 6' 6" | 218 lbs | North Carolina | G-Money |
| 1 | D'Angelo "How Does It Feel" Russell | PG | 22 | 6' 5" | 198 lbs | Ohio State | $7,019,698 |
| 15 | "Foulin" Alan Williams | PF | 25 | 6' 8" | 265 lbs | UC Santa Barbara | $5,000,000 |
Denver Nuggets - Roster
| NO | Player | POS | HT | WT | DOB (AGE) | EXP | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Will "The People's Champion" Barton | SG | 6-6 | 190 | 1/6/1991 (28) | 6 | Memphis |
| 25 | "Mutant" Malik Beasley | SG | 6-5 | 195 | 11/26/1996 (22) | 2 | Florida State |
| 3 | Torrey "FUCKING" Craig | SF | 6-7 | 215 | 12/19/1990 (28) | 1 | South Carolina Upstate |
| 6 | Brandon "Hopefully Contributes To Many The" Goodwin | PG | 6-2 | 180 | 10/2/1995 (23) | R | Central Florida; Florida Gulf |
| 14 | "Just" Gary Harris | SG | 6-4 | 210 | 9/14/1994 (24) | 4 | Michigan State |
| 41 | Juancho "The Mouthful" Hernangomez | PF | 6-9 | 230 | 9/28/1995 (23) | 2 | Espana |
| 15 | Nikola "Big Honey" Jokic (AKA The Joker) | C | 7-0 | 250 | 2/19/1995 (23) | 3 | Gotham |
| 20 | Tyler "Not just Anunobody" Lydon | PF | 6-10 | 225 | 4/9/1996 (22) | 1 | Syracuse |
| 7 | Trey "The Swiss Army Spork" Lyles | PF | 6-10 | 234 | 11/5/1995 (23) | 3 | Kentucky |
| 4 | Paul "The Anchorman" Millsap | PF | 6-8 | 246 | 2/10/1985 (33) | 12 | Louisiana Tech |
| 11 | Monte "Ratio" Morris | PG | 6-3 | 175 | 6/27/1995 (23) | 1 | Iowa State |
| 27 | Jamal "The Blue Arrow" Murray | PG | 6-4 | 207 | 2/23/1997 (21) | 2 | Kentucky |
| 24 | Mason "Plumdog Millionaire" Plumlee | PF | 6-11 | 235 | 3/5/1990 (28) | 5 | Duke |
| 1 | Michael "The Sleeper Cell" Porter Jr. | PF | 6-10 | 210 | 6/29/1998 (20) | R | Missouri |
| 0 | Isaiah "Ice" Thomas | PG | 5-9 | 185 | 2/7/1989 (29) | 7 | Washington |
| 8 | Jarred "The Amalgamated Version Of A Dude I Once Bought Weed From On Haight Ashbury" Vanderbilt | PF | 6-9 | 214 | 4/3/1999 (19) | R | Kentucky |
| 45 | Thomas "Irvine" Welsh | C | 7-0 | 255 | 2/3/1996 (23) | R | UCLA |
Update: MPJ and I.T. are sleeping on Ice, awaiting Intel as to when their services will be required. Murray is likely out with a badly twisted ankle. Harris is also out with recurring leg ailments. Millsap is questionable with a fresh ankle injury. As for the Nets, Caris LeVert (foot), Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb) and Jared Dudley (hamstring) are out while Harris and Crabbe are returning tonight, per Jason Max Rose at Nets Daily.
Re-up: Good news! Murray is finally back for the Nuggets tonight.
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Data:
TPM™ Game 54 BKN
Nikola Jokic: +16
Jamal Murray: +21
Monte Morris: +11
Mason Plumlee: +24
Will Barton: -5
Malik Beasley: +7
Trey Lyles: -4
Jared Vanderbilt: +7
Juancho: +7
Torrey Craig: -6
Thomas Welsh: N/A
Brandon Goodwin: N/A
Tyler Lydon: N/A
Gary Harris: Injured
Paul Millsap: Injured
Isaiah Thomas: Injured
Michael Porter Jr.: Injured
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Total TPM™
Nikola Jokic: 52 games +1219
Jamal Murray: 48 games +824
Monte Morris: 54 games +659
Mason Plumlee: 54 games +440
Will Barton: 15 games +122
Malik Beasley: 54 games +419
Trey Lyles: 51 games +288
Jared Vanderbilt: 2 games +10
Juancho: 51 games +11
Torrey Craig: 50 games -1
Thomas Welsh: 9 games +18
Brandon Goodwin: 16 games +28
Tyler Lydon: 21 games -2
Gary Harris: 32 games +448
Paul Millsap: 43 games +361
Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0
Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0
Nick Young: 3 games -2
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 6 games +5
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Avg. TPM™ Per Game
Nikola Jokic: +23.44
Jamal Murray: +17.17
Monte Morris: +12.20
Mason Plumlee: +8.15
Will Barton: +8.13
Malik Beasley: +7.76
Trey Lyles: +5.65
Jared Vanderbilt: +5.00
Juancho: +0.22
Torrey Craig: -0.02
Thomas Welsh: +2.00
Brandon Goodwin: +1.75
Tyler Lydon: -0.10
Gary Harris: +14.00
Paul Millsap: +8.40
Isaiah Thomas: N/A
Michael Porter Jr.: N/A
Nick Young: -0.67
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: +0.83
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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 48: 
*Credit DomP on the Spreadsheet. It's as if my (nerdy) baby (TPM™) learned to speak
Qtr1- The Nuggets go with their 14th iteration of the starting five, consisting of Murray, Beasley, Barton, Plumlee & Jokic, The Nets counter with Russell, Harris, Kurucs, Graham & Allen.
Data only tonight due to a hectic schedule.
Denver is paced in TPM by Murray +12 & Plumlee +16 as they lead 35-30 after one.
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Qtr2- The
Denver is led in TPM by Jokic +11, Plumlee +14, & Murray +16 as they trail 60-72 at the half.
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Qtr3- The
Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee +16 & Murray 18 as they trail 87-108 after three.
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Qtr4- The
Denver is paced in TPM by Morris +11, Nikola Jokic +16, Murray +21 & Plumlee +24 as they lose on the road to a good team, 135-130.
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Final Thoughts: "The Hex doesn't work on Serbians. Mr Whammy doesn't know that" -Marlowe. Turns out it absolutely does though.
Denver has got to figure out how to defend the three point line without over-emphasizing it in practice/film -study to a point of offensive detriment.
Also, Nuggets Twitter/Stiffs comment threads are RIDICULOUS! There is more to every story than what is occurring this very second. This team is fine. Road trips while injured aren't SUPPOSED to be pretty.
Weird how D suffers when your two best defenders are absent.
Anyone starting to understand that the value of Millsap has nothing at all to do with numbers yet? He hasn't been right since the toe injury and neither have the Nuggets. Prior to that, they were elite and the team was following his lead; some in the media were even calling it his team. How quickly we forget.
NOBODY misses pre-injury 'Sap more than Big Honey.
Shut Juanch-0 down until he is healthy. This makes no sense. I would rather see the healthy rookies like Goodwin/Vanderbilt/Welsh try to inject energy.
Simply put; Denver is playing with too many people who aren't yet healthy and sitting too many who are still injured to be competitive against NBA teams.
Side note, despite the less-than-celebratory nature of this loss, I'm just gonna leave this victory gif up
A) because the SBNATION platform has been hella fickle lately about adding/taking away gifs which sometimes causes HOURS of labor and
B) Because it'll make the Philly game less tedious to put together as I plan on doing full data/analysis. ALSO I'm really not all that concerned about this Nuggets team big picture, that is unless 'Sap doesn't ever return to pre-toe-injury form.
We Suck Again!
We Suck Again!
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 42 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.
