Daly Doses 04-26-22: Thoughts, reflections, and derision from the Mile High City

The Denver Nuggets staved off being swept on Sunday, by outlasting the Golden State Warriors in Game 4, of their first round NBA Playoff series.

We call that “delaying the inevitable”.

Much like the collapse that is coming soon for the Colorado Rockies.

Oh I know. “It’s going to be different for the Rox this year.”

Yeah, just like the last 29 years, save exactly one.

On Sunday, the Nuggets delayed the inevitable by shooting over 56% from the field, and 48% from three point range.

The Warriors meanwhile shot just 50% from the field and only 35% from three point land. Steph Curry even managed to miss four free throws.

So basically the Nuggets played their “A- game” and the Warriors brought their “D+” game.

And the Nuggets still had to hold on for dear life to get the 126-121 win.

That’s a really bad sign for tomorrow night in the Bay area, where the Warriors are favored by just nine points.

My advice? Lay the points.

The Nuggets crashing and burning in the NBA postseason? Old habits die hard.

Another bad sign for the Mile High region has been the recent play of the Colorado Avalanche.

With just three games remaining before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, the Avs have now lost four games in a row.

Maybe this is what comes with already having the best record in the conference locked up.

Let’s just hope it isn’t a sign of things to come.

The Denver Broncos will begin to do more work on their roster this week at the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas.

Barring a trade, the Broncos will be waiting until the very end of the second round on Friday night, to make a selection.

There are a number of directions that general manager George Paton could go with the nine selections that the Broncos possess.

Linebacker, defensive back, offensive line, tight end or defensive line help should all be considerations.

But after the job Paton did last year picking up Baron Browning, Caden Sterns, and Jonathon Cooper in the latter rounds, it feels like we are in good hands.

I mean, unless John Elway goes barging into the war room, and selects six-foot-seven Southeast Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley with the Broncos initial pick.

Old habits die hard.

Daly Doses 04-19-22: Thoughts, reflections, and derision from the Mile High City

For the second time in two playoff games the Denver Nuggets followed the exact same script.

The Nuggets were run off the floor last night 126-106 by the Golden State Warriors, after leading early and then collapsing, just like they did in Game 1.

The Nuggets now trail 0-2, and will need to win four games in five tries.

I think we have a better chance of Will Barton and DeMarcus Cousins getting matching friendship bracelets.

And while much of the discussion in the Mile High region today will be about the inability of the Nuggets to score, or the failure to defend the sharpshooting Warriors…the fact is, this team trails their opponent in one key area.

The Golden State Warriors are smart.

The Denver Nuggets are not.

Smart teams ignore the officiating and play hard despite the contact.

Dumb teams complain about the officiating, and foul deadly shooters in the act of shooting, to allow them to complete three and even four-point plays.

Smart teams are patient, and don’t get flustered when the game isn’t going their way.

Dumb teams slam the ball down, earn technical fouls, and fight with each other on the bench.

Smart teams feed their best players the ball in the best places on the floor to be successful.

Dumb teams force poor shots, and fail to feed the reigning Most Valuable Player the ball in the post, against undersized defenders.

Smart teams fly around the floor defensively, helping, recovering and deflecting passes that turn into easy transition baskets.

Dumb teams get back-cut for easy dunks and layups, and fail to remember that darn roll in the screen and roll.

Smart teams make adjustments and take away what you like to do.

Dumb teams roll out the same game plan again and again, and wonder why things aren’t improving.

Smart teams advance.

Dumb teams go home.

If students are struggling to pass tests in the classroom, we question their study habits, and we wonder about their teacher.

The Denver Nuggets complain about injuries, and reward their teacher with a long term contract extension.

That might not be what a smart team would do.

Daly Doses 02-22-22: Thoughts, reflections, and derision from the Mile High City

It was the first full weekend without the NFL taking place in any form since late summer.

I don’t mind telling you, that I sat in a dark room, and sobbed myself to sleep, while watching the USFL draft preview.

Yes, I realize the NBA All Star weekend was taking place.

But as I am neither a teenager, nor an Instagram model, I had no interest in watching people pretend to play basketball.

Doesn’t the NBA do that on most regular season evenings anyway?

If I want to see minimum effort and terrible shot selection, I have the NBA on TNT every week. I certainly don’t need to watch their All Star weekend.

At just past the halfway point, the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors boast the best record in the league, while our hometown Denver Nuggets sit in the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference with a 33-25 record.

Odd that a team sitting on the edge of even qualifying for the postseason wasn’t a little more active at the NBA trade deadline.

The Denver Nuggets didn’t feel that the team needed to make any moves. They are going to be primed for a run in the second half of the season.

They could end up proving to be right, but the Nuggets are placing all of their eggs into a very fragile basket.

The front office clearly believes that the return of both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will be enough to have them in contention.

There is no question that both Murray and Porter returning to the lineup could provide a major kickstart to this team.

Murray is an absolute warrior when healthy and Porter is capable of filling up the boxscore on any given night.

However, these two are returning from some very serious injuries.

Of course, Murray is trying to return from that blown ACL that he suffered last April, when it was starting to look like the Nuggets might be the class of the Western Conference.

That is usually a calendar year rehab project.

Porter’s return might be even more tenuous.

He underwent yet another surgery in December, after having another nerve issue in his back.

At just 23 years of age, a 6-foot-10 player with multiple back surgeries is a major concern when looking at his long-term prospects.

Whether or not either Murray or Porter do return to a level that can actually help this team might be irrelevant.

Last season against those Phoenix Suns, the problem for the Nuggets wasn’t just a lack of scoring punch from Murray. It was the fact that they couldn’t defend either Chris Paul or Devin Booker.

That probably won’t change.

So not only do the Nuggets need Murray and Porter to return, but they also need them to return at a high enough level to match one of the best duos in the league.

That might be asking way too much.

Daly Dose 11-10-21 Our 2021 NFL midseason review Part 1

This week on the Daly Dose, we wish a happy Veteran’s Day tomorrow to all of those who have served, and we discuss the difficult changes that come with the annual move to Daylight Savings time. 

Then, we look at all of the shake ups that we are seeing this season in college football, and how many more surprises might be coming. We also have a very interesting story coming out of the NBA this week!

Finally, we are joined by three long time friends of the show to break down the NFL season so far.

We take a look at each team in the NFL. What were their expectations? How is their season going so far? And what can we expect from them in the second half of the season?

We also have a new sponsor for the Dose! Get 20% OFF  + Free Shipping with promo code 20DOSE at MANSCAPED.com

Daly Dose 11-03-21 Great TV news for sports fans in the Rocky Mountain region

This week on the Daly Dose YouTube video, we are joined by Evoca TV CFO and head of content Dana McLeod to discuss the exciting new sports programming that they are bringing to the Rocky Mountain region! You don’t want to miss this chance!

https://evoca.tv/

Daly Dose 10-20-21 Happy birthday to one of the all time greats

This week on the Daly Dose YouTube video, we wish a happy birthday to one of the all time greats in sports, and reflect on who he might resemble in this modern day era!

Daly Doses 07-27-21: Thoughts, reflections, and derision from the Mile High City

• 

I got all excited today, when I realized that fans can attend Denver Broncos training camp in just 20 days!

Then I remembered that the Green Bay Packers are mending fences with Aaron Rodgers, so it looks like we will be watching a Drew Lock versus Teddy Bridgewater competition.

That should result in a combined 3 for 47 third down conversions, zero touchdowns, and 14 turnovers.

By the way, 13 of those turnovers will be Lock fumbles.

I know that the narrative among those with the orange and blue tinted glasses, is that Lock is going to eventually show his true colors, and be a top notch NFL quarterback.

I just don’t have any reason to think that is going to happen.

Going back in NFL history, there have been numerous young quarterbacks that made a ton of mistakes early in their careers, but they did also show flashes of greatness.

Point to the game, series, or even singular play where we have seen anything resembling a flash of greatness from Drew Lock.

I’ll wait.

You’d have better luck finding video evidence of the Denver Nuggets greatest NBA Finals moments.

I do think the Denver defense can at least make them competitive at times, but below average quarterback play will be tough to overcome, and is this team truly stout in the trenches?

I have my doubts.

Speaking of those Denver Nuggets, please keep in mind that Jrue Holiday was available back in November, but the Nuggets didn’t want to spend that much money.

The Milwaukee Bucks did, and we all know what they did this year.

I realize that no one could have predicted the Jamal Murray injury, but we all could have predicted that the Nuggets would need a perimeter defender in the playoffs.

Their inability to limit anything Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul was doing in the postseason was their demise.

Holiday would have changed that.

But at least they saved a few bucks, right?

Hey, but at least the Colorado Rockies are no longer in last place, right?

Surely after giving away Nolan Arenado, the worst for that franchise is now behind us, and the rebuilding can begin.

Except that I fully expect the Rox to eat some more money, and give players like Jon Gray and Trevor Story away, later this week at the trade deadline.

And don’t think Charlie Blackmon or German Marquez are untouchable.

These are the results of living under horrible ownership.

Between the Bowlen Trust, the Kroenke’s, and the Montfort’s the Mile High City is getting this bad ownership thing down pat.

Mile High mediocrity, baby.

Daly Dose 06-23-21 The Dose is back and we have learned so much

This week on the Daly Dose, we return after taking a week off for vacation, and we break down vacationing in this odd era. 

The NCAA takes a big hit from the Supreme Court, that could have long reaching implications.

Then we are discussing all the things that we have learned over the past couple of weeks in sports! Is the Kardashian curse over? Why does the NBA hate Nikola Jokic? How are the Los Angeles Clippers still in the NBA Playoffs? 

Plus, what’s going on with the Dallas Mavericks? Who are the Boston Celtics blaming for their problems? We also look at some really good news for one Big 10 basketball program., and we should also probably get ready for college football to be back, and better than ever!

Finally, with Lebron James pulling an “I told you so” to the NBA Playoffs and all of their injuries, our Daly Dose Top 5 counts down five other predictions that Lebron has made in his illustrious career. Does he really have special powers? Is he really a seer into the future? We investigate as only we can!

Daly Doses 06-22-21: Thoughts, reflections, and derision from the Mile High City

• The Phoenix Suns jumped on the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals on Sunday, beating them 120-114.

• Selfishly as a Denver Nuggets fan, I now have to cheer for Phoenix, with the way they broomed us right out of the postseason.

• Suns guard Devin Booker is playing at a freakishly high level, and remember that the Suns had to play Game 1 without Chris Paul, who was forced to sit out in covid protocols.

• The Suns are legitimately a title contender, getting hot at the right time, and playing their best basketball down the stretch.

• Something that we as Nuggets fans have very little familiarity with.

• We tend to save our best play for February….and maybe March.

• Playoff time? That is not usually Nuggets time.

• I’ve noticed that Nuggets head coach Mike Malone is getting a pass on wasting yet another season of prime Nikola Jokic.

• I mean, what can we expect? The Nuggets lost superstar guard Jamal Murray. Malone couldn’t possibly overcome that.

• Just don’t look at Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue winning games…big games… without Kawhi Leonard.

• The difference is that Lue knows he needs to win. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer wants to win….or he will move on. Compare that to the “just wait till next year” mentality of the Kroenke’s. There just isn’t the same pressure to win or else.

• Which is why the Nuggets will always be the bridesmaid, but never the bride.

• The Nuggets are one of just six teams that have never made the NBA Finals.

• When you think of abysmal franchises you think of those that have never even made their league’s title game.

• The Clippers, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Detroit Lions, the Winnipeg Jets….the Denver Nuggets.

• Even the Colorado Rockies managed to fall into a World Series one year!

• Speaking of franchises that don’t care if they win or lose.

• We can say this that giving away Nolan Arenado was just a bump in the road on their way to rebuilding….but it isn’t.

• It is exactly what this franchise does every few years, while telling us they care about winning, and collecting all of their gate money.

• Currently the Rox sit at 13 games under .500…just a measly 17 games out of first in the NL West.

• It’s June.

• Oh, but the Rockies rank No 4 in attendance, with over 18K fans going to every home game.

• So don’t tell the Monforts they aren’t winning. They are winning every single year.

• Just not on the field.

Daly Doses 06-15-21: Thoughts, reflections, and derision from the Mile High City!

• 

The Denver Nuggets were swept out of the NBA Playoffs in four games by the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.

The Colorado Avalanche were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four straight games after leading the Vegas Golden Knights in their series 2-0.

Which was more disappointing?

The Nuggets were truly starting to look like a contender back in March and April, until Jamal Murray was lost for the season.

The Avalanche were looking like a contender in their first two games against Vegas.

Based on the timing…I’m leaning toward the Avs being the bigger disappointment.

Not tough enough, too many empty possessions, ran into a hot team, and probably got outcoached.

Which team did I just describe?

Pick one.

Avs superstar Nathan MacKinnon was completely locked down in the final four games, managing just two assists…total.

Can you win a big time series when your superstar doesn’t lead the way?

Possible, but it’s going to be tough.

Then again, league MVP Nikola Jokic averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists in the Nuggets series against Phoenix, and look where that got him.

Side note: Jokic getting ejected in Game 4 was silly, and would not have happened to most of the big name stars in the NBA. Did he deserve the techinical? Fine. An ejection? Not even close, and there’s no way the league would have ever ejected Giannis, Harden, Westbrook, Steph, Durant, or Lebron in that situation.

Not all MVPs are created equal.

Jokic gets the least respect of any Most Valuable Player…ever.

Side note part #2: WWE referees are more credible than NBA referees.

I will die on this hill.

Bottom line: Both MacKinnon and Jokic probably need a little more help, and another year of seasoning to truly be in the hunt for a title.

Now both teams have decisions to make. The Avs will need to resign forward Gabe Landeskog, and goalie Philipp Grubauer, but that may cost big money. Matt Calvert and Tyson Jost would be nice.

And by earning MVP honors, Jokic has now qualified for a supermax extension, which would be the largest in NBA history. However, because Jokic has only six years of service, the center will need to wait until the 2022 offseason to sign the five-year, $241 million extension.

The Nuggets will also have to decide what to do with Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon very soon.

So we now have both Kroenke sports franchises possibly on the verge of doing something special. Will ownership spend the money to keep these teams together. Could they maybe even dig into the big money vault, and add another piece or two?

Based on Kroenke’s inability to get a deal done with a local cable TV provider to carry home games to their own local fans…don’t get your hopes up.