Denver Nuggets - The Next Level [Game 3 + 4]

Carlos looks good

Season 2020?Omg man,that is so great progress.Keep it up.

Why the fuck isnt Jesus a mexican ?

Because it isn't only Mexicans who name their kids "Jesus". Also, it depends on whether you pronounce it "JEE-zus" or "he-SUS".

The guys name is Jesus Carlos. I know people can have that name but, that name has mexican written all over it

The great start continues. Let the talk of another 70 win season begin.

Damn, the 60th pick dropping 25, Perko's triple-double percentage at 60%, JR and Melo starting to find their groove... You seem unstoppable. (Though a Brandon Jennings sighting would be nice)

Hahaa, LeBron led the league with triple-doubles last season with 4 in 79 games, Perko has 2 more then that with 10 games played.

The guys name is Jesus Carlos. I know people can have that name but, that name has mexican written all over it

Yeah, I think so too. Or maybe Spanish or South American.

Hahaa, LeBron led the league with triple-doubles last season with 4 in 79 games, Perko has 2 more then that with 10 games played.

Does that Perko is more efficient that him? Maybe, because Lebron's Suns didn't make it to the playoffs. Ouch. 17 years and no ring.

I meant IRL.

Goal for this season - Beat Oscar Robertson's 41 triple-doubles in one season.

IRL, then? Still, the Heat didn't win the finals, even with the Three Stooges around. Denver (in this story) did.

And I think Kevin Love was close to breaking Robertson's record last season IRL.

Kevin Love with 41 triple-doubles? He had 0.

He did best Moses Malones double-double streak, however.

If Perko can keep up that triple-double percentage, he should be able to average a triple-double and possibly even break the triple-double record of 41. I see another 70-win season coming.

He did best Moses Malones double-double streak, however.

Dayum, I always get confused.

Instead of quoting that whole conversation about Perko/LBJ/Kevin Love, I'll just say that getting the triple-double record and average is definitely a goal of mine with this season.

Wow! 10 straight! Only 72 to go!

...I know how much you hate the wide open mouths in this game...

But at least Howard was dunking there, it only seemed appropriate to scream "YEAH! TAKE THAT!" when you dunk.

Besides, he doesn't have that "tooth-decay" problem Erick Christian has. Remember him?

Yeah, only 72

And yeah, I remember Erick Christian... not the greatest player I ever drafted

Jesus Carlos!

The fact that his name is Jesus and his initials are JC is making it extra hard to avoid puns about him.

Man, awesome start, 72 more and time to retire Jesus looks like a young fat Melo

Retire? I was going to aim for this to be the Robert Parish of the dynasties :lol

Kinda funny because when I read fat Melo, it reminded me that the Nuggets once had a guy on their team named Fat.

Why the fuck isnt Jesus a mexican ?

Awesome week.

Because it isn't only Mexicans who name their kids "Jesus". Also, it depends on whether you pronounce it "JEE-zus" or "he-SUS".

The guys name is Jesus Carlos. I know people can have that name but, that name has mexican written all over it

Jesus could be puerto rican? I'll have to check his profile.

Jesus Carlos looks like Melo in the early days. Nice grab w/ him.

To be honest, I really only picked him up because of his name. The last thing I needed was another point guard, but I'm glad he's working out.

Carlos looks good

So far so good. What excites me is that he's only 19... he could be around til the 25th season

Season 2020?Omg man,that is so great progress.Keep it up.

Thanks Uros12, it's been a lot of fun so far

The great start continues. Let the talk of another 70 win season begin.

The 70+ win season, along with the triple-double average are my two goals for 2020-2021. This is the first time I've felt like my team has been really stacked, but they're all pretty old and I like all the guys I have, so I don't have the problem with it that I thought I would.

Damn, the 60th pick dropping 25, Perko's triple-double percentage at 60%, JR and Melo starting to find their groove... You seem unstoppable. (Though a Brandon Jennings sighting would be nice)

Hahaa, LeBron led the league with triple-doubles last season with 4 in 79 games, Perko has 2 more then that with 10 games played.

It's all been clicking nicely so far but unfortunately Jennings hasn't been sharing much of the success. I'll do my best to get him a good game here or there.

I think it's already been established that Perko > LBJ

10 Game Player Review

That time of season once again. Here's where I review the performances of players 1 through 15 on my squad. Check out how your favourite player is faring below:

Centre

Dwight Howard

Even though DeAndre Jordan and Robin Lopez both had solid tenures with the Nuggets, Dwight Howard (or the Dwightmare, as I like to call him) his adapted his game to the Denver setup almost seamlessly. 14 points and 11 rebounds per game is slightly more modest than what we're used to seeing from him, but he's also a guy whose career is winding down. He's also swatting away almost 2 shots a game. If Howard keeps his form going, he could not only had another ring to his 2010 success, but he also has a shot at winning the DPOTY again.

Jakov Branco

When Howard is the frontline centre, anyone else in the rotation behind him is going to have to settle for sporadic minutes while Dwightmare is resting. Branco's role in his rookie year is the same one that Marcin Gortat used to have with the Magic. He's an effective rebounder, has great hands and can pass the ball from a double team. He might not be a guy who will score a lot of points, but with the way the Nuggets play, he ticks all the other boxes so far.

Power Forward

Borislav Perko

It's amazing to think that the team's 5th scoring option is the MVP of the franchise, but Borislav definitely has that claim right now. In 10 games, he has 6 triple-doubles and averages 10.1 points, 10 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game. The scoring burden isn't as heavy as it was last year and he's still finding a way to be effective. Dwight Howard is grabbing double-digit boards every game, but that's not stopping him from doing so himself. Perko is the ultimate team player; he doesn't demand the ball, but he will get his stats because of his basketball IQ and efficiency.

Adrian Young

Backing up Perko, Young's limitations aren't in the spotlight for people to scrutinise... but they do exist. For a guy who's 6'10, he doesn't like scoring around the hoop... at all. He settles for long range shots, which makes him a threat because he spreads the floor, but as his career progresses, he'll have to develop a post game. Otherwise he'll forever be restricted to the role as a bit player.

George Power

George hasn't seen very much action at all this season. He mainly comes on when Perko gets into foul trouble or the game gets completely blown out and Perko has already achieved a triple-double. With one year left on his contract, George will probably have a change of scenery this time next season.

Small Forward

Carmelo Anthony

Melo hasn't missed a beat so far in his comeback for Denver. He leads the Nuggets in scoring with 20 per game and his jumpshot off the dribble has been superb once again. At times, he looked completely uninterested when he was playing for the Timberwolves, but now he's playing for another championship, he's looking as great as he did when he won his 4 finals MVP awards.

Taylor MacKenzie

Being a swingman, I never know where to categorise him, but coming into the league as a small forward, I'll place him here. One of the big concerns with the off-season acquisitions was that Taylor MacKenzie was going to get lost amongst the star power. But with all the great players they have, Taylor is still the bench leader. He averages 15 points per game which is good for 3rd in Denver. He can still be erratic at times, but in an overall sense he's a far more efficient shooter than he used to be.

Dennis Da Conceicao

Hasn't played this season, so the judgement shall be reserved until the end of year review.

Shooting Guard

J.R. Smith

Last season Earl was competing with Ollie Rose for the scoring title, but by the looks of it, he won't be doing the same this season. He's the second highest scorer with 19 points per game but now he's a part of a team that will likely have 5 double-digit scorers every night. He will have the odd night of 30 plus, but in the grand scheme of things, he's going to have to deal with having more nights of 15-20, much like his old sidekick Kevin Durant.

Nathan Bing

The Lou williams blasphemer is getting the majority of minutes at the one, but since he's listed as a shooting guard, I'll put him here to even things out. He's one of those guys who is accepting a lesser role now for a bigger one in the future. J.R. Smith isn't going to be around forever and with the skill set he has, Bing looks like he could slot into the starting 2 spot. Right now he's not a consistent contributor, but he's shown glimpses of the guy who almost led the Rockets to an upset series win over the Nuggets in the 2019 playoffs. He's an accurate shooter and a great perimeter defender.

Brandon Roy

Brandon hasn't played yet and is scheduled to come back from his latest knee ailment in December.

Point Guard

Jesus Carlos

Carlos has risen to the spot of the starting point guard in next to no time at all. His first two games were sketchy, but his 25 point effort showed off the potential the Fresno State product has. At 19, it's incredible to imagine what his career might be if he's nurtured in this successful franchise. With the draft class as weak as it is (Jake Voskuhl guy at pick 30? Come on!), the last pick of the draft could very well win Rookie of the Year.

Brandon Jennings

Where one rises, another shall fall. Some impartial form over the last few seasons should have seen Jennings lose his starting spot a lot earlier than he did, but now he's been overtaken by a 19 year old, he could have lost it forever. It's unfortunate his playoff successes haven't translated to this season, but then again, his opportunities are somewhat limited on a point hungry team.

Patrick Mills

The second best player in his rookie class, Pat has become a bit player. He's a great passer of the ball and still possesses great quickness. But his game has limitations, which include his inability to hit the three ball and his size (or lack of). Still a handy guy to have on the team, as he'll play some good minutes here and there.

Ed Reed

Generally plays at point guard, but really, he hasn't been playing much anywhere this season. Reed's one of the sadder stories, when you consider how great he was in his rookie year. Early last season he had a spectacular first five games, but his shooting touch has since illuded him. Much like Taylor MacKenzie was early in his career; all or nothing. Can Reed adapt his game like Taylor did and become a more relevant player in the Nuggets system? Only time will tell... it's unlikely that he'll do so this season though.

Perko + Jesus = The Next Gen!

Jesus C. has arisen!*
Amen to that!
*from benchwarmer to starting point guard, but still.

Has Dwightmare won a title?

Wait, what? You got Melo back and also have Dwight now?

Jesus will likely be the best Fresno product and best 60th pick in NBA history. Makes for a really nice story.

OMG, never saw a 60th pick do something like that Undefeated, incredible job man!

Seems the weight is distributed a little more evenly this season so the game probably won't reward any of your guys with the MVP, but the quest for 70 wins and the triple double for Perko will be a different kind of challenge and should keep things very interesting for you.

Perko + Jesus = The Next Gen!

There's definitely a few exciting players to step up once the aging core retires. I could end up playing this lineup as some stage:

C: Branco
PF: Perko
SF: Young
SG: MacKenzie
PG: Carlos

Jesus C. has arisen!*
Amen to that!
*from benchwarmer to starting point guard, but still.

He's been a surprise performer, that's for sure. I think his effectiveness on the catch-and-shoot has made him an asset.

Has Dwightmare won a title?

He did in 2010 against the Dallas Mavericks. Surprisingly though, Rashard Lewis won the Finals MVP

Wait, what? You got Melo back and also have Dwight now?

Yep, they were my two big moves of the off-season. I also signed Brandon Roy as a free agent, but I've kept him aside until December rolls around.

Jesus will likely be the best Fresno product and best 60th pick in NBA history. Makes for a really nice story.

Since Paul George isn't in the game, I'd say he's a clear front runner for the best from Fresno State. I actually looked it up and a player by the name of Woody Sauldsberry won the ROY from the 60th pick in 1958. So there's a possibility of a second for two old records in the game.

OMG, never saw a 60th pick do something like that Undefeated, incredible job man!

It makes me wonder who the best 60th pick in NBA history is. It'd be cool if Jesus Carlos gets that honour.

Seems the weight is distributed a little more evenly this season so the game probably won't reward any of your guys with the MVP, but the quest for 70 wins and the triple double for Perko will be a different kind of challenge and should keep things very interesting for you.

All depends on how favourably the engine considers Perko's efforts I suppose. Hopefully this season at least one of those achievements will be reached.

5 Game Summary

The seemingly unthinkable happened in this summary; the Nuggets got beaten! Their first defeat of the season came against Michael Beasley and the Golden State Warriors. It seems Mile High Mike brings his A-game against the side he won a ring with. Apart from that blemish, it was all Ws for the Denver Nuggets, picking up comprehensive wins against the Kings and Minnesota on the road. Portland put up a little more resistance, while the feature game against the Clippers was the closest game that Denver ended up winning:

Clippers Finish Second To Denver... Again



The Nuggets scrapped their way to a 79-74 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. In a low scoring encounter, the Nuggets shared the scoring load primarily between 4 players. Carmelo Anthony (17) and J.R. Smith (16) both had off nights from the field, but still led the scoring within the Nuggets team. Jesus Carlos continued his solid rookie campaign with 11 points, while Borislav Perko registered his 7th triple-double of the season with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

Ollie Rose struggled to make an impact and the Clippers floundered towards the end because of it. Lance Travis picked up the slack with 18 points, while Philipp Wagner (15) and PJ Davies (12) both had solid supporting roles. But in the big games, your star player needs to lift his game and an 8 point performance by Rose proved to be as significant to his team's demise as Travis' 18 was to the Clippers' success.

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DEN@LAC

DEN: 79 (Anthony 17, Smith 16, Carlos 11)
LAC: 74 (Travis 18, Wagner 15, Davies 12)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Borislav Perko 10 points 10 rebounds 12 assists 3 blocks 1 steal

Rebounds

DEN: Howard 12
LAC: Davies 9

Assists

DEN: Perko 12
LAC: Travis, Wagner 6

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Last 5 Games

@LAC: 79-74 W
@GSW: 79-76 L
@SAC: 97-75 W
@MIN: 85-68 W
@POR: 92-83 W

The Nuggets' winning streak ended at 11, making their record 14-1 for the season.

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Make That 8/15

Perko's triple-double count for the season currently sits at 8. His 8th came against the Sacramento Kings, where he had 12 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. He's still very much in the hunt for an Oscar Robertson-esque season.

All Roses For Earl

J.R. Smith seems to play his best against the Portland Trail Blazers so far this season. To add to his previous tally of 28, he scored 27 against them in Rip City.

The First Championship Matchup

Melo matched up against former Nuggets championship winner Michael Beasley and scored 23 points. However, Denver lost in the column that counts the most.

The Other Rookie

Jakov Branco's rookie season hasn't been talked about as much as Denver's second round selection, but to the team's success, it's arguably been as important. Being the only true backup to Howard, Branco has come in and played some solid minutes as a rookie. His best scoring output was against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he scored 10 points. With 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block, that's a pretty tidy stat-line for a guy who has limited minutes.

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Next 5 Games

@MEM
@MEM
@NOH
ATL
BOS

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Next will be the monthly summary for November 2020. Because of the statistical anomalies, the monthly awards won't be mentioned and will be replaced by the league leaders.

A record setting win streak to begin the season would've been awesome, but 14-1 is far from shabby. Good to see Perko continuing to fill up the stat sheet.

Perko is the beast,no wonder you have such a good record.I smell another title