This is awsome for me as an NBA blogger. My hometown Thunder are the No. 1 seed in the West. But Denver… the city which in a sese has become the place I feel more at home…has suddenly become the biggest storyline in the West has we veer towards the trade deadline and the All-Star break.
The Denver Nuggets appear to have found themselves in the aftermath of Nicola challenging his teamates in public. The Nuggets are too far back to catch the Thunder for the No. 1 seed in the West, but are right where they need to be as far as passing both Memphis and Houston for the No. 2 seed in the West.
This is a beautiful story for Russell Westbrook. I’m so happy for Russell. On my ballot…he’s currently No. 1 for NBA Comeback Player of the Year.
But Russell is only one piece of how the Nugs have turned their season around. Jamal Murray lost some weight and it appears his calf issues have improved. Jamal is on a tear. Every game he looks more like the same guy who was key in the Nuggets’ championship run two years ago.
Even Michael Porter has turned it up a notch or two. Same with Christian Braun who scored 21 points last night in a win over the Sacramento Kings. Same for Julian Strawther who scored 23 points two games ago in another Denver win.
Aaron Gordon is the TSN guy on this team He’s the bluecollar lunchpail worker who in essence is a version of a more offensively skilled Nick Collison. Nick was a better passer, Aaron is a better scorer.
Peyton Watson still needs to pick it up a notch as a bench versatile big, while lo and behold the aged veteran Deandre Jordan is filling the role Jeff Green played two years ago on the championship team.
It’s a team deal, but we all know it’s Nicola who drives this Nuggett bus. He had something like his fifth consectutive triple double last night and is now averaging a triple double for the season. Plus, he heaved in a near full court bucket at the end of the first half last night.
But what makes me happiest of all is that Russell Westbrook’s smile is back. He seems at home…finally.
The only thing I’m going to add about the Thunder’s home loss to an injury decimated Dallas Mav team last night…is that the pressure of winning 70 games no longer exists. The Thunder in these games without Isaiah have found out who in reality may be their co-MVP–that being Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder are not the same team without his rebounding and physicality.
Get well soon, Isaiah. Your mates need you.
Note: Russell and I both love Carrie Underwood, but not as much after the debacle on Monday. Here’s the thing though…apparently MJ has a better sound system on his blog than Trump could put in place for his Inaugural. And this guy is going to fix immigration, the debt, the New World Order, and our trade issues…I don’t think so.
But this is for Carrie. She’s married to a hockey player…I’m giving her a mulligan. I could care less about that punk fake tough Cowboy Jason Aldean. F–k that little redneck.
MJ