The Denver Nuggets have officially started the preseason and are victorious in two contests thus far. Michael Porter Jr. was the big topic of the week, but all of the Nuggets (with the exception of Bol Bol) got a chance to see the court against another NBA team for the first time in 5 months. All in all, a big week to kick the 2019-2020 season off.
Michael Porter Jr shines
MPJ’s debut came in agonizingly slow fashion against the Portland Trail Blazers. Coach Michael Malone wasn’t just going to hand the rookie a spot in the rotation, and thus Porter (and the quickly becoming rabid Nuggets fans) had to wait until late in the game before he finally made the most anticipated debut for a Nuggets player in over a decade. It didn’t take long for him to show off that perfect jumper we’ve heard so much about
In the Nuggets second game Porter turned up the heat. Once again coach Malone held him on the bench until the final quarter but Porter made the most of his 12 minutes. He scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds while setting Nuggets Nation abuzz with excitement.
Malik Beasley contract extension talks pick up again
Last week we learned that the Nuggets offered Malik Beasley a 3 year, $30 million extension which he declined. Beasley switched agents last month, he’s now represented by Klutch Sports and Rich Paul, famously the same agency that represents LeBron James. Mike Singer of the Denver Post gave us an update this week that the Nuggets and Beasley are in talks again, but nothing so far has materialized. Denver has until October 21st to work out an extension with Beasley, or else he will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
No headway in the Altitude TV – Big Three dispute
As many Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche fans are aware, Altitude TV, who owns the broadcast rights to the aforementioned teams, has been unable to come to terms with Comcast, Dish and Direct TV which has left the broadcasts of the games widely unavailable. Matt Hutchings, Executive Vice President of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, was on Altitude Radio this week and unfortunately didn’t have much to update in the stalemate that has now already cost major viewership of Avalanche regular season games and very well could go on into the Nuggets season. In fact, things appear to be going in the wrong direction as Comcast is beginning to refund its customers for the regional sports fees given that Altitude is not on the air.
In the interim, our friends over at Altitude are doing their best to give us the content we crave. Check out one of their new segments below.
Fun moment of the week
Apparently Denver’s flight got delayed on the way back from Los Angeles but they made the most of the down time. Looks like the boys took to the lanes to get in some friendly competition and apparently Monte Morris is as good at bowling as he is at basketball.
Podcast corner
Lots of good discussion this week from our talks about what we are looking for this preseason on the Pickaxe Podcast, to Ryan Blackburn’s reaction to MPJ’s debut on Nuggets Numbers and finally closing out the week with Ryan and I breaking down the Nuggets victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on The Denver Stiffs Show. Make sure to subscribe to the Denver Stiffs Podcast channel to always be up to date with the latest Stiffs podcasts.
