The Denver Nuggets logged another great week despite working through some challenges early on, and they continue to ride high at second place in the Western Conference as the All-Star break quickly approaches.
This week also brought some very special news solidifying the fact that this really is the 4th “golden era” of the Denver Nuggets as Adam Mares and Andy Feinstein discussed in Wednesday’s edition of the Locked on Nuggets Podcast.
Without further adieu, let’s talk about the top news of the week!
Nuggets pull off a miracle win over the Memphis Grizzlies
I don’t know what it is about the Memphis Grizzlies, but they just seem to have the Nuggets’ number. Denver struggled mightily to get into their offensive groove in the first three quarters against the Grizz on Monday, but thanks to a killer boost from Malik Beasley to start the 4th, the Nuggets were able to make a miraculous 25 point comeback to win the game.
Talking with my friend Gil Whiteley of Mile High Sports Radio this week, we chatted about how we were more nervous once the Nuggets were getting close to a win than we were when they were losing by a landslide earlier in the game.
What this particular win showed me is that the Nuggets have developed the discipline (because it truly is a habit) of not giving up.
We all know that it’s easy to say that you’re going to commit to doing, and being something great. In fact, we probably all did that about four weeks ago at the onset of the new year. We often make a big deal about the things we’re going to accomplish, and post our commitments to social media hoping to get as many likes as possible. But, the rubber meets the road when the emotion behind that commitment has faded away, and we’re left with only our choices to keep us going.
Being that the Nuggets are a professional sports team, their commitments are always going to be under public scrutiny. And, being that I’m not subjected to that same level of criticism, I can only imagine the pressure that it comes with. However, I’m happy to see that the Nuggets continue to follow through on being who they said they were going to be, and doing what they said they were going to do. It makes watching them win that much more exciting.
Jokic is an All-Star
Thanks NBA, we know.
This week, it was announced that Nikola Jokic was selected for the All-Star reserves—the first selection of what I’m sure will be many in his career. So far this season, he’s averaging 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game which puts him next to Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the fourth player in NBA history to record those numbers in a single season.
While the league seems to be just now catching on to exactly how special Jokic is, us Nuggets fans have all known for a while. But, it’s possible that we didn’t know just how special. Sure, Jokic brought the Nuggets back to life during a dark time in the organization’s history, but I don’t know that anyone could have predicted that he would propel them to among the top ranks of the Western Conference in such a short time.
I’m excited about Jokic being named an All-Star not just because he’s earned it, or because I know how vital he is to the Nuggets—not even because that it maybe just maybe will give the Nuggets a little street-cred with the officials. I’m excited because I think this particular era of Nuggets basketball is shaping up to be more than golden. Perhaps this 4th golden era will be something even better than what the Nuggets have ever been able to do in the past.
Coming up, the Nuggets have a full week on the road so they’ll need to buckle down and keep their momentum to send Jokic into All-Star weekend riding high. I can’t wait to watch him compete!
