Pickaxe بودكاست

In an exclusive sit-down interview with Mile High Sports, Braun opens up about his life in the NBA. From his draft night experience, to Nuggets training camp in San Diego, to becoming a member of the Nuggets rotation, Braun shares various insights from his first year in the league. The Nuggets rookie also offers his first perspectives of Nikola Jok…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 116-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers as Nikola Jokić outscores Joel Embiid by 25 points, out-rebounds him by 17, and out-assists him by 12. Embiid missed tonight's game with a sore calf, and the Nuggets took advantage by jumping out to an insurmountable lead in the second half. Jamal Murray also played…

Ryan and Swipa react to an epic Denver Nuggets win over the Milwaukee Bucks that saw Nikola Jokić outperform Giannis Antetokounmpo in the important moments. They share their takes on Denver rising to the challenge before discussing parity across the NBA. How many teams can win a championship this year? Finally, they preview Nuggets-Sixers and Jokić…

Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on the MVP race between Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid as the regular season winds down. Then, Ryan previews the upcoming Denver Nuggets matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday and Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, emphasizing Denver's need for a statement win or two.…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 118-104 win over the Washington Wizards. The Nuggets wrapped up their 5-game road trip with a 3-2 record and began to look like themselves again after a 4-game losing streak. Nikola Jokić was dominant. Jamal Murray was aggressive. Michael Porter Jr. was a literal laser beam. The Nuggets found their groove…

Ryan Blackburn and Dan Favale of Bleacher Report and the Hardwood Knocks podcast discuss a variety of Denver Nuggets topics. They begin with the MVP race between Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Then, they delve into Denver's defense, focusing on their playoff viability. Finally, Ryan shares his championship tiers in the Wester…

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Final 10 Games of the Denver Nuggets regular season schedule, sharing insights on scheduling and rest. He predicts how the Nuggets will wrap up the season, as well as their playoff seeding in the Western Conference. Finally, Ryan shares his expectations for individual players and how Denver can prepare for the playoff…

Ryan and Swipa share their thoughts on the Denver Nuggets up-and-down week, including wins versus Detroit/Brooklyn and losses versus Toronto/New York. Then, they discuss the rise of Michael Porter Jr. and what his season of growth means for the Nuggets in the playoffs. Finally, they preview next week's matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis A…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 119-100 win over the Detroit Pistons, snapping a four-game losing streak. Nikola Jokić went off with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jamal Murray had a solid bounce back game. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shot the ball well. It was a great recovery performance for a Nuggets team that needed it desperat…

Ryan Blackburn discusses the playoff picture and how both conferences are shaping up to have interesting playoff runs. Then, he shares his thoughts on the bench unit, including different ideas to solve it before the playoffs begin. Finally, Ryan previews the remainder of the Nuggets road trip, beginning with Thursday's game against the Detroit Pist…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets fourth loss in a row, a disheartening 125-110 performance against the Toronto Raptors. Jamal Murray played poorly in his homecoming, the Nuggets defense didn't show up until the second quarter, and the Nuggets couldn't make up the difference at the end. Ryan discusses the most important factors in Denver'…

Ryan and Swipa discuss the last week of Denver Nuggets basketball, including a three-game losing streak that has Nuggets fans worried. They then focus in on the Western Conference playoff picture and discuss which teams are most likely to upset the Nuggets. Finally, Ryan and Swipa preview the upcoming road trip before sharing their "Takes from the …

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the ugly 128-120 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, highlighting the defensive issues, bench struggles, and another apathetic performance against a bad team. Then, Ryan laments the turns the MVP race has taken in putting a target the size of a house on Nikola Jokić's back. Finally, Ryan looks at the last 15 regular season games…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 117-96 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Nuggets dropped to 30-5 at home, playing with an uncustomary lack of urgency. Nikola Jokić's defense was bad. Jamal Murray couldn't find his three-point shot on the verge of the franchise record, and the Nuggets bench continues to struggle mightily. Is any of this cau…

Ryan Blackburn and podcast producer Michael Ferrero discuss the facts and narratives surrounding Nikola Jokić's defense. Can Jokić be the anchor of a championship caliber defense in the playoffs? They share their thoughts before opening up the mailbag to Pickaxe and Roll listeners, answering questions about rotations, injuries, playoffs, and much m…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 118-113 win over the Toronto Raptors as Nikola Jokić records a near triple-double and Jamal Murray clutches up late with some big shots. Referee Scott Foster ejected Raptors forward Scottie Barnes during the closing seconds, and the Nuggets survived a strong Raptors performance to improve to 30-4 at home.…

Ryan and Swipa discuss the last week of Denver Nuggets basketball, including two amazing wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies. They then focus in on the MVP race between Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid. Finally, Ryan and Swipa preview the upcoming week of Nuggets basketball and share their "Takes from the Fu…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 113-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies that basically clinched the top seed in the Western Conference for Denver. Nikola Jokić had another triple-double in the victory. Jamal Murray started slow but got going after some back-and-forth trash talk with Dillon Brooks. Michael Porter Jr. had a big scoring nigh…

Ryan Blackburn and Nuggets/Betting analyst Jena Garcia share their thoughts on Denver Nuggets practice from Thursday afternoon. They then preview Friday's matchup between the Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies, sharing insight on matchups and betting lines in the process. Finally, they go over NBA storylines around the league for the remainder of th…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 133-112 win over the Houston Rockets. Jamal Murray locked in for 32 points and 6 assists while Nikola Jokić notched his 100th career regular season triple-double. The starters were absolutely dominant, and the bench got some extended run in the second half. Ryan reacts to everything from the win before lo…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 134-124 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers as Nikola Jokić posts 40 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists, outperforming Kawhi Leonard in OT. Michael Porter Jr. also showed up big time with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Jamal Murray gutted out 21 points and 12 assists on an ailing back injury. The Nugg…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 115-109 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to kick off the post All-Star Break schedule. Nikola Jokić put up his 22nd triple-double, and Michael Porter Jr. caught fire from deep in the second half. Reggie Jackson also made his debut and hit a 3/4 court buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter. Ryan dis…

Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts on Denver Nuggets practice from Tuesday and the ensuing injury report. Then, Ryan focuses in on Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. as more than support characters for two-time MVP Nikola Jokić. Finally, Ryan previews the final 23 games of the Nuggets regular season and the goals for the team in the…

Ryan Blackburn discusses the NBA All-Star festivities over the weekend, including the All-Star game that saw Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid drafted first overall and Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokić drafted seventh. Is Jokić finally underrated again? Then, Ryan answers Mailbag questions from Pickaxe and Roll listeners.…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the MVP straw poll conducted by Tim Bontemps of ESPN highlighting Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić as the MVP favorite with less than 25 games left to go. Then, he looks at every event during All-Star weekend, including the Three-Point shootout, Slam Dunk contest, and more. Finally, Ryan shares his favorite moments of the…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 118-109 win over the Dallas Mavericks as Nikola Jokić records his 21st triple-double. Jeff Green led all Nuggets scorers with 24 points. Michael Porter Jr. played an excellent game. Luka Dončić was awesome, but it didn't matter. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and where the Nuggets stand entering …

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 112-108 win over the Miami Heat as Nikola Jokić dominates against Bam Adebayo, scoring 27 points and shooting 12-of-14 with zero turnovers. Seven Nuggets scored in double figures, including Thomas Bryant, who made an immediate impact on the bench unit. Ryan also discusses the comments made by Bones Hyland…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 119-105 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Nikola Jokić carried the team when things weren't going well. Michael Porter Jr. started slow but finished strong. Christian Braun made the hustle plays. Ish Smith, Jeff Green, and DeAndre Jordan did just enough. Ryan also reacts to the signing of Reggie Jackson on …

Ryan Blackburn and Matt Moore (@HPbasketball) react to the Denver Nuggets loss to the Orlando Magic for a brief time. Then, they discuss what happened with the Nuggets and the NBA at the trade deadline today, focusing on the Bones Hyland and Thomas Bryant trades. Matt shares his takes on Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns, and the Western Conference la…

In a special live trade deadline episode, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the final minutes of the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline. The Denver Nuggets acquired backup center Thomas Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday morning. They also traded Bones Hyland to the Los Angeles Clippers for merely second round picks. Ryan reacts to as many trades as he can…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 146-112 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves as Nikola Jokić records a first half triple-double. He finished with 20 points, 16 assists, and 12 rebounds while Michael Porter Jr. added 30 points and five rebounds himself. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and makes NBA Trade Deadline trade predictions…

Ryan Blackburn briefly reacts to the Denver Nuggets blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in which the Nuggets sat four starters and allowed many points. He discusses Bones Hyland's healthy scratch and what it means for the trade deadline. Finally, Ryan discusses the Kyrie Irving trade to the Dallas Mavericks and how that affects Denver's titl…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 128-108 win over the Atlanta Hawks as Jamal Murray goes off for 41 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. Nikola Jokić achieved another triple-double, Michael Porter Jr. had a strong scoring performance, and Christian Braun filled in for an injured Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Ryan goes over the starters, the be…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 134-117 win over the Golden State Warriors as Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić go off, leading the Nuggets to an easy victory. Vlatko Čančar started in place of Aaron Gordon and played well. The Nuggets debuted a new bench lineup, and Bones Hyland was given a DNP-CD. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, a…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 122-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans as Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray show their skills as a dynamic duo. Jokić put up his 16th triple-double and is merely one assist away from averaging a triple-double completely. Murray put up 32 points on the most three-pointers he's attempted this season. Rya…

Ryan Blackburn shares his notes from Denver Nuggets practice on Monday, including quotes from Michael Malone and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Then, he dives into the Bones Hyland rumors circling around the internet, with plenty of smoke signaling a trade prior to next Thursday's trade deadline. Ryan shares a list of players he believes the Nuggets wil…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 126-119 loss to the Philadelphis 76ers. Nikola Jokić vs Joel Embiid was a dream to watch in the first half and nightmare in the second. The Nuggets lost their composure and couldn't stave off the Sixers' 68-46 second half run. Ryan discusses the starters, the bench, and plays "Fact or Crap" with his own r…

Ryan Blackburn brings on Bryan Toporek of Forbes and Liberty Ballers to discuss Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in-depth (recorded before the announcement of All-Star starters, of which Embiid was snubbed). Ryan and Bryan discuss Nets vs Sixers and where the Sixers stand as a contender. Then, they get Bryan's opinion on the Nuggets, load man…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 107-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, a hard-fought game without the likes of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, or Michael Porter Jr. available. In their stead, Aaron Gordon played extremely hard against Giannis Antetokounmpo and made the score closer that it should have been. The Nugget…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 99-98 win over the New Orleans Pelicans as Nikola Jokić makes his return from a left hamstring strain in triumphant fashion. Jokić put together a 25-point triple-double and hit the game-winning floater with 16 seconds to go. There were a lot of things that went wrong, and Denver's shooting went dry in the…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 101-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder as Jamal Murray missed the game-tying shot at the final buzzer. Murray played a great game overall, but not enough Nuggets joined him. The free throw shooting was also abysmal and a key catalyst for Denver's first loss at home since December 6th. Ryan discusses the…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 134-111 win as Jamal Murray goes for 17 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds to achieve the first triple-double of his career. Aaron Gordon dominated with 28 points on 15 shots. Michael Porter Jr. played well. The Nuggets as a team had 38 assists despite missing Nikola Jokić due to injury. Ryan discusses t…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 122-118 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves as Nikola Jokić breaks the all-time franchise record in career assists. He finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists on the evening despite dealing with foul trouble. When Jokić was out, Jamal Murray kept the game afloat, scoring 28 points on efficien…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 122-113 win over the Portland Trail Blazers as Nikola Jokić goes for 36 points on 13-of-14 from the field. He also notched a triple-double with 12 rebounds and 10 assists, making it look easy all the time. Damian Lillard had 44 points, but the Nuggets (and the referees) got him rattled in the fourth quart…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 119-116 victory over the Orlando Magic as Nikola Jokić hits the game-winning three-pointer over Franz Wagner with 0.2 seconds remaining. Jokić finished the game with a triple-double, leading the Nuggets to a shaky win that still counts the same. Aaron Gordon hit two clutch free throws after struggling, an…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 115-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers as Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. step up in the absence of Nikola Jokić, who rested a sore wrist and didn't make the trip to Los Angeles. Murray and Porter were both great, but it was an entire team effort with AG, KCP, and DeAndre Jordan rounding out th…

Ryan Blackburn evaluates the first half of the season by handing out midseason grades to Michael Malone, Calvin Booth, and every Nuggets player on the roster. Who met expectations? Who exceeded expectations? Did anybody have a failing grade? Ryan discusses it all before going over his Two-Man Net Ratings chart at the midseason point as well, sharin…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 126-97 thrashing of the Phoenix Suns, who maaaay have been missing one, two, or seven of their rotation players on the second night of a back-to-back. Still, the Nuggets dominated, from Nikola Jokić's interior presence to Jamal Murray's slick shotmaking to Bones Hyland's firepower. Ryan discusses the star…

Ryan Blackburn goes over the mid-season media survey released by NBA.com on Wednesday, sharing some interesting content and takes from beat writers across the association. How do the Nuggets fare? How does Nikola Jokić fare? Who represents the West in the NBA Finals. Ryan reacts to some interesting answers before pivoting to Denver's defensive impr…

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 122-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers as Jamal Murray sets a new season-high with 34 points and Nikola Jokić has a perfect triple-double with just five shot attempts. LeBron James and Anthony Davis didn't play, and the game felt devoid of competition as a result. Ryan discusses the starters continuing t…