Pickaxe and Roll - podcast cover

Pickaxe and Roll

Mile High Sports, Bleavbleav.com
Ryan Blackburn from MileHighSports.com brings you the latest news and analysis for the Denver Nuggets on every episode, including some of the best guests from around the NBA.
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Episodes

Nuggets lose heartbreaker to Clippers, KCP or AG All-Defense?

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 102-100 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. The Nuggets had plenty of chances to win but didn't execute well enough down the stretch. The bench woes didn't help, and despite a masterclass performance from Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets couldn't get it done. Ryan goes over the game, the All-Defensive chances for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon, and what Denver's playoff rotation looks like right now.

Apr 05, 202445 minEp. 639

Jokic vs Wemby EPIC, Nuggets win, MVP Straw Poll revealed

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 110-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs, a matchup between the best player in the league in Nikola Jokic and the future of the league in Victor Wembanyama. The Nuggets survived an off shooting night with the help of a clutch Michael Porter Jr. three-pointer, Aaron Gordon's impact, and Christian Braun's passing. Ryan discusses the game, the MVP Straw Poll revealed from ESPN, and Denver's path to the 1 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Apr 03, 202441 minEp. 638

Nuggets ready for playoffs? + Jokic MVP case - Weekends with Swipa

Ryan Blackburn and Swipa go over the Denver Nuggets dominant blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Easter Sunday, focusing on Nikola Jokic making an MVP statement. The Nuggets shot the ball well from three-point range, and the offense was humming. Ryan and Swipa discuss Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shooting well, Reggie Jackson bouncing back, and where the Nuggets bench can continue to improve heading into the playoffs.

Apr 01, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 637

The Timberwolves are biggest threat to Nuggets title

Ryan Blackburn discusses the Denver Nuggets 111-98 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in which the T'Wolves were prepared and the Nuggets were not. Denver didn't play well, and without Jamal Murray, weaknesses in Denver's offense are beginning to emerge. Are the T'Wolves a problem for the Nuggets in a playoff series? Ryan discusses, while also discussing Jamal Murray's health concerns.

Mar 30, 202441 minEp. 636

Are the Suns a legitimate threat to the Nuggets?

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 104-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Denver's second home loss to Phoenix in just under three weeks. Nikola Jokic was comfortable making the passes out to shooters, but the Nuggets didn't hit enough shots around him. This is the second game vs the Suns with a similar script, so should the Nuggets be concerned? How dangerous are the Suns to Denver? To other teams? Ryan discusses the game, then looks at the standings in the Western Conference and predicts wh...

Mar 28, 202450 minEp. 635

The Denver Nuggets are doing exactly what we hoped they would

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets dominant 128-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Nikola Jokic was in control, the young guys like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson stepped up. It was an impressive performance without Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Ryan reacts to the win, credits the unsung heroes, and credits the team for doing what he's asked them to do for a long time.

Mar 26, 202440 minEp. 634

Are the Nuggets peaking at the right time? - Weekends with Swipa

On the latest episode of Weekends with Swipa, Ryan Blackburn and Swipa break down the Denver Nuggets 114-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets still found a way to win, with Christian Braun standing out in all of the right ways. The Nuggets won their 50th game, and Ryan and Swipa go over whether the Nuggets are peaking at the right time or if there are still concerns? They then preview Denver's five-game homestand. Then, Swipa says happy birt...

Mar 24, 20241 hr 31 minEp. 633

Jokic and MPJ DOMINANT, Nuggets win vs Knicks

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 113-100 win over the New York Knicks in one of the most entertaining games of the year. The Nuggets made spectacular plays, led by Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. who were absolutely sensational for much of the night. The Nuggets are 49-21 through 70 games, and Ryan discusses Jokic's MVP bid, Porter taking his game to a new level, and much more.

Mar 22, 202440 minEp. 632

Jokic and MPJ find a way vs Minnesota

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 115-112 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to wrap up a strong road trip. Nikola Jokic scored 35 points, and Michael Porter Jr. had 26 himself, including a clutch fourth quarter performance. Ryan goes over the details of the game, matching up with Anthony Edwards, Denver's offensive weak points, and Denver's relatively easy remaining schedule.

Mar 20, 202436 minEp. 631

Nuggets lose heartbreaker on Kyrie Irving buzzer beater

On the latest episode of Weekends with Swipa, Ryan Blackburn and Swipa break down the Denver Nuggets 107-105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks as Kyrie Irving makes an epic running left-handed hook shot over Jokic from 20 feet out to win at the buzzer. The Nuggets were down by double-digits in the fourth quarter but worked their way back. Unfortunately, late heroics from Jamal Murray and the Nuggets weren't enough. Ryan and Swipa break down the game and discuss what's next for Denver.

Mar 18, 202439 minEp. 630

Jokic dominates Wemby! Nuggets take down Spurs

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 117-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Nikola Jokic matched up with rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama and showed the rookie some impressive moves. Jamal Murray and the Nuggets bench found their stride in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets did a great job staying locked in throughout the game and reclaimed first place in the West, if only for a short time.

Mar 16, 202438 minEp. 629

Nuggets take down Heat again (Live from Number Thirty Eight)

Recorded on Wednesday night from Number Thirty Eight, Ryan Blackburn and Shawn Drotar break down the Denver Nuggets 100-88 win over the Miami Heat as the Nuggets take sole possession of the first seed in the Western Conference. Michael Porter Jr. led the way with 25 points, Reggie Jackson played a pivotal fourth quarter role, and the Nuggets defense absolutely locked in. The Nuggets are 10-1 post All-Star Break, so Ryan and Shawn discuss the Western Conference standings, Nikola Jokic for MVP, an...

Mar 15, 202433 minEp. 628

Jokic and Murray UNSTOPPABLE in Nuggets win vs Raptors

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 125-119 comeback win over the Toronto Raptors, who were injured beyond belief but still put up a fight. Nikola Jokic put up another absurd triple-double with six steals to match, and Jamal Murray helped close the door in the fourth quarter with dynamic playmaking. Ryan discusses the game, the individual and collective dominance of Jokic and Murray, All-NBA, and more.

Mar 12, 202444 minEp. 627

Will the Denver Nuggets earn top seed in West? | Weekends with Swipa

Ryan Blackburn and Swipa discuss the last week of Denver Nuggets basketball, including a big win over the Boston Celtics and a mostly great performance vs the Utah Jazz. The Nuggets are now 44-20 and are playing great basketball, though they were clearly bored and weren't precise at times. Can the Nuggets earn the top seed in the West down the stretch? Or will they lose games that they shouldn't lose and fall below the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder?

Mar 10, 20241 hr 19 minEp. 626

Game of the Year Part II

Ryan Blackburn reacts to Thursday night's Denver Nuggets win over the Boston Celtics as the Nuggets make a championship statement over the team with the best record in the NBA. Nikola Jokic was incredible. Jamal Murray was good enough. Aaron Gordon caught a million lobs. Peyton Watson was impactful off the bench. The Nuggets know they can beat the Celtics in a playoff series, and Ryan goes over all of the layers of the matchup and why it's such a big deal for Denver. Ryan also discusses Nikola J...

Mar 08, 202438 minEp. 625

Suns end Nuggets 6-game win streak in OT

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 117-107 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The Nuggets had plenty of opportunities to win in the fourth quarter but couldn't capitalize. Ryan discusses Denver going down early, working their way back, and how Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, and the team nearly won the game but ultimately went down. Ryan also previews the Nuggets Thursday matchup with the Boston Celtics.

Mar 06, 202437 minEp. 624

Could Jokic become the face of the NBA after LeBron?

Ryan Blackburn shares hangover takes from the Denver Nuggets matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers over the weekend, discussing LeBron James setting his record and what comes after LeBron retires? Could Nikola Jokic become the face of the NBA? Then, Ryan discusses Justin Holiday's role in Denver and why he's become so helpful for Michael Malone. Finally, Ryan goes over the most important games remaining for the Nuggets this regular season.

Mar 05, 202449 minEp. 623

Nuggets beat the Heat in Finals Rematch with Vinny Benedetto

Ryan Blackburn is joined by Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Gazette to break down the Denver Nuggets 103-97 win over the Miami Heat in a hard fought victory that was very reminiscent of the NBA Finals last June. Michael Porter Jr. went off for 30 points and 11 rebounds, picking up the slack when Jamal Murray rolled his ankle in the second quarter. Ryan and Vinny discuss Nikola Jokic vs Bam Adebayo, Aaron Gordon vs Jimmy Butler, and Michael Malone's circle of trust with his bench players.

Mar 01, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 622

Jamal Murray goes off, Nuggets dominate the Kings

Ryan Blackburn reacts to last night's blowout win over the Sacramento Kings as Jamal Murray goes off for 32 points and six assists, missing just two shots on the evening. The Nuggets took awhile to get into the game, but once they did, they showcased a championship gear. Ryan breaks down the slow start, the quick turnaround, and more.

Feb 29, 202443 minEp. 621

Jokic and Murray DOMINATE in Nuggets win over Golden State

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 119-103 win over the Golden State Warriors as Nikola Jokic makes history with 32 points, 16 rebounds, 16 assists, and 4 steals in a big time matchup vs Draymond Green. Jamal Murray returned to the floor and outplayed Stephen Curry in his minutes, and the Nuggets got what they needed from their rotation to survive an early outburst from Klay Thompson. Ryan discusses Jokic and Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the toughness of the Western Conference....

Feb 26, 202444 minEp. 620

Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic go CRAZY | Weekends with Swipa

On the latest episode of Weekends with Swipa, Ryan Blackburn and Swipa breaks down the Denver Nuggets 127-112 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Michael Porter Jr. led the way with 34 points and 12 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic added another monster triple-double. The Nuggets are rolling after the All-Star Break, so Ryan and Swipa discuss the most encouraging aspects of the last two games. They also go around the NBA and discuss which teams are impressing them the most.

Feb 24, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 619

Jokic PERFECT again! Vibing with Matt Brooks

Ryan Blackburn is joined by Matt Brooks of the Denver Nuggets digital team to break down Denver's impressive win over the Washington Wizards. Nikola Jokic notched an epic triple-double, his first against the Wizards. Jokic now has a triple-double against every team he's faced in the NBA. Ryan and Matt break down Jokic's MVP chances, Denver's first performance after the All-Star Break, and what to watch over the next few weeks.

Feb 23, 20241 hr 7 minEp. 618

Predictions for the Final 27 Games

Get your limited edition "Joker" tee here: https://denver-stiffs.square.site/product/mhs-joker-shirt/52 Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Post All-Star Break schedule the Denver Nuggets will face in what is a competitive race for the top seed in the Western Conference. Ryan breaks down the most pressing concerns and what the Nuggets have left to prove, if anything, before the 2024 NBA Playoffs begin. Can the Nuggets grab the top spot in the West? Does it even matter?

Feb 22, 202444 minEp. 617

I'm back! 29 moments for Nikola Jokic's 29th birthday

Get your limited edition "Joker" tee here: https://denver-stiffs.square.site/product/mhs-joker-shirt/52 Ryan Blackburn returns from the All-Star Break to discuss the game and the festivities. He discusses Denver Nuggets practice on Tuesday before focusing on Nikola Jokic, who just turned 29 a couple days ago. Ryan goes back down memory lane and shares 29 moments from Nikola Jokic's career that Nuggets fans love.

Feb 21, 20241 hrEp. 616

Nuggets enter All-Star Break with a thud

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 102-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings to extend Denver's losing streak to three games. The Nuggets missed Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope when matching up with the Kings backcourt featuring De'Aaron Fox. Nikola Jokic didn't step up, nor was Michael Porter Jr. good enough when it matted. The Nuggets are suffering from depth problems though, the story of their season. Ryan breaks down the game, talks about the young guys, and discusses where De...

Feb 15, 202439 minEp. 615

Are the Nuggets in trouble or not? (Epic Swipa Rant)

Ryan Blackburn and Swipa go over the Denver Nuggets losses to the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks to finish a 1-2 road trip. They discuss what went wrong, why the losses were so bad, and whether fans should be concerned. They talk about whether there are ramifications for these Nuggets performances heading into the playoffs, then discuss the ESPN Straw Poll placing Nikola Jokic on top of the MVP Race once again.

Feb 14, 20241 hr 10 minEp. 614

Nuggets win vs Lakers on honorary Kobe Night

Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 8-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Mamba Night, honoring Kobe Bryant after his tragic passing. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. put together special performances, while Jokic had 24 points himself. The Nuggets and Lakers fought hard, but the better team won, again. Ryan discusses the game, the honoring of Kobe, and wraps up trade deadline discussion after the Nuggets made a small trade.

Feb 09, 202444 minEp. 613

Reacting to NBA Trades and where the Denver Nuggets stand

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the trades made around the NBA on Wednesday, including former Denver Nuggets point guard Monte Morris going from the Detroit Pistons to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ryan discusses Denver's stance on trades, whether the Nuggets have enough to win a championship without a move, and where the NBA playoff pecking order stands currently.

Feb 08, 202445 minEp. 612

Peyton Watson and Christian Braun shine, Nuggets trade deadline preview

Ryan Blackburn and Swipa discuss the Denver Nuggets latest 112-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Peyton Watson and Christian Braun shined off the bench for the Nuggets, and Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each had strong performances to push Denver over the top. Ryan and Swipa discuss the latest iterations of the Nuggets bench, whether they're worried about Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr., and Michael Malone's comments on the NBA Trade Deadline.

Feb 05, 202448 minEp. 611

Nikola Jokic DOMINATES in return, Nuggets defeat Blazers

Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets 120-108 win on Friday night vs the Portland Trail Blazers as Nikola Jokic returns to the floor and picks up a MONSTER triple-double. Jokic dominated the middle of the floor vs the Blazers, and that was enough for the Nuggets, even with Jamal Murray having such a poor shooting night. Ryan discusses the game, Jokic's health, and more.

Feb 03, 202445 minEp. 611
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