Ryan Blackburn from DenverStiffs.com brings you the latest news and analysis for the Denver Nuggets on every episode, including some the best guests from around the NBA.
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The Pickaxe and Roll podcast is a must-listen for any basketball fan, especially those who are fans of the Denver Nuggets. Hosted by Ryan Blackburn, this podcast offers unparalleled analysis of matchups and lineup rotations that requires both intelligence and extensive study. Blackburn's in-depth knowledge of the game shines through in every episode, making other shows sound superficial by comparison.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the incredible amount of detail and thoughtfulness put into each episode. Blackburn's analysis is top-notch, often providing insights that go beyond what is typically discussed on mainstream sports networks like ESPN. He has a knack for quickly analyzing different aspects of the game, showcasing his mastery of basketball and his undying loyalty to the Nuggets. Whether it's breaking down data and numbers or offering thoughtful commentary on players and their performances, Blackburn consistently delivers high-quality content.
However, one potential downside to the podcast is when Blackburn ventures into opinion-based narratives. At times, it may seem like he lacks firsthand experience playing the game competitively, as he focuses primarily on data and numbers rather than considering intangible factors that can influence player performance. While his analytical approach is impressive, it would be beneficial to also acknowledge the human element of basketball and recognize that players are more than just statistics.
In conclusion, The Pickaxe and Roll podcast is an outstanding resource for Nuggets fans looking for intelligent dialogue about their favorite team. Ryan Blackburn's expertise in lineup combinations and meticulous attention to detail make every episode a great listen. While there may be minor shortcomings when it comes to incorporating personal experiences into his analysis, overall, this podcast offers unmatched analysis that sets it apart from others in its genre.
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On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the news that Nikola Jokic will wait until next offseason to sign an extension with the Denver Nuggets. He also shares a Jonas Valanciunas update before pivoting to DaRon Holmes II and the Nuggets Summer League squad.
On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the surprisingly complicated situation between the Denver Nuggets and Jonas Valanciunas, who no longer wants to play in the NBA and appears to have signed a contract in Greece. Where do the Nuggets go from here? Ryan discusses a variety of backup center options for the Nuggets in his stead.
On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn ranks the Denver Nuggets bench players by expected role in the regular season, breaks down some bench lineups he likes, and goes over the rest of the Western Conference and some moves other teams have made.
On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the latest moves by the Denver Nuggets to sure up their bench unit, trading Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas and signing Tim Hardaway Jr. to a veteran minimum. Both are incredible deals for Denver and have suddenly turned Denver into a much deeper, more put-together roster. Is the 2026 NBA Title on the table?
On the latest Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to an unreal trade made by the Denver Nuggets, sending out Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first round pick for Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. He discusses the deal and the flexibility it gives Denver, as well as the surprise signing of Bruce Brown to a one-year minimum contract. The Nuggets don't have to be done either. They can keep making moves. The question is, will they?
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the latest news and rumors surrounding the Denver Nuggets. From LeBron James subtly calling for a trade, to Russell Westbrook rumors, and a new trade rumor for the Nuggets involving Houston Rockets wing Cam Whitmore.
Ryan Blackburn breaks down a quiet NBA Draft night and the consistent messaging of a quiet offseason from the new Denver Nuggets front office, emphasized by focusing on Free Agency in the coming days rather than trades.
Ryan Blackburn breaks down a quiet night from inside Ball Arena during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Around the league, there were some interesting moves but very little player movement. Ryan discusses the draft and whether the Nuggets will get involved tonight.
Ryan Blackburn shares his thoughts and insights from the Denver Nuggets Introductory presser for new decision makers in Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer. He also discusses Josh Kroenke's candid words on the front office structure, the second apron, Nikola Jokic, and more. Finally, Ryan breaks down his list of the Top 25 NBA Free Agents the Nuggets should target this offseason.
Ryan Blackburn shares thoughts on OKC winning the championship, the Kevin Durant trade, and how the Nuggets offseason is impacted by Dario Saric opting into his player option.
Ryan Blackburn shares thoughts on the 2025 NBA Draft, how the Denver Nuggets can get involved, and other teams he's watching closely leading up to draft night.
Ryan Blackburn shares his Western Conference tiers before the NBA Draft and Free Agency and explains how the Denver Nuggets might be the second best team in the conference. Then, he asks the impossible question: how can the Nuggets keep up with the Thunder next time these two teams meet in the playoffs?
Ryan Blackburn breaks down the upcoming Rookie Extension market for Christian Braun and Peyton Watson and whether the Nuggets can sign them to cost effective contracts.
Ryan Blackburn goes over the Denver Nuggets bench unit player by player, focusing on expectations for playing a role next season. He also discusses a Russell Westbrook rumor.
Jake Coyne joins Ryan Blackburn to break down top trade targets this offseason for the Denver Nuggets, including how Denver can get the deals done. They also share some names of minimum contract free agency targets.
Jake Coyne (@TheStatSquatch on X) joins Ryan Blackburn to break down the Denver Nuggets biggest questions of how to get better in Free Agency. They discuss the Nuggets roster and how to build a better bench unit around a strong Starting Five, offering names like Bruce Brown, Taurean Prince, Al Horford, and more.
Ryan Blackburn breaks down the top players on the NBA Trade Market this offseason and if the Denver Nuggets have a chance to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Trey Murphy III, and more.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down how the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals and what the Denver Nuggets can learn from them. (Recorded on Sunday, June 1st)
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn shares insights from the introductory presser of David Adelman as the new head coach of the Denver Nuggets, as well as important takeaways and challenges for Adelman.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the challenges the Denver Nuggets will face in Free Agency and why fans will feel like this summer will be a failure. He shares Denver's salary cap situation, free agency objectives, and why he's concerned that fans will feel like the team isn't doing enough to help Nikola Jokic this summer.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn shares some Reasons for Optimism for the Denver Nuggets heading into the offseason, from DaRon Holmes' return to the court to internal development of young players to better organizational alignment.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the news that David Adelman will be the new coach of the Denver Nuggets. Ryan also discusses Josh Kroenke's press conference yesterday and what to make of the focus on "Internal Development."
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the performance of the Denver Nuggets Core 4 players in the playoffs. Can the Nuggets still win a championship with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. as their four best players?
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down moves made by former Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth and how they set the team up to fail in the playoffs this season.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets Game 7 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and what went wrong for Denver in this game and this season. The Nuggets are back in the same situation they were last year losing a game before the Western Conference Finals. What will it take for Denver to go from that level to winning it all? Ryan breaks down the Nuggets' loss, the actual problems facing Denver, and what's next for the Nuggets amid an offseason of uncertainty.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets Game 6 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder that saw Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray lock in at the right time. Julian Strawther had himself a game off the bench, and the Nuggets did enough to get past the Thunder despite what may be an impact injury to Aaron Gordon. Ryan breaks down the Game 6 win, Murray's flu game performance, Strawther's great night, and the best two words in sports: Game 7.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 112-105 loss in Game 5 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nikola Jokic had a major bounce back game with 44 points, but it wasn't enough as the Nuggets gassed out in the fourth quarter once again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made the right plays, and the Nuggets didn't make enough shots in the fourth to survive OKC's late push. Ryan breaks down the Game 5 loss, Murray's missteps, who should have closed the game for Denver in the fourth, and if the Nuggets can recover from this.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down what happened in the NBA Draft Lottery last night and how it looks the most fishy it ever has with the Dallas Mavericks winning the first overall pick. Is the draft lottery rigged? Probably not, but it felt like it last night. Ryan breaks down the Mavericks winning the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, the Jayson Tatum injury, and previews Game 5 of Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to an ugly Game 4 clutch loss by the Denver Nuggets to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nikola Jokic's struggles continued, and the rest of the Nuggets were perhaps worse today, certainly from a shooting efficiency standpoint. Nobody had any energy, and the Thunder won because of their depth succeeding during the quick turnaround. Ryan breaks down the loss, a missed opportunity for the Nuggets, Jokic's slump, and more.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn goes over what became a Game 3 overtime classic win by the Denver Nuggets over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nikola Jokic struggled a lot, but Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. picked him up with great performances of their own. Christian Braun also defended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander very well, allowing the Nuggets to win this game with defense. Ryan goes over the Game 3 win, the Nuggets' incredible resilience, and whether the Nuggets can actually do this and win this series.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the ugly, no-good, very bad loss by the Denver Nuggets to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2. Nikola Jokic fouled out in the third quarter, but the game was over well before that. The Nuggets were down nearly 50 points at different moments, and OKC simply crushed Denver in every category. How concerning is this loss for the rest of the series? Ryan breaks down the loss, SGA's dominance, some issues with refs and what to expect in Game 3.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn recaps the Denver Nuggets amazing Game 1 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Aaron Gordon made big plays, including the game-winning three with two seconds left. Nikola Jokic kept the game close with high effort and dynamic scoring. The Nuggets had no business stealing Game 1 from SGA and OKC, but they managed it, so what does that mean for the rest of the series? Ryan breaks down Gordon's second big moment of the playoffs, Jokic's greatness, the Thunder's possible response in Game 2, and much more.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn does a complete series preview for the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. The series tips off tonight, and the Nuggets have a quick turnaround while the Thunder have nine days of rest. How will Denver handle it? Can they do anything to slow down OKC's dominant season? Ryan goes over the matchups, the Jokic vs SGA MVP angle, the fatigue factor, and makes a series prediction.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to the Denver Nuggets Game 7 win over the LA Clippers to advance to the second round. The Nuggets dominated and were up by over 30 points, getting contributions from everyone involved, including Aaron Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Christian Braun, and more. The Nuggets now move onto an even tougher challenge against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but this series win was something to celebrate amidst the challenges Denver has faced this year.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6, missing a big opportunity to advance to the next round and get some rest in the process. Now, the Nuggets need Game 7 to do it, something they've struggled with before. Ryan breaks down the bad process from Nikola Jokic, Denver's bad defense, and the prospect of another Game 7.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the massive Game 5 win for the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers, led by Jamal Murray's 43-point performance. It was a tremendous night for Murray who put his stamp on the series in a very impressive way. The Nuggets rallied around his shotmaking, and Nikola Jokic only had to score 13 points while Murray and others dominated. Ryan breaks down the big win, Murray's night, Russell Westbrook's triumphant return, and thoughts on Game 6.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down another critical matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. Game 5 is all about regaining momentum after the Nuggets evened up the series at 2-2. Can Denver capitalize or will Los Angeles recover? Ryan shares some Notes and Quotes, why Jamal Murray has to be the guy tonight, and more in a Game 5 Preview.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets CLUTCH Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Clippers to even up the series at 2-2. Aaron Gordon was the big hero following the closest buzzer beater in NBA history perhaps? Nikola Jokic was tremendous all game. There was a lot to like about Denver's competitive fight, and they showed the world they aren't ready to quit just yet. Ryan breaks down the win, gives Gordon his flowers, and sets the table for a pivotal Game 5.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn reacts to an ugly, very bad loss by the Denver Nuggets in a Game 3 blowout vs the Los Angeles Clippers. Denver went down 117-83, and the only Nuggets that could actually score were Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The Nuggets appear overwhelmed in this series all of a sudden, and it looks things could be over very quickly unless the Nuggets find another gear. Ryan discusses the blowout loss, the problems around Jokic and Murray, a defense that's falling apart, and what if this is really the end?
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn previews Game 3 of the Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers playoff series. Michael Porter Jr. is questionable with a shoulder injury, and the Nuggets are trying to recover from a close loss at the buzzer in Game 2. Ryan shares some insights, some telling stats about Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, and others, and discusses why it's Christian Braun who must step up in this game.
On the latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down the Denver Nuggets 105-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 to even up the series at 1-1. Kawhi Leonard was unbelievable, and while Nikola Jokic made shots and played good defense, he also made more mistakes than normal. The Nuggets as a team made too many mistakes in the clutch, and it cost them what could be an important early game. Ryan breaks down the loss, elements that were different from Game 1, and where the series currently stands.
On the Latest episode of Pickaxe and Roll, Ryan Blackburn breaks down an important matchup in Game 2 of Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers to highlight the battle between both teams to be the best they can be. Can Aaron Gordon's aggressiveness free up Michael Porter Jr. at some point? Ryan discusses Gordon, Nikola Jokic amping up the defense, how the Clippers will approach Game 2, and other adjustments for the series.
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