The Denver Nuggets picked up a big win over the Lakers behind strong performances from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić, but questions remain about turnovers and the team’s identity since Jokić’s return. With Aaron Gordon nearing a comeback and a brutal stretch of games ahead, Denver is about to face a defining test in the Western Conference race.
Welcome back to MoodSwings presented by Landmark Lincoln…your new favorite sports therapy show. The Denver Nuggets picked up a big win over the Los Angeles Lakers, but questions still remain. On this episode of Mood Swings, Liv breaks down Jamal Murray’s big night, Nikola Jokić’s triple-double (and the concerning turnover numbers), and why the Nuggets might be dealing with a bit of an identity crisis since Jokić returned from injury. With key players like Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson nearing a return, Denver could be getting healthy at the perfect time—but a brutal upcoming stretch against teams like the Thunder, Spurs, Rockets, and Lakers will reveal exactly who this team is. Plus, Liv dives into the growing theatrics around the NBA and why Anthony Edwards might be the player who can save the game from turning into pure entertainment.
0:55 Nuggets beat the Lakers
1:31 Denver’s clutch-time identity shift
4:28 Why this version of the Nuggets feels like a contender
5:12 Christian Braun and role players stepping up
6:33 Nikola Jokić triple-double… but too many turnovers?
8:26 Nuggets adjusting to Jokić’s return
13:24 Julian Strawther’s impact
16:19 Tim Hardaway’s timely shooting
16:47 Knicks matchup preview
17:27 Tight Western Conference race
19:11 Brutal upcoming schedule for Denver
21:07 Next week will define the Nuggets
24:13 The Jokic “piggyback ride” vs Utah
25:29 Is the NBA getting too theatrical?
25:54 Why Anthony Edwards is the ultimate hooper
00;00;06;04 - 00;00;22;08
Unknown
Welcome into another episode of Mood Swings with Liv. Moods. I'm Liv moods. And as always, this is presented by landmark Lincoln. Shout out to our friends over at Landmark Lincoln. Make sure you head to their location off of Bellevue and Broadway to figure out why. They have been the number one Lincoln dealer in Colorado for as long as they have.
00;00;22;08 - 00;00;39;09
Unknown
I say it every show. I'm going to say it again. I am the proud new owner of a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus. Could not love my car more, so make sure, like I said, you head to their location, check out all that they have to offer, and potentially you yourself will also join the landmark Lincoln family. Okay, let's get right into it guys.
00;00;39;09 - 00;00;58;26
Unknown
I really I just need to just dive right on into this, okay? The Denver Nuggets much to discuss here. We did not do a show on Friday. And as you know the Denver Nuggets were taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder. My arch nemesis, if you will. And not for any reason outside of the fact that OKC is good.
00;00;58;26 - 00;01;19;09
Unknown
OKC is the best. OKC is coming off of winning a championship and the Denver Nuggets couldn't get past them last season. So naturally you know there's certain teams in the NBA based on which team you're a fan of. You have certain teams that you just have a distaste for. OKC is one of those teams for me, naturally, because I'm a Denver Nuggets fan.
00;01;19;11 - 00;01;47;01
Unknown
There's also an element though to OKC game that is just off putting. And I think unless you're an OKC fan, you probably agree there's something about OKC. And it's very interesting actually to watch how quickly OKC has become so unlikable. They I would argue again maybe take this with a grain of salt because I am a Denver Nuggets fan myself.
00;01;47;03 - 00;02;19;01
Unknown
I would argue OKC is is definitely a contender. In being the most unlikable team in the NBA. Yeah. Yep. And for a few reasons, you could go into Suga's foul baiting antics and how frustrating that has become and how that is changing the game of basketball, because he's coming off of not only a championship season, but an MVP season, and he's doing things and getting away with things that other superstars in this league aren't able to get away with.
00;02;19;01 - 00;02;43;13
Unknown
And that's just sit there is naturally going to be certain things that an NBA superstar can get away with that a sixth man or a bench guy can't that that's that's expected. That's normal. Right. Once you get into that NBA superstar status in such a star driven league, you have certain allowances that maybe other players do not.
00;02;43;15 - 00;03;17;25
Unknown
I expect that when you have an MVP caliber player, though, not just an MVP caliber player, but the actual MVP themselves, getting away with things that are kind of cutting corners on, like the basic rules of the game. There's certain things that this OKC team is allowed to do that other teams are not. Other teams get frustrated in trying to figure out how to defend OKC, because the rules don't apply to OKC in the same way that they apply to everybody else.
00;03;17;28 - 00;03;39;10
Unknown
It really has changed the game. I say that not lightly, that I really believe that the allowances that have been made for OKC have changed the game of basketball. The way in which SGA plays has changed the game of basketball, because let's be real, foul baiting, flopping all the things has been around for some time. This is not a new thing.
00;03;39;18 - 00;03;57;18
Unknown
Shout out James Harden right in his prime. This is not a new thing. That being said though, this is the most we've seen it be rewarded. This is the most we've seen it be rewarded. We're seeing an SGA do it every game, get away with it every game, and then not just get away with it. Be rewarded for it.
00;03;57;18 - 00;04;18;04
Unknown
Here's your MVP trophy for being an all time leader in points. Well, how many of those points came from the line on bogus calls? Right. If you really break it down, there's a lot of reasons why people don't like OKC. That's just one of them. The foul baiting and and SGA being able to get away with whatever and the rules, not applying the same blah blah, blah.
00;04;18;07 - 00;04;38;19
Unknown
Another thing that I don't see enough people talking about, when it comes to OKC is, is the maturity. There's a complete and utter lack of maturity there. And honestly, I love it when when the athletes can have fun, let loose a little bit in a, you know, on the court, in an interview after the game, the water splashing like that doesn't bother me, right?
00;04;38;19 - 00;04;59;23
Unknown
That doesn't bother me. But there's a certain limit to it. I think, where it kind of I feel like with OKC, I kind of want to be like, act like you've been here before, right? Like, if you really are the champion, the current NBA champion, which they are as it stands, until we get a new winner, they're currently the NBA champions.
00;04;59;23 - 00;05;18;29
Unknown
And they just kind of act like they've never been good before. It's like every game they win. It's like the first time they've won. I don't know how to quite put my finger on it without sounding like a total hater. And I've kind of already accepted that. Me talking about this, I'm going to sound like a hater regardless because of my nuggets fandom, so I don't really care.
00;05;19;03 - 00;05;52;07
Unknown
Frankly. When have I ever cared about sounding like a hater? I don't care. Act like you've been here before. There are certain things like I'm okay. The the splashing of the water, the teammates coming up and hyping up whatever. I saw though a clip of an interview being conducted after a game with OKC, and the sweaty headband being removed off of Alex Caruso's bald, sweaty head and being placed on the reporters head mid interview.
00;05;52;13 - 00;06;14;19
Unknown
And in the background, the snickering and the chuckling as if we're like five years old and this is the first time we've won a basketball game. There is just something so unprofessional about OKC, dare I say. And it's really actually hard. And I can actually say this as a nuggets fan. OKC is so damn good. They are so damn good.
00;06;14;19 - 00;06;39;08
Unknown
There's a reason that they keep winning. There's a reason that they're hard to beat. There's a reason that my Denver Nuggets struggle to beat them. They are so good. But when you couple that with the on court antics, you couple that with the off court antics. You couple that with a coach. In a postgame presser who's taking zero accountability for Dort, making a very obviously dirty play on Nikola Jokic.
00;06;39;08 - 00;07;02;23
Unknown
And what we're not going to do is pretend like Dort isn't dirty. He is. And he has been. This is not new information. We could come up with a compilation video right now of probably more than ten instances where Dort has made a dirty play, period. Remove your OKC fan for a second and let's talk facts. Dort is historically dirty and he tries to be low key about it.
00;07;02;23 - 00;07;21;12
Unknown
And what I have a problem with, I think with Dort the most is a guy like Dillon Brooks back in the day, Grayson Allen, these guys would make a dirty play and they kind of were proud of it, right? Like, that's just who I am, dog. Sorry. It is what it is. Dort makes a dirty play and then stands there and goes, what?
00;07;21;15 - 00;07;44;21
Unknown
What? Dort, why on earth are you confused about getting ejected in that game versus the Denver Nuggets? What on earth possesses you to think that that was not a dirty play? Anybody with eyeballs on their head and a brain in their head knows that that was dirty, period. There's no argument here. There's no argument here. Okay? And whether or not the game was getting physical or aggressive or chippy, whatever, that's part of basketball.
00;07;44;21 - 00;08;07;25
Unknown
I don't care about that. But a dirty play is a dirty play. My problem is if you're going to be dirty, be dirty with your chest. And this is not the first time Dort has been dirty. We're not going to pretend like it's the first time because it's not the first time. That's the fact. Okay, so what I struggle with with OKC is what feels like a lack of professionalism every win.
00;08;07;25 - 00;08;29;25
Unknown
It's like the first time they've won. We're like acting childish. We're a little we're saying things a little too loosely. You know, we're claiming we could go toe to toe with the, the the Raptors in their prime, the Warriors in their prime, the Bulls in their prime. You know, just certain things where it's like I love a confident individual.
00;08;29;27 - 00;08;59;21
Unknown
And the problem is OKC has a lot to be confident about. But I'm starting to see a shift in the game of basketball. And it's kind of centered around OKC. And I don't like it so much. It's it's getting to a point. This really should be a case study that to be a team as good as OKC, who's scratching the surface on a potential dynasty in the making and they're the most unlikable team in the NBA by far.
00;08;59;24 - 00;09;18;10
Unknown
It's not even close. And I'm a nuggets fan. So I get it right. Like grain of salt. Like of course you don't like them. Live like you're a nuggets fan, I get that, but I think you could ask most NBA fans in general, and they will share the same sentiment that OKC is one of the most unlikable teams in the NBA.
00;09;18;12 - 00;09;44;18
Unknown
And I really feel like. It's just kind of becoming like a clown show. Play basketball because you know how to play it and you're good at it. Don't be dirty, don't foul. They don't flop. Don't not take accountability. It's like they're trying to find every which way to cut corners. It's like that's how they win basketball games cutting corners, finding loopholes.
00;09;44;18 - 00;10;10;29
Unknown
You know, at a certain point, do we need to also start diving into the load management on that team there just feels like there's something like there's something snaky over there. And this could just be coming from a Denver Nuggets hater. Salty hater. I'm not afraid to admit that. Of course I'm a hater of OKC for the obvious reason of being a Denver Nuggets fan.
00;10;11;00 - 00;10;44;17
Unknown
But when I really look at this team, I'm I'm actually sitting here perplexed, trying to figure out what makes OKC so damn unlikable because they are. That's a fact. They are unlikable. Is it door being dirty and then pretending he's not? Come on. Is it SGA foul baiting and flopping all over like a fish out of water and then pretending he doesn't come on, is it the coach not taking accountability for being dirty, or SGA flopping, or teams not knowing how to defend OKC without a whistle?
00;10;44;19 - 00;11;09;24
Unknown
Come on. It's like the play stupid stuff that's a little weird to me. Like, y'all know what you're doing, okay? And good on you. It's working, but don't act like you don't know what you're doing. Please. That's all I ask. Don't act like you don't know what you're doing, what you're up to. We all see it. So I know for a fact it's strategic and it's methodical.
00;11;10;01 - 00;11;41;14
Unknown
Please. And good on you. Like I said, it's working and you're good as a basketball team. But can we not pretend like we don't know what's happening here? You know, so OKC is a tough one for me. Dort was dirty. I've never in my years of being a Denver Nuggets fan through and through and watching Nikola Jokic play, that man looked like he wanted to eat Jalen Williams.
00;11;41;14 - 00;12;05;07
Unknown
I have never seen a look in his eyes like that before. That struck something inside of him. I was sitting there like wait a minute. He I mean he was shaking. He was foaming at the mouth. He looked like the Joker. The actual joker. It scared me, honestly. But I love seeing that side of Nikola Jokic. Right.
00;12;05;07 - 00;12;28;22
Unknown
Because this is the same player that we talk about not caring, not really giving a shit, being very cool, calm, collected all the time. Let's not forget he's a Serbian monster, right? Like, have you seen his brothers. Have you seen the Jokic bloodline? I'm not I'm not sure you should ever underestimate Jokic. His ability to. Deal with whatever he needs to deal with.
00;12;28;22 - 00;12;51;23
Unknown
Handle it. You know because he was about it. He was all about it. He wanted every bit of the smoke. And and I just think the Serbians do it a little differently. So I've never seen that. And to be, to be honest, I was a little like, whoa. But he said it best. It was an unnecessary play by Dort.
00;12;51;26 - 00;13;26;27
Unknown
I'm going to call it a play. Unnecessary move, an unnecessary reaction. 1,000%. 1,000%. We gotta we gotta. Unfortunately, you guys, get into Denver, the Denver Nuggets, and what I believe to be a season that is slowly slipping away. And how unfortunate because it's an all time season by Nikola Jokic. And it's a career year for Jamal Murray as well.
00;13;26;29 - 00;14;01;02
Unknown
Two things we've been waiting for to happen simultaneously at once. We have been waiting for Nikola Jokic to have one of his best years, and Jamal Murray to also have one of his best years at the same time. We've got that and. I'm pretty concerned about the Denver Nuggets in this moment. You guys know I cover this team I talk about this team I watch this team with every intention of being as honest as I possibly can.
00;14;01;02 - 00;14;19;04
Unknown
I see a lot of reporters out there and some of them have to do this because it's their job. I see a lot of reporters out there and analysts out there that that really want to just always pretend that it's sunshine and rainbows and butterflies. And you know what? When you have Nikola Jokic on your team in so many ways, it is kind of always that, right.
00;14;19;07 - 00;14;37;18
Unknown
Because you always know you have a chance when you've got Nikola Jokic on your squad. But here's the reality folks. And this is the truth. In the 13 games that Nikola Jokic has played since his return, the Denver Nuggets have gone five and eight.
00;14;37;20 - 00;14;43;14
Unknown
Five and eight.
00;14;43;17 - 00;15;09;02
Unknown
We're not winning with Jokic being back. And we were winning pretty pretty well. And on the road. With not just no Nikola Jokic but no Aaron Gordon. No Cam Johnson no Christian Brown no Nikola Jokic. And this nuggets team was winning on the road playing very well. And in the 13 games. And Nikola Jokic has been back.
00;15;09;02 - 00;15;15;02
Unknown
This team has gone five and eight.
00;15;15;04 - 00;15;41;03
Unknown
Okay. This team in clutch time is worse since Nikola Jokic has returned. Why is that. Before we get into why that is let me tell you with my chest something that should not shock you, that I'm about to say I know. Buckle up guys. Pretend to be surprised for just a moment here, I have seen what I have needed to see at this point.
00;15;41;03 - 00;16;07;16
Unknown
Right? 13 games Nikola Jokic being back five and eight record never looked worse in clutch time. December Nuggets team. It's rough out here. I've seen what I've needed to see. Bring me back Russell Westbrook immediately in all caps. Exclamation point. Thank you. Like yesterday that should have happened not just to right your wrongs with Russell Westbrook because nothing about getting rid of him made sense.
00;16;07;20 - 00;16;41;01
Unknown
Nothing. But I've seen what I've needed to see. Do not forget you paid minimum money. Minimum money to a 17 year veteran. In order to have two triple double machines share the court at the same time, Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic leading in all time triple doubles, sharing the court at the same time for minimum money.
00;16;41;03 - 00;16;56;28
Unknown
I'll tell you a couple of things that the nuggets lack right now, because I even took to my social media and said, Bring Westbrook back. And someone's like, oh my gosh, you know you're down bad when you're calling for Russell Westbrook to be back. Well why would why would that make me. Yeah I am down bad because look at what we're getting with the Denver Nuggets right now.
00;16;57;02 - 00;17;19;07
Unknown
Here's a couple of things that the Denver Nuggets are lacking in this moment. Urgency. Yep. And energy and effort. These are things that are lacking urgency energy effort all things that you choose to not have. I will say that it's not a matter of can they play tougher? Can they hustle more on defense? They can. They're choosing not to.
00;17;19;10 - 00;17;52;14
Unknown
So in lacking effort, energy, urgency, you name it, those are things you never had to question about. Russell Westbrook game. In 18 years you have never, ever had to question his urgency, his effort, his energy, ever. Now one time in his 18 year career, have you ever had to question those three things? Those three things are lacking big time in the Mile High City right about now, big time, especially in the fourth quarter.
00;17;52;16 - 00;18;23;23
Unknown
Which is why we suck in clutch time right now. We can't finish a game because we lack energy, effort, urgency, you name it. Those things are what make Russell Westbrook, Russell Westbrook and you had him here for minimum money and you let him walk away I forget it I'm not going to try to understand it because I don't understand it okay I think the hope was that Bruce Brown was going to be everything Russell Westbrook was in that one season.
00;18;23;23 - 00;18;48;11
Unknown
And then some because there's some already established chemistry there. Bruce Brown was a part of the 2023 championship team. We know how crucial and fantastic he was in that 2023 championship season, but so far, we haven't gotten much more out of Bruce than we got from Russell Westbrook last season. And before you start, before you start yapping in the comments section, let me let me add this a little bit in there.
00;18;48;13 - 00;19;12;25
Unknown
What were you the most frustrated with Russell Westbrook last season? What frustrated you the most about Russell Westbrook's game here in Denver? I'll answer for you because I already know missed wide open threes, a couple missed layups and missed free throws. Lots of turnovers right. Hey newsflash guys we still have that problem. And Russell Westbrook doesn't play here.
00;19;12;28 - 00;19;36;14
Unknown
So if that's your reason for not wanting to bring Russell Westbrook back oh the turnovers. Jokic is doing that himself. We're turning over the ball a lot. He had nine versus the Memphis Grizzlies. That's just one game that comes to mind. We are turning the ball over a lot. Missed free throws. My God I've seen a lot of games where missed free throws have been the reason we've lost the damn game.
00;19;36;16 - 00;20;02;03
Unknown
So that's not any better miss layups still have those unfortunately. So again I say the largest problem right now. Is that clutch time play. Because let's be honest, there's a lot of games where through three quarters or two quarters, the nuggets look really good. And I watch the game and I go, this is a team win at all.
00;20;02;03 - 00;20;17;14
Unknown
I'm not kidding. You get these guys in full health. You get Aaron Gordon back. You get Peyton Watson back. Obviously depending on when you get those guys back because you need some time to get them back in the system and get some chemistry going and get them in sync with everybody else depending on when you get them back.
00;20;17;16 - 00;20;36;21
Unknown
This team could win it all, damn it. And then I watch that clutch time play and I go, what the hell is going on? Actually, what what is going on? And a lot of it is a total lack of urgency. They don't look worried.
00;20;36;23 - 00;20;59;11
Unknown
I'm sitting on the couch looking more worried than they look sometimes. And just like that, few missed free throw some wide open threes. Not hitting because we're rushing through the play. We're not taking our time. We're not taking good shots. We're turning the ball over. Giving the other team another opportunity to score. Now they're up by six. Before you know it you blink.
00;20;59;11 - 00;21;28;12
Unknown
They're up by 12. I mean, it's kind of the same story every every game in clutch time. It feels like it's the same story with Denver right now. And I can't quite figure out why this is happening. I've seen some people out there talking about the injuries. Guys shut it down. Injuries cannot be an excuse based on what we saw when four of five starters for this team were out and they were still winning games.
00;21;28;15 - 00;21;56;19
Unknown
You cannot bring up injuries anymore. This is a next man up mentality game. This is the NBA okay. Everybody should be ready for their moment. And this team has already proven that without four of their most important players being available, they were still winning games. So we can't make excuses because now that we've got three of those four guys back.
00;21;56;22 - 00;22;22;13
Unknown
We it's frightening what's happening right now. We don't look prepared. We don't look ready. We don't look like we're a championship caliber team. So what's the issue? What's happening right. It's easy to just sit and be critical. But what what is the issue? Because you've got Nikola Jokic who even on his worst night is playing at the highest of levels.
00;22;22;15 - 00;22;46;14
Unknown
You've got a career year for Jamal Murray. So what gifts right. You could you could easy answer. Cam Johnson what's going on with Cam Johnson right. In my humble opinion. You start thinking about how you're going to include Cam Johnson in a trade package at this point. And I mean no disrespect by that. I just don't know if it's a good fit anymore.
00;22;46;16 - 00;23;10;18
Unknown
You're not getting what you paid for. At the end of the day. Now, I know that the next question is going to be, do you regret trading and PJ no, I actually believe MJ's time in Denver was done regardless. But I don't think Cam Johnson is is giving. I think at the beginning of the season when everyone was really up in arms about Cam Johnson and why he, you know, how bad the trade was and he's not doing this and he's not doing that.
00;23;10;20 - 00;23;19;11
Unknown
It felt a little too early to be going there just yet. But at this stage, as of March, officially.
00;23;19;14 - 00;23;37;12
Unknown
Yeah, it's not going to cut it. It's just not zero points versus arrival in the Timberwolves as a starter is just not going to cut it. Unfortunately it's not. And I think he knows that. I think he knows he has to be better. And I actually you know one of the things I really, really love about Cam Johnson is his high IQ.
00;23;37;15 - 00;23;58;10
Unknown
I think that's why a guy like Nikola Jokic probably enjoys playing with him. He's a very smart basketball player. So I actually really am not like I'm not like completely given up on Cam Johnson just yet. But you do need more out of him immediately. Like you just you just do. Especially when you're still out Aaron Gordon and who knows when you get him back.
00;23;58;12 - 00;24;24;18
Unknown
Here's the reality of Aaron Gordon. I need him back yesterday. I want him back. And I need him back yesterday. What we're watching, especially on the defensive side of things with this Denver Nuggets team, is just how valuable a guy like Aaron Gordon is, because since he's been out, the defensive identity of this nuggets team frankly does not exist.
00;24;24;20 - 00;24;51;22
Unknown
So Aaron Gordon is a glue guy. You need him. You you really you don't have a successful season without Aaron Gordon. It's hard. You have to get every other person stepping up in their best way and giving 150% effort for four quarters to compensate for missing Aaron Gordon. And we're not getting that. We're not getting that level of urgency or effort at all.
00;24;51;25 - 00;25;08;08
Unknown
And here's the sad reality, guys. I hate to say it, but we have to talk about it because the Denver Nuggets have got to figure something out. We can sit all day and say it'll be better when Aaron Gordon's back. It'll be better when Aaron Gordon's well, duh. I think everything gets a little better when Aaron Gordon's back, for crying out loud.
00;25;08;10 - 00;25;36;22
Unknown
But here's the reality. A soft tissue injury on a guy like Aaron Gordon, whose game is so explosive and so aggressive. You may not get Aaron Gordon back playing full minutes through full seven games in a series in the postseason. He needs to take it easy because he's now been dealing with this hammy two seasons in a row, and the best ability is availability.
00;25;36;24 - 00;25;55;26
Unknown
Right now, you don't have availability from Aaron Gordon, and I'd rather him take his time and ease back into this so that we can prevent him being back into this injury cycle. But the reality is the Denver Nuggets have to figure it out with or without Aaron Gordon. So when I see nuggets fans, it'll be better. It'll be better.
00;25;55;26 - 00;26;21;01
Unknown
Just wait. Just wait, just wait. I'm not going to wait because a soft tissue injury on a guy like Aaron Gordon is really hard. Really hard, especially every season that he gets a little bit older. His body is banged up. It just is. That's because he plays tough and he plays aggressive and he plays hard every single game.
00;26;21;04 - 00;26;53;15
Unknown
So that's what happens to a guy like Aaron Gordon. So there needs to be a world where the nuggets learn how to win with or without him. Obviously when you get Aaron Gordon back, everything gets better. But when do you get Aaron Gordon back. How do you get Aaron Gordon back. Those are things we don't know. So you can't play with the assumption that you're getting him back in the way that you had him at the beginning of the season, because that is an unknown factor at this point.
00;26;53;17 - 00;27;18;10
Unknown
So. Aaron Gordon, God willing, gets back on that court in enough time to get some of that chemistry going again with this team, so that come playoff time, they are ready to rock and roll. Best case scenario. And of course Payton Watson. You guys don't even need me to talk about Payton Watson. You know how I feel about him.
00;27;18;10 - 00;27;43;20
Unknown
He is exceptional. I think you I think you have to do a few things before I get into the culture problem that I believe the Denver Nuggets have right here, right now. Actually, I'm gonna wait. I'm going to wait on what I'm about to say here. Let's move on to. What is the issue? What is the issue with this Denver Nuggets team?
00;27;43;23 - 00;28;06;13
Unknown
I've seen some people have conversations about whether or not they believe David Adelman should be in the hot seat. I think you could actually play both sides of this argument pretty fairly. I'm kind of in the middle right now. I'm in the middle because I think I want to see a little. I think you need to see more post-season, more playoff failure in order to be like, yep, you're done.
00;28;06;15 - 00;28;34;29
Unknown
Right. Because the Denver Nuggets, there have been a lot of other X factors that have contributed to their season being rough injuries left and right. I mean, they got absolutely swarmed by injury bugs this season. They did out of David Edelman's control. So some of this I can't put all on David Adelman right. But one thing I can open up for discussion here, because it is something that I've thought about a time or two.
00;28;35;01 - 00;28;59;16
Unknown
When all the drama was going on with Coach Malone and David Adelman took over. One of the things I vividly remember, maybe it was Jamal Murray, but it was multiple players. Actually speaking about David Adelman was he listens. He respects us. We respect him. Kind of felt like they were alluding to the fact that, like, he's very easy to communicate.
00;28;59;18 - 00;29;30;04
Unknown
He's one of the guys, like he just gets us and we get him and it just works, which I love. And I actually believe that is a really great thing to have in a head coach. However, where I run into potential worry with David Adelman, is this while I think coaching Nikola Jokic is arguably one of the highest of honors and best jobs in the world, I would also argue it's one of the most difficult.
00;29;30;07 - 00;29;55;09
Unknown
Why live? Why? Why is it difficult to coach Nikola Jokic? Because Nikola Jokic kind of does a little bit of everything. You would think he's easy to coach right. And in so many ways he is. When I say he's hard to coach I think what I'm implying actually I don't think I know that. I am implying more so not the game itself but the culture.
00;29;55;12 - 00;30;19;21
Unknown
I think best case scenario, the Denver Nuggets have a coach that has a higher basketball IQ than Nikola Jokic. The reality is that's hard to find because he is up there with his basketball IQ. You. It would be very difficult to find a coach that knows the game better than Nikola Jokic knows the game. I'm being serious. But you need that.
00;30;19;24 - 00;30;39;27
Unknown
And I'm going to tell you why you need that. You need authority. Still as a coach you can be one of the guys. You can be their friend. They can they can respect you in that way. But they need to also fear you a little bit. They do. And my worry is there's very few coaches out there that Nikola Jokic fears.
00;30;40;00 - 00;31;07;23
Unknown
Now with Malone they had such a long relationship that I think Malone learned how to navigate Jokic. Jokic learned how to navigate Malone. And before yolk it really popped off and became this big thing. Malone probably already established that authority early. I think you need a coach that the team fears. Now that leads me into another conversation. That is going to be a very interesting one.
00;31;07;23 - 00;31;31;01
Unknown
And probably unpopular and probably a little bit of a hot take. Here was the Booth slash Malone drama all that bad? Oh, what? Live. You sound insane. No, let me explain. When Booth and Malone were going back and forth, tit for tat, trying to prove something to one another, there was a game of chess that was being played with these players.
00;31;31;04 - 00;31;48;11
Unknown
Which I don't agree with because these are their careers. You don't do that as two grown men. You duke it out elsewhere, and then you come together and you figure out how to make this team the best it can possibly be. But that's not what was happening. These were two grown men that couldn't get on the same page, that were arguing, that were constantly frustrated with one another.
00;31;48;17 - 00;32;11;23
Unknown
They were constantly playing chess in ways to prove points to one another. Meaning, you know, maybe Peyton Watson was a guy that Booth was really fond of. Coach Malone is going to prove a point. He's not going to play Peyton Watson today. How about that? I'm going to play pick it instead or I'm going to play. You know, there was a little bit of that going on.
00;32;11;25 - 00;32;41;00
Unknown
I think there were teams happening. I think there were both guys and there were Malone guys. And the reason I say maybe that wasn't all that bad. I know sounds crazy. The reason I say that, though, is I think the guys were constantly giving their best effort because they were scared. If I make a mistake, I'm going to get pulled to prove a point to the guy up in the sweet booth.
00;32;41;02 - 00;33;08;22
Unknown
Or if I don't play my best booth might trade me to prove a point to Malone. I think there was a constant state of fear instilled in these guys because there was such a again, don't agree with the rotations that we had most of the time, but there was a constant flow of next man up, so much so that it was hard for these guys to get in sync last season.
00;33;08;24 - 00;33;32;02
Unknown
During all of this drama, but they were constantly in audition mode to prove they deserved to not only be a starter, but to be on the team. Period. And Booth and Malone were behind the scenes, using these guys to prove a point to one another in their, you know, debates and arguments and what Booth thought was best for the team.
00;33;32;02 - 00;34;03;21
Unknown
Malone didn't agree with. And they were kind of using guys in their playing time and in their roles to prove if they, you know, to, to, to, to be right versus the other person, right. So I think. The Denver Nuggets last season, because of the Booth Malone drama, were constantly in audition mode. They were constantly trying to prove something to their own coach in their own front office.
00;34;03;23 - 00;34;19;02
Unknown
I'm not saying that's the right way to do it, because I don't like that at all. I don't like that these guys really couldn't settle in and be who they wanted to be. Peyton Watson wasn't ever given a fair shot last season to show us what he's capable of. Look at what you get out of him this year when you give him an opportunity.
00;34;19;08 - 00;34;39;02
Unknown
So I don't agree with these guys being used in a game of chess in this feud between Booth and Malone, but the benefit of that was that they were constantly auditioning. They were constantly trying to prove to the Denver Nuggets, whether it be their coach or their front office, that they belong here. They belong on the floor. They deserve minutes.
00;34;39;02 - 00;34;59;06
Unknown
They deserve to start. So you were getting the absolute best and the absolute most out of every guy all the time. Maybe not Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray. Who knew they were they were safe. But you were getting more energy out of a Christian Brown who wanted to get paid. Or you know what. Again wasn't really given a fair shot.
00;34;59;06 - 00;35;28;15
Unknown
And then when he was given one this season it was a very different story. But you're just getting more consistent effort, in my opinion, out of these guys because they were scared. They were unsure of their role or their position on this team. So I say all that to then turn this back to Adelman and say, do the nuggets fear Adelman as an authoritative figure?
00;35;28;17 - 00;35;38;02
Unknown
Does he have what it takes to?
00;35;38;04 - 00;36;06;09
Unknown
Get does he have what it takes to create a competitive, winning culture? Because just the other night, Adelman, in a postgame presser, said, I love the way the guys have been competing. And this is with like a five and eight record since Nikola Jokic has returned. I can't say I love the way they've been competing myself.
00;36;06;11 - 00;36;19;13
Unknown
Do the Denver Nuggets respect David Adelman as a coach or as a friend? Because if they only respect David Adelman as a friend, I don't think it's going to work.
00;36;19;15 - 00;36;48;24
Unknown
You've got a lot of talent, a lot of skill, a lot of expertise on this team, and you need a coach that can contain all of that on one roster and make it work. You need somebody right now because that's something I feel like this nuggets team is missing in this moment is a little bit of leadership. You know every postgame presser that I see is very much we just have to be better okay.
00;36;48;24 - 00;37;15;13
Unknown
Then be better. Because frankly I'm actually getting a little sick of hearing we have to be better. I heard that last season. I heard that the season before that. I've heard that since 2023 when they last won a championship. We just have to be better than be better, because really, some of the biggest issues with the Denver Nuggets is not a lack of skill or talent at all.
00;37;15;20 - 00;37;49;24
Unknown
It's effort. It's urgency. Those are things you choose not to have. So they're lacking leadership. And I don't necessarily mean in the locker room. I'm almost wondering if it doesn't need to start coming from the top of the food chain. The coaches do. The coaches have enough authority, and do the players respect the coaches in enough of a way where, I mean, David Adelman is kind of alluding to, I need to get the guys to do what I say.
00;37;49;26 - 00;38;18;21
Unknown
I need them to do what I need them to do. It's like that. That worries me, that you can't get these guys to do what you need them to do. So that would be the question I ask. I don't know necessarily if David Adelman should be in hot water, based on the season they've had. So far. But I do think it does open up a bit of worry for me personally around does Adelman have what it takes to lead a team that has so much talent on it?
00;38;18;24 - 00;38;48;22
Unknown
You have to be a special kind of coach to coach Nikola Jokic and have him listen and hear you, because at the end of the day, Nikola Jokic knows a lot. And I think there's a little piece of Nikola Jokic that needs his coach to know more than him. In order for the relationship to work. I think in every good system in life, society, work, sports, you name it, there has to be a hierarchy of power.
00;38;48;25 - 00;39;13;12
Unknown
In my opinion, the hierarchy of power that we've had for a very long time with the Denver Nuggets has been yogurt at the top. And while that's not necessarily a bad thing because Nikola Jokic is one of one, he has such an incredible and high basketball IQ. He knows the ins and outs of the game better than most players.
00;39;13;14 - 00;39;16;15
Unknown
He still needs a coach.
00;39;16;18 - 00;39;42;06
Unknown
That knows a little bit more than he does, and maybe not even a little bit more, but can give Nikola Jokic something he doesn't already have. Maybe you need a really, really loud and aggressive defensive minded coach because he can kind of take care of the offense himself. Just let him do his thing. You need a coach that has something that Jokic doesn't have.
00;39;42;08 - 00;40;08;05
Unknown
Is that Adelman. I'll let you decide. But I think the hierarchy of power is a little disrupted right now. I think you need a leader. And I think that leadership has to be in the form of a coach because you have too many personalities and different levels of skill happening all at once on this nuggets team. That I think sometimes it's combative.
00;40;08;08 - 00;40;35;14
Unknown
You need leadership on this team, and I think it starts with a coach, a coach that has something your coach doesn't have, a coach that is not just respected as a friend, but as a coach, as an authoritative figure, that when he speaks, they listen. There needs to be a little bit of fear instilled in these players when it comes to who their coaches.
00;40;35;17 - 00;40;41;23
Unknown
I think that's just life. If I view my boss as more of a friend.
00;40;41;25 - 00;41;13;03
Unknown
Than a leader or an authoritative figure, I'm probably not going to be putting my best foot forward every single day. That's the truth. So the Booth Malone drama, while it was a bunch of hocus pocus and so unnecessary and so childish, I think it instilled a little bit of fear in these guys because they were constantly worried about their role and their position on this team, because Booth and Malone were playing chess in their little argument with one another.
00;41;13;03 - 00;41;35;14
Unknown
They were using these guys as as chess pieces to prove points. I think it instilled a little bit of fear, and it created an environment where everyone was auditioning and trying to prove something. So everyone was giving their effort, their all their energy. They were urgent. They were trying to prove something at all times. We've lost that a little bit.
00;41;35;16 - 00;41;58;20
Unknown
I don't want to say it feels like the Denver Nuggets don't care, but there's certainly moments where I look at some of our most important guys, and it looks like they just are a little like, That worries me. In a year where Jokic is playing his best and so is Jamal Murray. Like let's not waste that away I get it.
00;41;58;23 - 00;42;26;02
Unknown
There's been injuries such as life you know such is life. You think I want them to be injured all season. Hell no. I've had about enough of these damn injuries. I mean, we're missing we're missing power forwards right now that that that position doesn't even exist in Denver right now. I don't like it one bit, but it is what it is.
00;42;26;05 - 00;42;54;16
Unknown
You got to be ready for your moment. You've got to coach around injuries. You've got to outplay injuries because guess what? When four of your five starters were out, the guys you left behind to play were out playing. The injuries they did that. They did. 13 games with yoga being back from injury were five and eight. That's awful guys.
00;42;54;19 - 00;43;17;29
Unknown
Let's call it what it is. We can't have it. So I haven't lost faith in this team. I for freaks sake, I never lose faith in this team ever. I never lose faith in the nuggets. Even when I should. When you've got Nikola Jokic and you've got Jamal doing what Jamal does. And I still believe in Cam Johnson because of his high IQ okay.
00;43;18;00 - 00;43;55;03
Unknown
When you've got these pieces. Anything can happen. Anything can happen. Yes it's true. Ellie Goulding said it best. Anything can happen okay. So here's where I'm at. Regardless of why we're here. Here's here's what we may be. We think about a these are some of my biggest takeaways right now. I think we overpaid Christian Brown. And the reason I say overpaid is because you need to find a way to pay Payton Watson.
00;43;55;03 - 00;44;21;14
Unknown
He is a starter on this team. Like I'm there. I'm there with it. Given the injuries. Given the best ability is availability. Given all these things, Payton Watson has the potential to be a starter on this team. You have to pay him. I think you overpay Christian Brown. And the reason I say you overpay him is because I think it's going to make it harder to pay Payton Watson, and that needs to be a priority.
00;44;21;17 - 00;44;44;08
Unknown
Cam Johnson can be a part of a trade package at some point. I just don't know if it's working with him. I haven't given up yet, but I don't know if it's working. I worry about Aaron Gordon and the nature of his game and his body, and whether his body can hold up through this season when he does return, and I don't want him rushing back to return either.
00;44;44;09 - 00;44;47;23
Unknown
That's also a problem.
00;44;47;25 - 00;45;16;27
Unknown
And with Jokic, I think Jokic is missing. A coach that he fears now might be hard to find right. Like I said flash back when we were talking about Dort to the Jokic bloodline. There's probably a few people that the Jokic brothers in general fear. But fear in the sense that they have something that I don't.
00;45;16;29 - 00;45;36;03
Unknown
They know something I don't. Because yogurt knows a lot about the game of basketball. You've got to find a coach that knows a little bit more or knows something differently than he knows something. That makes Jokic respect you as a authoritative figure and not a friend. I worry that we're in the friend territory with David Adelman a little bit.
00;45;36;06 - 00;45;59;11
Unknown
Maybe, just maybe, I hope I'm wrong because I actually like David Adelman and I think he's done an insanely good job given the circumstances of last season. And then this season I do. I don't think he should necessarily be in hot water, but I do think the season is making me. Question is that the missing piece for Denver is a coach, that they all are scared of, that when they say jump, you say how high?
00;45;59;12 - 00;46;03;04
Unknown
Not. I don't feel like jumping.
00;46;03;06 - 00;46;24;11
Unknown
I don't know, just a thought. Okay, guys. I really, I think I just needed to get some things off my chest as it pertains to this nuggets team because I'm like, I'm just like, you guys, I'm a fan. I want to see them win. I think that they're capable of winning. Okay, I've got some futures tickets myself.
00;46;24;13 - 00;46;31;17
Unknown
They're capable of it. It's just a matter of can they get it together in enough time?
00;46;31;19 - 00;46;50;00
Unknown
Only time will tell. Okay, that does it for another episode of Mood Swings. With live moods. I am live moods. Signing off for now. We'll be back, of course, at the end of the week to hopefully reconvene all things Denver Nuggets. Hopefully we're in a better spot by then. Maybe we'll have some football stuff to discuss as well.
00;46;50;00 - 00;47;05;18
Unknown
As we are starting to see some moves and some things happening, I'm going to keep my eyes on that all week so we can chat about that on Friday. But for now, I'm signing off and as always, this has been presented by Landmark Lincoln. Shout out to our friends over at Landmark Lincoln. Make sure you head to their location off of Bellevue and Broadway.
00;47;05;21 - 00;47;19;29
Unknown
I love my Lincoln Nautilus. It's the best car. It was the SUV of the year last year. Sure was. And I love her. So make sure you head to their location and potentially join me and join the landmark Lincoln family. Okay, I think that does it for today's episode of Mood Swings with live mood signing off for now.
00;47;20;03 - 00;47;22;09
Unknown
We will see you Friday. Bye.