Would you agree with me that Tyus Jones and DeMar DeRozan might kind of indicate that they're looking towards a slower tempo style of play this upcoming season?

I think with DeRozan for sure.

I think, you know, the Nuggets bench in the Jokic era has been disastrous.

Last year they were actually decent compared to what they've been in years past.

And I think they just look at DeRozan as a guy who can take pressure off Jokic, who can take pressure off Murray, who can just take on possessions and usage and give those guys a little bit of a break.

And I think he'll do that when he's sharing the court with them, but especially when he's not.

And yeah, I kind of think for their bench unit, It's going to be on DeMar DeRozan and he's just going to be the captain of that group and they are going to play at a really slow pace.

But how successful of a season do you think Denver needs to have to really massage away any sort of fears about him declining that player option and then entering free agency?

what have you heard about how the Nuggets view David Roddy? Because it sounds positive based on what you've implied in the past.

they definitely like roddy the nuggets like david roddy a lot um i think they like how hard he plays i think they like just how unique of a player he is and i mean let's face it on this nuggets team they need guys that are just going to come in off the bench and play hard and get their hands dirty and dive on the floor for 50 50 balls and do the dirty work that's what he would do so they like him i know that and i think they ended last season wanting to bring him back But if you look at the roster right now, I don't see how you bring him back because this team is all bigs and no guards right now.

we're talking about the nuggets and i i know roddy's a little bit of a tweener he can play on the perimeter a little bit but right now the nuggets only have four guards on this team so as the roster currently sits i don't really see him coming back but there could still be a few big moves that nuggets make it feels like denver's offseason hasn't really even started yet until this peyton watson thing sorts out so based on what happens there maybe that opens up a spot, but I do know they really like him.

And I do think they would want to bring him back if, if it's the right situation and the right fit based on their roster.

It was really great point guard, but I don't know, like what stands out about Roddy's game to you?

Well, he can play make definitely, you know, just in a unique type of way where you put him at the high post, you give him the ball.

He makes stuff happen.

He can make stuff happen off the bounce.

I think they can be screened.

Well, yeah.

DiVincenzo doesn't have, you know, the, the, the length that Alexander-Walker did a- and the ability to slither kind of around screens in that way.

A- and McDaniels is bigger, but he's not as quick and fast, and won't be able to stay with Murray on the ball in the same way.

I mean, there's a reason why McDaniels over the years has been the more primary defender of Michael Porter while they let Alexander-Walker and Edwards guard Murray.

So the Wolves don't have as many, you know, defensive options or the best defensive options to stop Jamal Murray like they've had in recent years.

And you couple that with the fact that Murray's game is at a level-

[audience cheering]

You're broke

... shaken by this loss because honestly I kind of expected it.

I mean, I've seen this team play this type of game so many times this season.

I can't even, even be that mad just because this is kinda just who this team is.

You know, all season long with the injuries, the schedule, they just haven't been good enough, they haven't been serious enough, and it came back to bite them tonight.

This team hasn't had championship habits for a while.

They haven't had good enough leadership for a while.

So irritable

What, what specific things do you look for in a game? Again, aside from the wins and losses, aside from the, the actual number on the scoreboard, um, what are you looking for where you- w- where it'll start to ease your mind a little bit, "Hey, they're, they're making some adjustments, they're improving game by game"?

It's...

For me, there's one thing that rises above all else in that question.

It's the fourth quarter defense.

I really don't even care about the Nuggets' defense across an entire game, because I just don't know if they can do it.

[chuckles] But in seasons past, they've been a very mediocre defensive team for much of the season, for most of the season.

I think the championship year, they finished 15th in defense in the regular season, and then the clutch in the fourth quarter, they had, you know, some of the best defense in the NBA, and that is always the thinking, you know? The Nuggets, they might not be a great defense throughout a lot of a game, but when it really matters, they can lock in and get stops.

Yep.