WHAT COST: Nuggets Win But Lose AG Again
Denver Nuggets shock Milwaukee Bucks with a gutsy “hospital win” despite missing key stars Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, and more. Can Denver’s depth carry them through a brutal schedule and secure a top seed out West?
Matt Moore breaks down the Nuggets’ 102-100 victory, spotlighting Julian Strawther’s 20-point performance and the underrated grit from the short-handed roster. The conversation digs into Aaron Gordon’s controversial return from injury, assessing whether the risk was worth it after he exited with hamstring tightness. Key insights include coaching decisions, the importance of managing player workloads during back-to-backs, and what this means for Denver’s playoff outlook as injuries pile up.
Are the Nuggets’ cautious lineup choices and development focus the recipe for long-term success or a gamble with title aspirations on the line?
03:36 “Effort, Letdowns, and Underdogs”
07:04 “Nuggets Triumph Despite Poor Shooting”
11:38 Betting Struggles and Weekend Picks
15:28 “Center Role Wears Aaron Down”
18:39 Overplaying Concerns in Non-Conference Game
21:47 “Commit to Rest or Play”
23:59 “Rest vs. Risk in NBA”
26:39 “Shifting Views on Pain Tolerance”
31:46 “Locked on Nuggets Recap”
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Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Aaron Gordon injury, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, Zeke Nnaji, Curtis Jones, Bruce Brown, Spencer Jones, DeAndre Jordan, Hunter Tyson, Drawn Holmes, NBA podcast, Locked On Nuggets, Denver Nuggets News, Milwaukee Bucks News, NBA injuries, Denver Nuggets analysis, NBA updates, NBA game recap
33 Comments
Y’all need a fourth. It’s boring when it’s just you Matt.
AG seemed much more positive? There are so many leg injuries, hell giannis is dealing with something similar and he had to come out the game, I think AG could’ve kept playing but they sat him as precaution. If it was rlly bad they would’ve taken him right out.
Nuggets should trade AG (so many injuries in last 2 seasons, and team can not count on him, also he can not play with 100% effort). They should trade him maybe for expiring contract. In past he was so important, but in future it is better to keep PW.
Matt pretending he knows the whole AG “conversation” is weird. Wish he had the balls to just be honest. Appreciate the mental gymnastics though.
Matt is 100% right here.
i stop listening after 7 seconds..after "my take should AG play" …r u a doctor??
Who gives you right to judge in what condition is AG? He works with doctors every day, i think they know better that random podcaster….
You are worst
Y’all are not frfr. Talking about trading MR. NUGGET. AG is most fans favorite player!!!!
They tried to give it away at the end by trying to waste 20+ seconds on the shot clock and throw up garbage at the end
You make some good points, Homeboy.
You know it was bad. A NBA game was 102-100, and thats not from defense. Lots of brick 3's that weren't close, missed free throws, ect
From what I heard after the game it sounded like AG had some tightness in his hamstring. I don't think there is any indication he will be gone long. I get the point though.
Doesn't mention no Peyton Watson clicked off
AG, in my opinion, simply got too big over the past couple of seasons. His legs just can't deal with that much bulk…
People who want an 82 game season are the ones who hate basketball. It’s because of them that we get playoffs like last year: AG, MPJ, Jdub, Halliburton were all playing with injuries because their bodies are put through excessive wear and tear. We get bad playoffs because the players are never healthy going in.
Matt, I do really appreciate and respect your perspective. The only problem with your commentary is this: if AG comes through unscathed, and we win, are you still dedicating a segment to holding the team to task for risking AG's health?
AG is just injury prone now. No one's fault. We need to search for replacement since he can't be counted on going forward.
Is not ready let to play back to back
I can't pay someone to sit rhe bench all year and limp through play offs. (Not 30 million.) AG either needs to retire, take better care of his body, or Denver has to look at a recovery staff that has had a blank check for several years while we've watched their players mostly be hurt for a decade. Something has to give. PAY a REAL training staff, bring additional training staff or programs, Dr's, or start trading players. Its black and white. Get your shit together Denver.
Love how we gave playing time to the bench! Jones, Strawther, Holmes. We need to keep giving the young players minutes because we are going to need them playoff time
Rest Gordon for as long as possible!!!
Denver CRIPPLES, trade Joker, it's way easier than building a championship team out of these CREATURES, they are so below criteria and so are Nuggets as organisation…Trade Joker you can play these CRIPPLES and be happy, nothing will change until Kronkes die or sell the team…That being said if Joker doesn't ask to be traded this year HE WILL NEVER SNIFF TOP 15 ALL TIME…Both Joker and Giannis are being held back by total incompetence they owe NBA nothing, they should both go to MIAMI and chill…FREE JOKER
Should Adelman get some consideration for COY? Serious question.
FYI ONLY LEBUM FANS WANT SEASON TO BE SHORTER SO HE CAN GATEKEEP EVERY NBA RECORD…THEY ARE PAID TÒOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH TO PLAY LESS GAMES….IF YOU PAID 2000$ PER GAME INSTEAD OF 500000$ THEY WOULD ALL PLAY ALWAYS, EVEN IF IT WAS 300 GAMES IN REGULAR SEASON…
You play to win the game… We don't throw games, the Nuggets are not Tim Donaghy. Did someone actually think you could get fined for going over a minutes restriction. My goodness. I remember my first game back in 1993 too. Plane rides? They don't fly commercial… Its gotta be first class with probably beds to lay out.
I think we all say that when players sit for load management is some bull ish… the fact AG wants to play to win the game (you play… to WIN THE GAME! lol) is cool, these wins matter for playoff seeding, playoff seeding matters for championship aspirations. When we talk about these guys being exhausted AG is not one of them, he should be rested. And if he's healthy enough to go play him
27:15 I agree that it is not pain tolerance. But you don't think conditioning and lack of team training (which they had in the past while playing 82) is a part of it? I heard Pierce Paul and Kevin Garnett talk about how players today think they are in shape but are not and about how they trained and how their team practices were. It is night and day. When you keep the players in bubble wrap and load manage you also interrupt the practice, tolerance build and durability. So when they do come back it doesn't last anyway
The Nuggets have to be a top 3 seed to have a chance to win the Finals. Being healthy in the playoffs is not going to be enough to win 4 straight road playoff series, so 5-8 seed is not gonna win. No 4 seed has won since '69; although 112 teams have tried since then. No 5 seed has ever won. Only 2 have ever gone. Two 6th seeds have gone to the finals since 1981. Hakeem's Rockets are the only ones who ever won, and that was 31 years ago. 62 teams have tried since without success. No 7th seed has ever gone to the Finals ever. No 8th seed has ever won; 2 have gone including the Heat that lost to the Nuggets. You're just not gonna win anyway, unless they get at least a 3 seed. So, they might as well sell out and get a top 3 seed, regardless of whether they're banged up in the playoffs. 4 of the 8 teams that have gone to the Finals as a 3 seed have won including the 3 seed Warriors beating the Celtics in 2022, and the Bucks in '21. Being the 3 seed gives you a chance.
I'm an advocate of shorter seasons, in both hockey and basketball. The argument that players did it "back then" doesn't hold as much water because the average athlete's athleticism and explosiveness has increased significantly since even the early 2000s. They are bigger and faster, but they still occupy human bodies.
18:20 trading Aaron would just be bad for the vibes and culture as well… Jamal and Jokic would never approve of an AG trade so the org would essentially be going behind their 2 best players backs to do so which would create toxicity
Bro first things love AG thank you for helping us get a chip , but dam last year half a season out !in playoffs injured !this year half year so far out! like at what point do you start evaluating him being ALWAYS HURT ! All that dunking has taken its toll even when he walks looks like it hurts ! 😮
The reality is Gordon is probably done. This is 2 straight years of leg injuries and he isnt getting younger. Hopefully he just retires because his contract and CBs contracts will absolutely kill the Nuggets championship window
I agree with you, Matt! Why play AG like this is a MUST win? I think if anyone Big Val should've been in the game. Let the young guys get some burn. We are top 3 and 4 games ahead of Houston, a loss here wouldn't have been the end of the world. Hoping AG's injury isn't too bad!
Gordon was compensated for his loyalty with millions of dollars, if he can't stay healthy it's time to part ways
Matt, i like you more and more, i was waching Swipa for years but you just got better and better, everything holds my attention, keep it real, salut from Serbia 🫡