CSG #487: The continuity Gambit works...until it doesn’t

The NBA has seen a precipitous drop in scoring since the All Star break. Jeff addresses what he believes the reason is and what that means in the historical context of the league.

In the second half Jeff talks about a segment he heard on the Hoop Collective on NBA players believing conspiracies about NBA refs because of the Netflix Tim Donaghy doc. Donaghy (a former CSG guest) isn't credible except for one thing. Jeff talks about that thing.

Also memo to Jamal Murray ... don't be a dick to people who are just trying to do their jobs.

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Most of the time in NBA history having the best player trumps having the best team. On the latest Mortcast Jeff gives an example in the Nuggets own history of this truism and he explains how this person in the modern league is Nikola Jokic.

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Stephen A Smith doesn't like Denver. Who cares?

Also the constant framing of 'threat' by ESPN when it comes to Victor Wembanyama is weird. You can be 'impatient' without it meaning anything more than wanting to win.

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On the latest Mortcast Jeff talks about his personality defect of stubbornness has kept him in the Nuggets media landscape. Also, Jeff goes over how more stories need to be told in the modern media and how that still can be a valuable thing even if it doesn't generate clicks.

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Nikola Jokic has done something that one might have thought impossible even 5 years ago, he's made the Denver Nuggets a respected organization in the NBA. On the latest Mortcast Jeff talks about how out of all of Jokic's achievements this might be his greatest.

In the second half Jeff speaks about the fallacy of the "Spurs model" and how NBA front offices just don't get it.

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Michael Porter Jr had 34 points and played consistently well all game as the Nuggets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night. Jeff talks about the factors of 'why' and says that Mike can duplicate this performance, even when Jamal comes back.

Collin Gillespie had himself a career night. He is playing over Jalen Pickett because of one word: trust. Head coach Michael Malone trusts him more than he does Pickett and this is simply the reason why he played. In the long run it probably won't mean much but last night displayed why Malone trusts Gillespie.

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The Denver Nuggets don't seem to be too concerned about getting the #1 seed in the Western Conference. In that spirit, Jeff talks about how the Nuggets could maintain winning without burning out the starters. It begins with evenly staggering the starters with the bench and taking advantage of the schedule.

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We are now post All Star game. There's a few days left of the break before teams return to action. In the latest Mortcast Jeff talks about in the final 27 games the Nuggets need to beware of burnout. Also, it's past time for the NBA to expand. Jeff talks about why they need to learn the right lesson from expansions past.

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When the Nuggets gave Reggie Jackson the Taxpayer MLE in the offseason they, effectively, hard capped themselves and locked in their roster for this season. It is very unusual for a championship team to devote second round picks guaranteed contracts and then subsequently limit their flexibility. Was this the right approach?

It depends on if you think their roster is good enough to win a champtionship as is.

The Nuggets played their first game this season without Michael Porter Jr against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. It didn't go well at all. Maybe we as Nuggets fans and even Nuggets coaches are finally seeing Mike's value on this Nuggets team.

MPJ is what makes the Nuggets unique and on the latest Mortcast Jeff talks about how a change of view -- from Mike the individual to what he provides that makes this team special -- needs to happen.

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