Are the Blazers and Nuggets Now a Rivalry?

On a playoff preview edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, host Danny Marang is joined by Adam Mares of DNVR Sports to take a look at the first round match up between the Trail Blazers and Nuggets. There’s no shortage of storylines, Jusuf Nurkic vs Nikola Jokic, rematch of the 2019 series, Denver coming in short handed, pressure on the Blazers and Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard and the Blazers backcourt vs Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets frontcourt... and will anyone admit that this has/is turned into a rivalry? That and more on this episode.

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Intro

Opening comments

Should Denver be favored without Jamal Murray? 2:00

Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum & Blazers backcourt vs what’s left of Nuggets backcourt 3:30

The difference between Norman Powell & Moe Harkless in this rematch 7:00

The Michael Porter Jr effect 9:00

MPJ most likely to breakout in the NBA Playoffs 11:00

Christopher Mazzeo @Maznorthwest - Who guards Porter and why is it Norm? 12:00

Jusuf Nurkic v Nikola Jokic 16:00

Should the Blazers double Jokic? 17:20

Nuggets missing Will Barton 21:00

Anfernee Simons, Carmelo Anthony & Enes Kanter vs who off the Nuggets bench? 22:30

Nuggets bench bigs Paul Millsap and Jamychal Green

Adam as the earliest Jokic adopter 26:00

If Jokic has his best series ever, the Nuggets should win 27:30

Early predictions 27:00

Coaching implications 31:00

Nuggets losing the pick & roll 32:00

Is it a rivalry? 33:30