Rainbow Skyline: A Show About The Denver Nuggets

On the finale of Rainbow Skyline, Dave DuFour and Kendra Andrews say goodbye to the podcast, and look ahead to what's next. Whether you have listened once or to every episode, thank you all so much for supporting the Rainbow Skyline podcast. None of this would have been possible without your help. From Dave, Kendra and the rest of our Athletic staff, best wishes to all and go Nuggets! Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sure, a larger number in the win column would be welcomed by Nuggets fans, but is the club right about where everyone expected them to be to begin the season, or are they off course? Dave and Kendra investigate that thought and compare it to the reality of Denver's current situation. What were the expectations for the defense early on (4:30)? What about performances from Nikola Jokic (10:00), Jamal Murray (12:00) and Michael Porter Jr. (14:30)? How about everyone else (18:30)? Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Get a subscription, gift a subscription! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas/Christmas Eve to all! Is there a gift receipt for Denver's loss to the Sacramento Kings in the season opener? Dave and Kendra share their reactions to the Nuggets first contest of the new season (:45). How concerning was Jamal Murray's performance, and Will Barton's night-in, night-out output is vital to this club's success (6:15). Dave and Kendra dish on their irrational takeaways from game one, including: P.J. Dozier is going to more important for Denver this season than Torrey Craig last year (14:00). Plus, the dynamite Denver duo preview the Nuggets' Christmas game against the Los Angeles Clippers (18:45). Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Get a subscription, gift a subscription! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave DuFour and Kendra Andrews return to answer five of the biggest questions looming over the Denver Nuggets heading into the 2021 season. Chiefly, who will fill the void Jerami Grant left (1:45)? Could we see a rejuvenated Paul Millsap? Is a Millsap, JaMychal Green Zeke Nnaji rotation talented enough to recreate Grant's production from last season? Who will step up as the team's best defender (7:00)? Will the club be resigned to tasking Gary Harris with the most difficult matchup? Plus, Jamal Murray will no longer be hid on defense. Who do Dave and Kendra believe will comprise the starting lineup (12:00)? Is Michael Porter Jr. a for-sure regular? Who can we expect to impact the team off the bench? Though not a betting man, Dave believes Nikola Jokic has a puncher's chance of being a contender for MVP (14:15). Does the short turnaround to start the year bode well for Jokic? Lastly, what are the duo's expectation for Denver this year (19:15)? Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Get a subscription, gift a subscription! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We practice load management here on Rainbow Skyline, so with Dave and Kendra rested and back in the starting rotation, the duo address the Nuggets' most recent off-season moves, particularly, Jerami Grant's departure from Denver (1:00). What's the fallout of this key loss? Who does Denver see as a viable replacement, and why did Grant leave? After chatting about subtractions from the team, Dave and Kendra converse about additions and new faces within the organization (10:30). How will JaMychal Green be deployed within the confines of the offense and defense? How will Denver's other acquisitions be used? Lastly, the podcast pair key in on an important element within Denver's offense that may experience regression this year (16:30). Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Join The Athletic for just $1 a month for an entire year! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline - by December 4th and experience the award-winning sports journalism and podcasting The Athletic offers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave and Kendra are back from their post-NBA bubble vacations to breakdown Denver's 2021 NBA Draft haul! What are the Nuggets getting in draftees Zeke Nnaji and R.J. Hampton? Will they figure into the team's designs this season, or are they more developmental projects? The duo also preview the upcoming free agency period and key in on targets that would help Denver...including Facundo Campazzo (the signing would come included with Campazzo stan, Dave.) Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave and Kendra welcome The Athletic's Seth Partnow to today's program to explore Denver's next steps on their road to becoming a Finals contender. The trio broadly tackle what advancements Denver needs to make in order to improve (3:00) before keying in on Jerami Grant, who was crucial to the team's Western Conference Finals run in the bubble and, potentially, future endeavors (6:30). The triumvirate consider the Nuggets' position if Grant decides to sign with another team (8:45). What other options are available? Would Michael Porter Jr. slide into the starting rotation? Is he equipped to handle that role? Could we see a potential trade the ships both Porter Jr. and a teammate out of the Mile High for another complementary piece (14:15)? Is it finally time for Denver to unleash Bol Bol on a regular basis (18:30)? Plus, what's Paul Millsap, Mante Morris and P.J. Dozier's future with the club (23:15)? Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Follow Seth on Twitter: @SethPartnow Join The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are Denver's top off-season priorities coming off the heels of a Western Conference Finals appearance? Dave and Kendra analyze team needs and who is worth retaining, like Jerami Grant (1:30). Will Paul Millsap return and if so, it would have to be at a less expense rate...right (3:30)? For all his incredible defensive showings in the bubble, Gary Harris is remains an undersized wing defender. What can the Nuggets do to improve their backcourt depth, particularly as it relates to defense (6:45)? Could Tim Connelly and Calvin Booth make a big splash free agent signing and/or trade during this downtime (12:45)? Are versatile scorers like Bradley Beal and Kelly Oubre obtainable? What would it cost to land difference maker that could catapult this team into NBA Finals contention? Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Join The Athletic for just $1 a month. Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave DuFour and Kendra Andrews welcome special guest, Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets' president of basketball operations, to Rainbow Skyline! The trio address the most important topic for any Northeasterner (Connelly's from Maryland), what's the best crab chip brand? Moving on to less pressing matters, the group gabs about Denver's playoff bubble run; what the next step is in the club's title-contending aspirations; if Denver can be an attractive destination for premiere free agents; Connelly and Denver's front office's thought process when drafting Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as well as Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol despite injury concerns, and did the Nuggets brain trust expect this squad to improve as fast as they have? Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Join The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trailing once again, three games to one, in the Western Conference Finals. the Denver Nuggets have their backs against the wall. But maybe they wouldn't have it any other way? Dave and Kendra breakdown WCF game 4 and react to Nikola Jokic's underwhelming performance, the rebound disparity and more (:30). What are the Nuggets chances in game five (9:00)? Is it time to insert Michael Porter Jr. into the starting lineup (10:00)? Lastly, will we see another history return from the brink by Denver (15:15)? Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrews Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Experience award-winning journalism like never before! Be a part of The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a crushing late-second game two loss at the hands of Anthony Davis and the Denver Nuggets, Dave and Kendra come to order to talk the high and low points of Denver's loss (:30), including: What happened on that final play and what are our thoughts on the inner workings of the Nikola Jokic-Davis chess match? Jamal Murray has cleaved defenses throughout the playoffs and the Lakers are no exception. But there is a time when he's not frustrating coaches and players alike, and that's when he's on the bench and during that time Denver has struggled (6:15). How can the Nuggets mitigate the beating they take when their star point guard is resting? Who needs to step up? What adjustments does the Mile High team need to make to try to even the series (11:00)? Could we see minute increases from P.J. Dozier and Michael Porter Jr. (16:30)? Maybe even a starting lineup change? Lastly, Dave and Kendra predict the outcome of game three (23:00)!Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Join The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wow. Just...wow. Down three games to one, again, and Denver still found a way to prevail. The Nuggets are Western Conference Finals-bound after stunning the Los Angeles Clippers in historic fashion. Dave and Kendra react to the moment the record books were re-wrote, plus Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray's strong shoulders that carried this band of down-to-the-wire world beaters (:30). The duo credit Mike Malone's brilliant coaching and player management (9:15) before keying in on one of the team's pivotal rotations (13:45). Before bounding, the Nuggets Nerds give their predictions for the WCF (19:30).Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Experience the award-winning sports journalism of The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave and Kendra are joined by The Athletic's Los Angeles Clippers reporter, Jovan Buha, to assess the West Conference Semi-Finals series between the Nuggets and Clippers as well as preview the upcoming game seven.Follow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBAFollow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Jovan on Twitter: @jovanbuha Experience The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave and Kendra check the pulse of the Nuggets-Clippers series and highlight factors that have played into Denver's three losses (:30). Has Los Angeles snuffed out Mike Malone and co.'s game plan? What should we expect from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in game five and, possibly, beyond? Was Michael Porter Jr. right in voicing his opinion about what the club needs to do to position themselves better to win (10:00)? The duo look ahead to the series' fifth installment, and predict whether the Nuggets can climb out of their 3-1 hole (18:00).Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Experience The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What. A. Game. The Nuggets narrowly avoid elimination at the hands of Utah, and now set their sights towards the Clippers. Dave and Kendra breakdown the electrifying elimination game (:30), including: Jamal Murray's performance; Nikola Jokic's "Sam from Lord of the Rings" outing, in how he carried the team down the stretch. The duo also converse about Denver's potent perimeter defense, specifically from Gary Harris, Torrey Craig and Jerami Grant (9:00). Afterwards, the two talk the upcoming Clippers series (14:30). How will the potential Patrick Beverly-Jamal Murray shape up, and who does Michael Malone plan to present the task of defending Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to (19:00)? Lastly, Dave and Kendra pose their Clippers-series predictions (23:00).Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a comeback! Down three games to one, on the brink of elimination, the Nuggets guts out two wins over Utah to force a decisive game seven. Dave and Kendra key in on Denver's primary moving force behind their resurgence, Jamal Murray (:30). How has Murray been able to score at will? Have those who've criticized his craft now been silenced, and should he be considered the club's top scoring option? The duo also delve into Jokic's performance over the last couple games and discuss his and Murray's synergy (6:30). Has Gary Harris' return truly been impactful (11:30)? Plus, Dave and Kendra predict the outcome of game seven (16:15).Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

C'mon guys, let's not get DEFENSIVE about today's podcast topics haha (I've already submitted my two weeks). Dave and Kendra, with the help of Michael Malone sound bites, diagnose why Denver's defense has been so porous this season (1:00). The Nuggets are under performing in most phases of the defense, including allowing offensive rebounds, three-point shooting and points in the paint. Which two areas do you prioritize? Which one goes by the wayside (6:15)? Did Utah's defensive adjustments that directly affect Nikola Jokic also, inadvertently, impact Jamal Murray (9:00)? What does Malone think of Michael Porter Jr.'s recent defensive display (14:00)? Is it unfair to judge MPJ's defense, with his experience in mind, on a stage like this? Lastly, the duo predict the outcome of the Utah-Denver series (22:30)!Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kendra Andrews welcomes The Athletic's senior NBA columnist, John Hollinger, to today's show! The pair examine the performances from Denver's greenhorns, specifically PJ Dozier and Bol Bol (:30). What areas of their games need polishing before they can consistently contribute? Is Michael Porter Jr. living up to his draft-night billing based off early bubble outings (5:15)? Where do the Nuggets go from here (8:00)? What steps, moves, etc. need to be fulfilled before this team can contend? What aspect of Jamal Murray's game, if improved, can elevate him to an All-Star status (11:00)? Lastly, how can we expect free agency to turn out for Denver (12:15)? Judging by needs and direction, who will be the team's top targets when the market opens?Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow John on Twitter: @johnhollinger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professor DuFour and Andrews unabashedly share their Nuggets team grades in the early proceedings of the seeding games (1:00). Although it's out of the team's control, how much have injuries limited the progress of this club, and what's the latest on the members who are on the mend? The duo assign marks to the starting rotation (6:30), and pose an array of starter-related questions like: Can Paul Millsap find consistency on offense (8:30); Will Torrey Craig remain in the starting lineup (10:00), and Michael Porter Jr. has been welcomed surprise (14:25). Lastly, we evaluate the team's overall performance early in the seeding games (20:00).Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Save 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic by visiting: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We back! And guess what?! Denver's got their whole team back in the bubble (seamless segue there, I know)! Dave and Kendra discuss the entire team being reunited in the bubble (:30), and describe how Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray and others look in their return (4:30). Could Bol Bol earn meaningful minutes in the playoffs this season (8:45)? And if no this season, how does he project as a contributor moving forward? With Malone and company finally playing with a full deck of cards, how can we expect the rotations to shake out (13:15), plus, how does Troy Daniels figure to fit in during the upcoming seeding games (16:30)? We then play every media members' favorite game, "Speculation!", wherein the duo postulate Denver's performance in the seeding games (though Mike Malone's priorities are focused elsewhere -- 18:30).Follow Kendra on Twitter: @kendra_andrewsFollow Dave on Twitter: @DaveDuFourNBA Save 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic by visiting: theathletic.com/rainbowskyline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices