The Athletic NBA Daily — Nuggets Heating Up + Derik Queen Rising? | Slam N Jam

Episode Date: November 22, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht & Al
Guest: Adam Mares (DNVR / All NBA podcast)

Overview

This episode delivers an in-depth, fast-paced recap and discussion of the latest NBA storylines, standout team/individual performances, and fresh takes on rising stars and trade rumors. The show features recurring segments like "Good, Bad, What?" and closes with a detailed Denver Nuggets spotlight (with Adam Mares), followed by their signature trivia battle.

Major Topics & Discussion Highlights

1. NBA Weekly Recap

Timestamps: 02:33–07:42

• Detroit Pistons Winning Streak:
  The Pistons lead the East (13–2) with an 11-game win streak, their best since 2007–08. After years marked by losing, the potential for their longest franchise winning streak looms.

  • "Pistons now have their longest streak since the 0708 season." (02:37, Al)
  • Quirky lineups and standout performances (e.g., Jalen Duren's 31/15 vs. Pacers).
  • Discussion on Duren's All-Star case.

• Victor Wembanyama Injury & Memorable Draymond Moment:
  Sidelined with a calf strain after a strong showing versus Draymond Green.

  • "[Draymond] told Wemby he was scared of him. To which Wemby replied: no, I'm not. Watch this." (03:41, Al)

• Lakers Family Drama:
  Jeanie Buss fires brothers Joey and Jesse Buss, shaking up L.A.'s front office.

  • Reference to the book “A Hollywood Ending” for deeper context.

• Chicago Bulls Rollercoaster:
  From hot start to fall to resurgence—highlighting a double-OT loss and Nikola Vucevic's game-winning 3 versus Portland.

  • "We had gone from the Bulls are back, to the Bulls are back to being the Bulls. But guess what, the Bulls are back again..." (06:27, Al)

• Other Notes:

  • Spurs' resilience without Wemby.
  • Tyrese Maxey drops 54 points.

2. Segment: Good, Bad, What?

Timestamps: 07:42–32:43

The Good

• Thunder’s Top Two-Man Combo (Shai + Cason Wallace):

  • Wallace’s under-the-radar leap, especially defensively with Dort out.
  • "Shea and Cason Wallace are a +23 as a duo so far this season..." (09:22, Andrew Schlecht)
  • Thunder fandom debates future roster/contract priorities.

• Derik Queen's Rise in New Orleans:

  • Queen’s 30/9/4 effort against Denver, showing advanced footwork/handle for a rookie big.
  • Play breakdowns: ball handling under pressure, crafty up-and-under moves.
  • "I'm pretty intrigued...I really love the confidence he has as a rookie to try stuff like that." (11:15, Al)
  • A rare bright spot for the struggling 2–13 Pelicans.

The Bad

• Poor Catch-and-Shoot 3PT Shooting:
  • Bottom: Pacers, Mavs, Blazers, Thunder, Pistons—all at or below 33.7%.
  • "Indiana Pacers. Bad, bad, bad. 30% on catch and shoot threes." (13:46, Andrew Schlecht)
  • Potential for improvement for overachieving teams (Blazers/Thunder/Pistons).
• Jairus Walker’s Struggles:
  • High 3PA volume but low % (29%); difficulty finishing inside.
  • Detailed critique on his finishing mechanics and missed potential as a physical presence.
  • "He just...gets no lift. It becomes a really easy contest for, I would say not amazing defenders..." (18:19, Al)
  • Optimism in tank seasons for development (Lou Dort comparison).

The What

• LaMelo Ball Trade Rumors:

  • Citing Kelly Iko’s report on Ball’s openness to a move; contract breakdown and fit concerns.
  • Various speculative packages: (Kings for LaVine swap, Clippers with cap relief, Rockets/Suns/MPJ scenarios).
  • "Would you trade for LaMelo Ball?" (26:21, Al); Andrew weighs risk vs. the potential.

• Clippers Wasting Harden’s Last Great Years:

  • Harden’s offensive brilliance (26/6/9 on 44/38/92 shooting) is being squandered due to a flawed, injured roster.
  • "Harden has been as good offensively as the Clippers could have hoped for...it's just wild to think about..." (31:03, Al)
  • Dire warning: Clippers would collapse without him.

3. Wheel of Fandom: Denver Nuggets Deep Dive (with Adam Mares, DNVR/All NBA Podcast)

Timestamps: 35:54–46:51

• Recent Nuggets Report:

  • Peyton Watson steps up after Christian Braun’s injury (career-high 32 vs. Pelicans).
  • Nuggets went 2–1 for the week; overall, 11–3 with 2nd-best offense and 5th-best defense.

• Wolves Rivalry Shifting:

  • Nuggets finally beat the Wolves twice in a row for the first time since 2021.
  • "I'm absolutely...the Nuggets struggled with that particular lineup...the athleticism, toughness and new pieces have helped." (37:50, Adam Mares)
  • Depth and athleticism improvements are evening out past matchup problems.

• Analysis of Bulls Loss:

  • A “dumb loss” but not cause for concern; echoes a trend of letdowns in “trap” games.
  • "They lost a little motivation this week..." (39:19, Adam Mares)

• Cam Johnson’s Role/Adjustment:

  • Early struggles mainly due to a shooting slump/injury; contributing positively elsewhere (spacing, cuts, screens).
  • Lower 3PA volume explained by system dynamics and willingness to play off-ball (post-MPJ swap).
  • "I think Cam Johnson is just much more willing to do that..." (42:43, Adam Mares)

• Nuggets Defensive Upgrade:

  • Top 5 defense aided by a new scheme and improved depth (plus a bit of opponent shooting luck).
  • Jokic’s engagement fluctuates based on opponent; defense clicks much higher vs. good teams.
  • "I think the number one reason their defense has been good so far is that they have a new scheme..." (44:04, Adam Mares)

• Jokic’s Evolution:

  • Details new wrinkles: improved 3PT confidence (40% this year), more face-up/foul-drawing, clever cutting into post-ups (48:51, Adam Mares).
  • "Little skills can have a big impact. That's one thing—three point shooting...now make him even more difficult to guard."

• Houston Matchup Preview:

  • Focus on athleticism, potential double-big lineups, and Jokic/Sengun mini-rivalry (49:01, Adam Mares).

4. NBA Trivia: Andrew vs. the Beat (Adam Mares)

Timestamps: 50:01–64:44

Notable Moments & Sample Questions

• "Who has had their shot blocked the most on the Nuggets this season?" (Bruce Brown, 51:24, Al)
• Nuggets’ 30-point game club in the Jokic era — surprising inclusions, e.g., Randy Foye, Emmanuel Mudiay, DeMarcus Cousins (54:59, Al).
• "According to Cleaning the Glass, when this player is on the court, the Nuggets’ three-point percentage is 10.4 percentage points higher..." (Answer: Peyton Watson, 58:54, Al)
• "Which teams are #2 and #3 in post-up frequency?" (Answer: Houston Rockets & LA Clippers, 64:20, Al)

Adam Mares edges out Andrew 3–2 in a trivia set that mixes stats acumen, history, and inside knowledge.

5. Next Week's Wheel of Fandom: Wizards Watch

Timestamps: 65:47–67:32

• For the following week, the “Wheel of Fandom” lands on the Washington Wizards, currently on a 12-game losing skid—potential for a podcast covering a 19-game drought.
• "We still have a lot of teams...some scary teams on there, Al. Scary good. Scary bad." (65:39, Andrew Schlecht)

Memorable Quotes / Soundbites

• On Pistons' Reversal:
  "We had gone from the Bulls are back, to the Bulls are back to being the Bulls. But guess what, the Bulls are back again..." (06:27, Al)

• On Derik Queen’s Intrigue:
  "I really love the confidence he has as a rookie to try stuff like that...another great play was...a really smooth up and under move. I'm pretty intrigued..." (11:15, Al)

• On Harden's Unrewarded Greatness:
  "Harden has been as good offensively as the Clippers could have hoped for...it's just wild to think about him coming to the Clippers..." (31:03, Al)

• On Jokic’s Growth:
  "Last year, 40. This year, 40%. He’s shooting them with confidence...I think that is no longer a viable option of, hey, we’ll just make him shoot jumpers." (46:51, Adam Mares)

• On Cam Johnson's Adjustment:
  "I think Cam Johnson is just much more willing to do that...as a result he's not actually getting shots." (42:43, Adam Mares)

• On Defensive Engagement:
  "For all of Jokic's great traits about him, he has to be mentally engaged for him to be great...there are a lot of teams where you can just tell, like, he is not engaged." (45:33, Adam Mares)

Useful Segment Timestamps

• 02:33 — NBA top stories & highlights
• 07:42 — "Good, Bad, What?" segment begins
• 11:15 — In-depth on Derik Queen as a rookie
• 13:46 — Teams struggling (and succeeding) with catch-and-shoot 3s
• 18:19 — Detailed Jairus Walker breakdown
• 21:31 — LaMelo Ball trade speculation
• 31:03 — Discussion on Harden’s numbers & Clippers woes
• 35:54 — Wheel of Fandom: Denver Nuggets
• 37:50 — Wolves–Nuggets rivalry talk (Adam Mares)
• 42:43 — Cam Johnson’s fit and shot volume
• 44:04 — Nuggets new defense scheme analysis
• 46:51 — Jokic’s nuanced improvements this season
• 50:01 — Andrew vs. The Beat: Nuggets Trivia
• 65:47 — Wheel of Fandom: Wizards Watch

Tone & Style

The episode blends detailed basketball analytics, player/team insights, and sharp banter, making the show accessible to hardcore fans and entertaining for more casual listeners. The hosts maintain a balance of humor, honesty, and in-depth analysis as they debate, speculate, and break down emerging stories and trends league-wide.

Summary Takeaways

• Pistons & Bulls are defying expectations, while former losing teams and stars (e.g., Pelicans, LaMelo Ball) are at crucial crossroads.
• Derik Queen is a rookie worth watching—a beacon for a rebuilding New Orleans squad.
• Denver Nuggets remain elite, with tweaks to defense, promising depth, and more to unlock offensively (especially from Jokic & Cam Johnson).
• James Harden is still brilliant, but the Clippers continue to bungle his prime.
• Hosts and guests provide both sharp insights and playful quips, closing with a trivia segment and the promise of a potentially historic Wizards losing streak watch next episode.

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