Nikola Jokic only had a basic outline of his offseason plans: Rest Authentic Ryan Jensen Jersey , work out in Denver, return home to Serbia and rest some more.

It’s not more elaborate since the Nuggets big man figured he’d be working for a while longer.

The Nuggets won six more games than a year ago and yet finished in the same position – a spot out of the playoffs. This season even came down to a winner-take-all scenario in Minnesota, where the Nuggets came up short in overtime to miss out on the playoffs for a fifth straight season.

”I’m not mad. I’m not sad, because I think we played good,” Jokic said Thursday. ”We’re not making the playoffs because we were not focused the whole season, every game.”

Still, the Nuggets won six straight down the stretch to climb into contention for a spot, before losing to the Timberwolves in a spirited game.

”If we play with that sense of urgency that we did at the end, then we wouldn’t have even been in this position,” Will Barton said. ”It’s all a part of growing.”

Veteran Richard Jefferson had a succinct message to the team.

”Embrace the pain,” Jefferson said. ”The pain is what makes it good.”

Soon after, he slung a plastic garbage bag crammed with all his gear over his shoulder and playfully sang ”On the Road Again” as he sauntered down the hallway.

This is a team that’s steadily on the rise under third-year coach Michael Malone, going from 33 wins in 2015-16, to 40 last season and now 46.

”I’ll continue to think about Wes Horton Jersey , going into next year, how I can get better next season. What do I have to do as a head coach and a leader to help this team move from being a ninth seed and out of the playoffs with 46 wins to being a playoff team?” Malone said. ”Next year is a year we have to make that jump.”

Denver had its share of health issues this season, with Paul Millsap missing 44 games after suffering a left wrist injury that required surgery. Jokic was sidelined six games with a sprained left ankle, and Gary Harris missed 11 contests due to a strained right knee, before returning with two remaining.

”Through it all, I’m still optimistic and feel comfortable with where we’re at,” said Millsap, who signed a $90 million, three-year deal last summer. ”Still wish we were still playing. But I’m still happy about our guys and where we’re at.”

Things to know following a season in which the Nuggets went 31-10 at the Pepsi Center and 15-26 on the road:

BARTON’S RETURN

Barton did a little bit of everything for the Nuggets, from coming in off the bench to starting, from playing two-guard to small forward. A free agent this summer, Barton hopes to be back next season.

”We’re building something real special here,” Barton said .

MURRAY & MALONE

Jamal Murray’s dad pushes him. John Calipari, his coach at Kentucky Jaguars Authentic Jerseys , pushes him. So Malone can, too.

”I don’t think he realizes how hard he can get on me, how hard he can push me and demand stuff from me,” said Murray , who turned in quite a second season as he transitioned to point guard.

No joke, Murray said he wants his 3-point shooting percentage (37.8 this season) to match his free throw percentage (90.5).

THE JOKER

Jokic was one of the most dominating big men in the league, averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He also had 10 triple-doubles.

No wonder Malone is all for signing him to a long-term deal.

”As soon as possible, sign that kid up,” Malone said.

PAINFUL EXPERIENCE

Although Millsap came back in late February, his wrist wasn’t close to 100 percent. He said doctors told him it will be sore for up to a year.

”I still went out there and gave it all I could,” said Millsap , whose team went 24-20 in his absence.

THIS & THAT

Forward Kenneth Faried didn’t get into a game after nearly 10 minutes on Feb. 1. … The 37-year-old Jefferson on his future: ”It’s not whether or not I’m here. It’s whether or not I’ll be playing basketball.” … Guard Devin Harris averaged 8.2 points after being acquired in February. … Forward Torrey Craig donned a cap Thursday that had one word on it – ”Salty.” Mood of the team? ”It’s tough on all the guys,” Craig said of missing the postseason.

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Jalen Ramsey has approached trash talking 鈥?both dishing it out and receiving it 鈥?with open arms for most of his football career.

When initiating it he's been an equal opportunity offender http://www.ramsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-brian-allen-jersey , even when his words were aimed at possibly two of the best players to ever play their respective positions.

Ramsey sent ripples across the league last month when he was asked by "ESPN The Magazine" for his opinion of Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and said: "I don't think Gronk is as great as people think he is."

The comments came months after the Jaguars' 24-20 loss to the Patriots in last season's AFC championship game, in which Gronkowski caught only one pass before being knocked out of the game with a concussion in the first half.

That same game also saw Ramsey briefly exchange words with reigning MVP Tom Brady during pregame warmups.

It's all added extra fuel to the budding rivalry as New England prepares to visit Jacksonville on Sunday.

"If that's how he feels, that's how he feels," Gronkowski said Wednesday. "It's a big game. ... I'm sure I'm gonna have opportunities go against him. And I'm sure he's gonna have opportunities to go against me."

For his part, Ramsey has never backed down from his comments.

"I don't live my life with regrets, man. Things happen. I said what I said," Ramsey said after his comments went viral.

"I love the competitiveness. I love the trash talking. I love the challenge. I love literally everything about the game, so I have no regrets. ... Hey, I'm me: Unapologetic."

Ramsey's teammates said his often-biting words are what make Ramsey the player he is.

Trash talking is, "part of his game," defensive lineman Calais Campbell said.

"I tell him all the time 'Man, hey, whatever you do just make sure that we're gonna back you up...We're gonna be there for you,'" Campbell said. "But I have nothing but confidence in Jalen. He's a very smart guy ... Very passionate. So I won't ever try to contain somebody and not let him be himself."

Ramsey was a first-team All-Pro in his second year in the league last season Brent Urban Jersey , but had a relatively quiet AFC title game against New England. He finished with just two tackles as Brady engineered late-game heroics to erase a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Ramsey said recently that he thinks the biggest reason for the Jaguars losing that game was that they became too conservative.

Of the talent of Brady, who exploited that conservatism, Ramsey told "GQ" magazine that he puts him in the category of quarterbacks who don't "suck."

"I never want to suck," Brady said with a smile Wednesday. "So I never want to be in that category."

Brady is expecting "an emotional environment" on Sunday against a defense that he considers one of the best in the AFC. He added that he thinks Ramsey is "a great young player." Brady said a little trash talk is part of the game.

"I think it raises everybody's game, as long as it doesn't get to point where you do something stupid," Brady said. "I think emotion in football is critical."

Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone said that any conversations he's had with Ramsey about his tendency to speak his mind would remain private.

But Marrone was also quick to offer praise for both Gronkowski and Brady, whom he said were possibly the best to play the game at their positions.

He said he isn't concerned about Ramsey's comments providing the Patriots bulletin board material.

"I mean, it is what it is," Marrone said. "We're all men and we've got to stand by what we say and you've got to speak for yourself and be able to do that. We've just got to go out there and play."

Said Gronkowski: "I feel like this game you gotta keep your head on a swivel and be ready for anything."

Notes: Rookie RB Sony Michel spoke to reporters for the first time since injuring his knee during training camp. He was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and said he was "doing all I can do" to be back in uniform for Sunday's game. "My mindset is to prepare as if I'm playing," he said. Michel, who was taken 31st overall in April's draft, is one of two Patriot first-round picks on the mend. Tackle Isaiah Wynn (selected 23rd overall) was lost for the season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the preseason. RB Rex Burkhead remains in the concussion protocol after taking a blow to the head in last week's opener.

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