Russell Westbrook's Minnesota mistake, the Western pecking order and a confidence game

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after a pair of Denver losses. Among the topics discussed: + The Nuggets emptied the tank in an effort to end a five-game skid vs. Minnesota, with Nikola Jokic putting up a 61-point triple-double. Yet after Russell Westbrook's regrettable 14 seconds, Denver dropped that game and another to the Spurs with their starters watching from the bench. Was it worth the gamble? Are there positives that can be taken from the double OT loss? + The No. 2 seed now looks like a distant dream for Denver. And the No. 3 is no guarantee either. With a muddled mess below Oklahoma City and Houston in the West, who do the Nuggets most want to see in the first round? + What confidence level do the boys have in the Nuggets' key players? The fellas hash it out in the second half of the podcast with the NBA playoffs looming in a couple of weeks. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel