I expect the Avs to get bounced early in the playoffs, seeing as they’ve been banged up all year and the West in general has improved. Success for the defending Stanley Cup champions would be defined by a conference finals appearance. But it’s Western Conference finals or bust for the Nuggets. But if Golden State is the No. 8 seed, the Nuggets could be in real danger.

— Jack, Norman, Okla.

Kiz: It’s not inconceivable the Nuggets will have to beat the Lakers, Suns and Grizzlies to make the NBA Finals. We know Nikola Jokic won’t blink. But here’s the real question: How many times can the Nuggets win on nights when Joker isn’t their best player? And with all due respect to the reigning Stanley Cup champs, only an April fool believes the Avs are primed to make a deep playoff run. During March, your Avs were undefeated in nine games against non-playoff teams, but had a 1-5-1 record against teams currently in the playoff field.

I’ve been a baseball fan for most of the 73 years I’ve been on this planet. If and when the powers that be decide to expand the big leagues, do you think Colorado would have a chance to get a major-league team?

— Hans, Aurora

Kiz: We’re here for the (grand)dad jokes

Kiz, it was with a sad sense of “one-downmanship” that I read your column about how inept the Rockies are, because I’m not sure you’re aware of the baseball suffering in western Pennsylvania. My husband and I maintain homes in Colorado and Pittsburgh. We enjoy going to PNC Park, regarded as one of the best, despite the Pirates’ consistently dismal performances. The Pirates have lost more than 100 games two years in a row and have an owner, Bob Nutting, who always choses making more money over spending money to build a competitive roster.

Mary, Vail

Kiz: So what you’re saying is the Rockies are only the sorriest baseball franchise west of the Mississippi? Thanks. I feel better now.

Because of the ongoing fight between Comcast and Kroenke Sports, I’m learning to live without the Nuggets and the Avalanche. It makes me wonder: While behaving like small children, aren’t the adults running these businesses concerned? The loyal viewers these teams had in the past are finding other things to do with their free time. The standoff is obviously meant to destroy the Altitude network, but at what cost? How much audience will be left, when (or if) the standoff is resolved? Maybe this is the final irony: We have four major sports teams. The two I can watch are hardly worth watching. And the two that are worth watching are blacked out.

Maurice, Littleton

Kiz: Is it just me, or are there too many sports on TV and not enough reasonable ways to see them all?

And today’s parting shot is reassuring advice as I fret about billionaire Elon Musk confiscating that groovy blue checkmark from my Twitter account unless I pay him a handsome ransom of 23 cents per day.

You don’t need a stinkin’ blue checkmark, Kiz. No one can imitate you. Twitter can only hope to contain you.

P.W., howlin’ like a wolf

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