In the second part of our look ahead at the Euros in the NBA Playoffs, it’s the turn of Nikola Jokic to come under the microscope. He’s done it all for the Denver Nuggets already. He’s being asked to do it again. The Serbian big man is looking for an extended wait before meeting his horses again. Emmet Ryan breaks down what’s in store plus a quick look at the Euros still in the play-in.
So yesterday it was the turn of players below superstar level. That covered a lot of ground. Today, Nikola Jokic is firmly in focus. You know his game and you know what he’s capable of.
He is the constant
The first opponent for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs happens to be the Minnesota Timberwolves. The name on the other side of the scoresheet really doesn’t matter. Any and all success for Denver this postseason depends on Nikola Jokic.
That’s the easy bit that everyone already knows. He is entering this postseason after yet another absurd season. Jokic tends to only deal in absurd seasons. This time around he led the league in assists and rebounds per game, while also averaging 27.7 points.
Nobody, not even the San Antonio Spurs, runs as clearly through its man in the middle as much as the Nuggets. More often than not, that’s too much for opponents despite there being only* one title in the bag so far.
*The list of star players that would give their right arm for one ring isn’t short.
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At 31, it’s not like anyone is rushing to call Nikola Jokic old. What really stands out however is just how much his game is built for longevity. Speed of thought matters so much more than speed of movement in his game that you can expect him to remain at superstar level of contribution a good three or four years past the norm for bigs.
In the first round match-up, he’s going against a man trying to prove likewise. Rudy Gobert is still putting up excellent numbers but he’s not exactly at the top of the big man conversation anymore. That places Gobert in position to try and make a statement in the middle in this one. For what it’s worth, Jokic has said the rivalry is wildly exaggerated.
Still, given the age profile of Denver is a lot younger across the roster than is normal for a team three seasons removed from a championship, that dials down the external pressure on the Joker. This arguably makes him more dangerous. The lack of a public need for Denver to win-now will allow Jokic to better conduct the intensity of those around him.
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Not worrying about legacy may be the weapon
Nikola Jokic seems broadly happy in his life. He’s got his money, his horses, his family, and likes living in Denver. There’s little to bother him. One school of thought would be that he needs something to fire him up, to have that chip on his shoulder.
The thing is, he already has that chip on his shoulder…oddly created by a belief that people think he doesn’t have one. It’s not an urge to prove anyone wrong, the man seems far too content for that, but just a broader motivation to go out and be excellent at what he does. The NBA Playoffs present a perfect opportunity for that.
Jokic knows what he is, what he’s made of, and when he’s pushed, dominating is as easy as breathing.
And a quick note on the remaining play-in crew
At the time of writing, three Euros of note were still active in the play-in. Franz Wagner and the Orlando Magic will take on Moussa Diabeté and the Charlotte Hornets for the last spot in the East. It feels a more necessary one for Wagner and the still young Orlando side than a Charlotte team that has already exceeded expectations.
Kristaps Porzingis and the Golden State Warriors meanwhile face the Phoenix Suns, with the winner being served up to the OKC Thunder in the first round. Even if they make it out of the play-in, I doubt Porzingis and the Warriors will be hanging around long in the NBA Playoffs.
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