With 31.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 10.1 assists on average since the start of the playoffs, Nikola Jokic plays arguably the best basketball of his career. Beyond these “simple” statistics, it is this impression of ease, serenity and domination given off by the Serb that never ceases to strike us in the eyes when we watch the nuggets.
But what impresses us about him, even more than when he was named MVP in 2020/21 and then 2021/22, is that the “Joker” seems simply indefensible to us today. No matter what type of defense he has to face, he teaches his opponents a lesson and does so by wasting very little: 56% in shooting and 80% in throws, with a superb 51% at 3- points.
It is this percentage of success behind the arc that makes all the difference for denver in these playoffs, since Nikola Jokic puts it down by taking around four winning attempts per game, compared to only two in the regular season (for 38% skill).
” Most teams keep their interiors back on pick-and-roll situations », considered his trainer, Michael Malone. ” However, if you have an interior capable of making 3-pointers as effectively [que Nikola Jokic], it forces the defense to come out really hard on him and then it opens things up for everyone. I think he’s one of the best players in the league to attack close-out situations. He has a very effective fake shot that blows up defenders and allows him to go inside afterwards. His float is almost automatic and, if you come to the aid of him, he will distribute in corners or find Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green in the back of the defense. »
Considered as ” indefensible ” by Bruce BrownNikola Jokic not only makes his coach happy when he starts to draw spontaneously and enormously from afar, but his teammates are also delighted.
” I’m glad he’s more aggressive at the 3-point line », adds for example Michael Porter Jr.. ” I know he doesn’t like shooting 3-pointers very much, but earlier in the season when guys like Jamal [Murray] Or [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] were doubled off screen, we gave him the ball with 2-3 seconds left and he liked to fake it and then head for the basket. Except that I said to myself: ‘Hey, try, look if [tes tirs] fall into it. So yeah, he doesn’t really like shooting 3-pointers, but when he does, it opens up a lot of things for us, because the defenses come out fast on him and he can go inside after his fake shot . »
All that remains is to continue this momentum for Nikola Jokic, despite the opposing defensive adjustments, and if he succeeds, it’s a safe bet that the Lakers will suffer very regularly in defense against the Nuggets. In the image, finally, of what happened for three and a half quarters during Game 1…
| Nikola Jokic | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2015-16 | DEN | 80 | 22 | 51.2 | 33.3 | 81.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 10.0 |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 73 | 28 | 57.8 | 32.4 | 82.5 | 2.9 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 16.7 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 75 | 33 | 49.9 | 39.6 | 85.0 | 2.6 | 8.1 | 10.7 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 18.5 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 80 | 31 | 51.1 | 30.7 | 82.1 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 20.1 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 73 | 32 | 52.8 | 31.4 | 81.7 | 2.3 | 7.5 | 9.7 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2020-21 ★ | DEN | 72 | 35 | 56.6 | 38.8 | 86.8 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 ★ | DEN | 74 | 34 | 58.3 | 33.7 | 81.0 | 2.8 | 11.0 | 13.8 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 69 | 34 | 63.2 | 38.3 | 82.2 | 2.4 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 24.5 |
| Total | 596 | 31 | 55.3 | 34.8 | 82.9 | 2.6 | 7.9 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 20.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
