In addition to having transformed physically over the past few seasons, Nikola Jokic has also changed defensively since joining the league. And no doubt that the two transformations are linked. A slow and often late player, the Denver pivot lacked impact near the circle to hinder opposing penetrations.
But over the seasons, it has improved. He’s trying harder, contesting more shots and now he’s no longer a weak point for the Nuggets. It is even the opposite.
“He does well what he knows how to do”summed up Jimmy Butler, before Game 2. “He moves well and forces his opponents to make decisions when they get in the key. Everyone watches his attacking game but he’s a hell of a defender too. »
Do not give easy shots
The third round of the Finals proves it even more. The double MVP swallowed 21 rebounds, blocked 2 shots and above all, the Heat only shot 3/19 against the Serb. Bam Adebayo even ended up with an ugly 1/10 against him.
“To tell the truth, I didn’t have an impact on every shot,” Yet replies Nikola Jokic. “But I just try to put my opponents in bad conditions, that they take the shots that they don’t want to take because I challenge them. I don’t want to give easy shots. That’s my priority. »
For several months, Mike Malone has insisted on shedding light on the defense of Nikola Jokic. He often asks journalists and fans alike to watch the matches better in order to understand the work of his pivot, who is not immediately obvious.
“A lot of people just take a quick look to judge whether Nikola is a good defender or not. It’s unfair, we have to go beyond that.” ask the coach. “You have to see all the things he does. He has good hands, he anticipates well, he is very intelligent. He contested 21 shots in Game 3, he was omnipresent throughout the game. Will he block a shot over the circle? No, and we have to stop expecting that. But if you look closely, he is a good defender, who does it with his intelligence and his reading, which many do not have. »
The science of investing
Like his coach, Jamal Murray believes that Nikola Jokic has a bad reputation, in particular because he is not very athletic or spectacular.
“We are trying to change this little music on him, like what he is not defending”, explains the leader. “He’s smart, he’s got amazing hands, great timing, he’s rebounding, positioning himself well. He has it all. It’s not just a matter of triggering or blocking shots. It is also a question of knowing how to position yourself on the floor, which remains half the work to be done. What he lacks, he makes up for. On pick-and-roll, he’s a huge defender. »
In a Marc Gasol style, which compensated for his limited athletic qualities with an enormous science of placement, in particular in order to get his hands on the Defender of the Year trophy in 2013.
If there is one player who has shown himself defensively in these playoffs, it is Aaron Gordon. He took care, with quite a bit of success, of Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Therefore, he’s in a pretty good position to talk about his teammate’s impact.
“His defense has been very good since the start of the playoffs”, analyzes the former Orlando. “The whole season even. He has good hands, good support. He is in place, communicates well. He approaches defense in a cerebral way. He forces the opponent to think, and that’s what you’re looking for when you’re defending, to get him out of his rhythm. »
| 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.
