The Denver Nuggets are “ROLLING” without Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets just played arguably their best game ever without Nikola Jokic, beating the HOT Celtics in Boston as 10 point underdogs. What does the win and the Nuggets recent play without Jokic say about this team and it’s supporting cast?
45 Comments
Fair. Brining back 2 starters certainly helps. And again yes the Joker is without doubt the key to their success no one can say otherwise. He does have quality teammates though when healthy
The only reason they are rolling this good is because jokic is coaching full time. He's the modern bill Russell without a super team rooster
Your whole analysis is based on the second half against Miami, which basically dictates the -5,5 differential. Loosing Jokić was obviously a shock and it makes sense that they were not ready to play without him in that second half. Yes Gordon and Braun played some minutes, but obviously not at their level yet. Imo the other top teams in the West also have plenty of flaws, and if Murray can be at this level and the rest of the rooster are fit they do not have to fear any of them.
12:20 2022-23 Playoffs on-off (won champ):
Nikola Jokić +2.0 only 5th on the team
Jamal Murray +9.9 2nd
Aaron Gordon +20.6 1th
DeAndre Jordan +14.7 His direct replacement at С position (better defender, *only played 14 min but still)
only KCP -6.6 was worst then Jokic among players who played more than 400+ minutes
Stop acting like LeBron fans and cherry picking Jokic stats
2019-20 Playoffs on-off (conf finals, second-best result in "Jokic era"):
Nikola Jokić -3.0
Jamal Murray +10.2
Mason Plumlee +3.9 His direct replacement at С position (better defender)
Every time the team shows a good result, it depends on Murray much more and his good play influences the team much more than Jokic
Sarcastic!
Ok, but how & why the f*ck are some of these guys burning the ring when they do get better looks with Jokic? Doesnt make any sense.
A lot of credit I believe goes to coach Adelman!!!
Example of good coaching and good talent on the roster
murray a way better asset on defense than joker and he’s a better closer than joker lol i don’t want hear nun if joker don’t win the chip this year. if not he’s a fraud
Skap knocking out SportsNFitnessRants, ManDownSports, and every other Nikola slanderer with Facts
Well here’s the thing. Jokic may be out but he’s still on the sidelines coaching them. I think that’s the difference maker and why they’re winning.
skap describes denver the way bronsexuals describe his old cavs teams, pretty annoying tbh
Please be consistent, Denver❤❤❤
Damn skeet attack, wrong again. S/O to all that help Jokic has, no excuses.
go Skap! never give up.
hehe…Skap, don't fall for the fans bullshit, the Nuggets probably have the worst fan base when it comes to player support, today you're great, tomorrow you're trash, it only takes a couple of games to hate you..how many times did the entire fan base sell out Jamal and Zeke just half a year ago, only to be drooling about how irreplaceable they are today..until just a few games ago PW was attacked for a missed buzzer and he commented how the fans see them without Joker as ordinary lottery team, the bottom of the bottom team.. they are able to blame Joker after two mediocre games and be the first to say that he is done … they are mostly fat with beer bellies and know everything, in fact they are addicted to winning like drug addicts on heroin withdrawal, they change their mood, as soon as the team starts to struggle, they start crying and slandering the players, their day and week are ruined because of the defeat … I support Denver (Joker King especially), of course, that's why I see it, and it never occurred to me that I sell Jamal, or so I say something bad for Russ etc. .. i have studied other fanbases they are much more down to earth and realistic (except in Joker case, they don't watch him and mostly underestimates him) than the ones from Denver..I'm even starting to think that most players would leave Denver, just because of fans and the treatment they get!! maybe I'm exaggerating a bit but the players are certainly under pressure, especially the younger ones, and they have the internet and follow the comments even though they warn them not to concern themselves with public opinion!!
That's the power of friendship. I thought they'd be at the bottom of the bracket by the time Nikola was back
DN finally went out and got a bench this season and had we actually had a good bench the previous 2 seasons I believe we would've won both those playoffs because fatigue, injury and playing our starters and especially Jokic into the ground is what cost us both those 7 game series against the TW and OKC.
We complained about a lack of depth in previous years not this one and everyone was very happy and optimistic that they went out and got a bench this season
But no one can deny the non Jokic minutes have been a huge problem for a long time and us going 3-3 without him including the 2nd half of the game he got injured doesn't change that. But now that we actually have a bench and how well the guys have played in some of these games during Jokic's absence, in particular Jamal and Watson the later of whom has really improved this season, and we have the emergence of Spencer Jones and the likes of Hardaway who is a very reliable 3 point shooter we can actually afford to rest Jokic more and have cover for him when he's injured. This wasn't the case until this season
DN record without Jokic each season starting from 2015-16
2-0
3-6
3-4
1-1
2-6
5-8
2-1
4-8
3-2
Jokic's on/off numbers the last 5 seasons
+16.4
+21.9
+20
+19
+17
DN are 13-23 without Jokic over the last 4 seasons
Or 16-25 including this season
They need to keep winning then win couple more chips! All this other stuff is unnecessary noise.
Waited all day for this. Nuggets trading CB to re-sign P Watson in the summer? Thoughts?
Jokic has never had the luxury of sitting out or not averaging 30 plus minutes. Even with a slightly upgraded roster they still haven't found consistency especially off the bench and jokic still drags the team to victory though still the best roster he has had. Murry and others have to keep this up when jokic is playing so they can be a contender. Murray's should adopt a more point guard role when jokic comes back especially in his minutes on the bench
0:03
The comedic genius of saying "on the road" while actually moving AWAY from the mic isn't lost on me, Skap !
XD
although when I see the OKC fan base that is silent when SGA has 19 ft and Hartensteing 8 ft, twice as many ft as the visitors in the match that decided 2.3 points, I don't even know what to think.. if my team was called out by the whole league about how they are protected and how other rules apply to them, I would criticize them too !! we should all be basketball fans first
Just goes to show what anyone with a brain already knew and that is Jokic is the most overrated player today in the NBA. After Dwight schooled him in 2020 and made him his son, we all knew he was a fraud
Bro why are you switching up.
Thanks to the help of Siena/Penn State legend Jalen Pickett. Career high of 29 @ Philadelphia, than a team high +/- @ Boston
If you were a real Jokic fan you'd compare it to what warriors do wo cucry and how close those games are against who
“If Only they could do this more often” I’m sure Jamal could have plenty more of these 17 assist type of Games if Jokic Actually lets the point guard do his job. But Jokic loves those triple doubles so there’s that. We gotta be honest about Jokic at some point
Go Nugs!!!
OKC is cooked
Bro.. Aron , Murray, porter were always solid. They are even more solid now
Skap fell down a well at 00:04 🤣
But to act like Jokic never had help is crazy. It’s been there this whole time, his defense is what hurts this team. Let’s be real
Remember This when Jokic loses in maybe the 2nd round that he doesn't have any help. I know it will be hard to admit that he does have help for you so I definitely expect you to say that he doesn't around game 3 of the first round of the playoffs 😂
Dear Skap, the thougest opponent is supposibly the thunder. As a Jokic adimerer, i prefer them in the first round. Second round Wemby, the rest is duable even unhealthy/tired. Excuse my written english. What do you think?
They look good when they can play like a team and spread the ball around instead of one person holding the ball most of the time
Welcome to the Denver Nuggets rollercoaster
So much for all your “Everyone on the Nuggets not named Joker is A$$!” rhetoric!
They would move cam to the bench for Watson I think that’s a better lineup fs
It’s funny, though, Jokić is not one of those heliocentric players that gets guys out of rhythm, he’s literally what people think LeBron is in terms of facilitating. He’s been waiting on these guys to develop for a long time, I hope they can still play like this when he gets back
Moral of story is never sleep on NBA bench players, especially when they are hungry for the minutes to prove themselves.
Every team they beat on this road trip would be lottery teams in the western conference, or Play-in at best. Having propped up records from a weaker conference doesn't fool anyone with a brain.
3-2 bud
Murray has been good for a while dude
Man. Those Jokić haters couldn’t wait to brag about a .500 record without him.