Nikola Jokic is averaging 24.4 points per game, down from his career-high of 29.6, and he’s attempting 15.1 shots per game, compared to the 19.5 he averaged last season. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, according to Nuggets head coach David Adelman, who would prefer to see the points more evenly distributed.
“If we can get through games without having to post him up 25 times, I think that’s beneficial for us and his body,” Adelman said. per Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. “But if the game demands it, he will. And I think he’ll score like he needs to. But staying in the split game and the elbow game, it can get redundant, but I think it keeps everybody involved. And he keeps everybody involved anyway, because he’ll get doubled in the post or whatever it is. But (we’re) trying to play that team game as much as we can.”
We have more on the Nuggets:
- Denver is taking a ‘What, me worry?’ stance on Cameron Johnson‘s slow start. Acquired from the Nets during the offseason, Johnson is averaging just 7.5 points per game on 36.2 percent shooting. “He’s getting good looks. We’re looking for him and stuff. I think it’s all part of the game,” Jamal Murray told Durando. “Everybody knows Cam can shoot. If you go look at his career, he can shoot the ball. So he didn’t just lose his arm.” Murray’s coach expressed similar thoughts. “Cam’s going to have a night soon and somebody else may not play a lot, and we’ll talk about their production. But who really cares if we’re winning?” Adelman said.
- Tim Hardaway Jr., who started regularly for the Pistons last season, has become a key reserve for the Nuggets. He’s scored in double digits during five of eight games this season. “He’s such a weapon, and he can get his shot off so easily and quickly,” Adelman told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “It’s a big deal. You know, a lot of teams have the athleticism these days. But a guy that releases the ball that quickly and gets it off, it’s a big deal. And not to mention, he just really knows how to play. Tim fits right in.”
- Bruce Brown played a major role in their championship run in 2023. The hard-nosed guard is looking to make the same kind of defensive impact in the playoffs this season, according to Durando. “Later in the season (referees will) let things go just because they know you’re a physical defender,” he said. “(The Thunder’s) Lu Dort has a reputation as being a physical defender, so they don’t really call much on him. So (I’m) just trying to do that.”
Cam Johnson had a +25 on 0/3 shooting with 0 points last night in a 25 point win with only 4 assists. Master class in player usage by David Adelman, once again destroying Steve Kerr’s idiotic small ball. Kerr sent Post to the bench with zero points and a +5 in a first quarter this year and never bought him back til it was too late. TJD has been great this year when Kerr plays him. Kerr is clueless and GSW needs a change at the top. He’s supposed to be turning the team around, not spinning it in circles. Just play the best 5-7 players the most minutes. Stop playing 2way players. Play Post and TJD more. If GSW goes up 10+, keep that rotation out there until the lead is 30+. His job is simple.
He was +25 because the other four guys on the court played exceptional, and the Warriors were awful.
Davey forgot to post even Green said the defense was horrible last night. Kerr did play a bad lineup last night. He is experimenting knowing without Curry they would lose.
Kerr loves playing bad defense over good defense. That’s why he goes small over big.
@Cam oh but when that happens to Podziemski, Podz is actually “elite”? Right, right….its the goalpost movements for me, right? Gross take, be better. Cam was awesome defensively and as team player that game. You dont know ball.
Ooooo a Nikola Jokic story! Let’s talk about Steve Kerr!
There need to be more Jokic fans. I have no idea why there aren’t herds of superstar followers all over the internet like there are for LeBron and Steph and were for Jordan. Jokic is as good as any of them.
It’s because Jokic himself does not enjoy or like basketball. Its like a desk job for him. He just does it because he is a once in a lifetime talent at it. But his passion is horse racing and horses in general. He fell in the draft so far because no one believed he would come to the NBA.
IMO he is arguably a top 10 all-time guy. Top 20 minimum.
You don’t get to where Jokic got without genuine dedication to the craft. It’s just that he has the right work-life balance. As much as people don’t like to hear it, basketball is work for these pros. I made a living out of sport early in my life, and that’s what it is.
Imo, Shaq could have gotten more out of his career if he were more focused. But I can’t say that about Jokic. He’s getting the most out of what he has.
I think that international NBA players are doing a better job at striking the right work-life balance in the NBA. You only hear about their hobbies and basketball. They are not trying to be rappers or business people or whatever. Just hoops, hobbies and family life. And occasional commercials, which are whatever.
And I agree that he sits very high on the all-time list.
As for his draft position, he was a draft-and-stash. He became the best player in the very tough ABA League after being drafted. Which is different to Doncic, Sengun, Wemby, who were the best players in their competitions before being old enough to declare. Had he had the season he had before being old enough, he would have been selected much higher.
I think Jokic knows he’s a once in a lifetime talent and the game comes so easily to him, he is like “eh ok, I guess I will go make a ton of money doing this as fast as I can, so I can invest in horses later”.
Jokic is one guy I can totally see retiring out of nowhere too. He will obviously play out his current deal but I can see him calling it so he can switch to the career he wants. Still, a top 10ish all-timer, for sure. No one dominates the game late like Joker. Sky high on-court IQ, he is in a way, like Russ but with the correct body-type to be able to win a title with. Size does not tire like athletic-types do. Jokic in the 4Q is the greatest 4Q player ever. Joker has it all, including the ring. I honestly believe he should have won the last 5 MVPs. He was more valuable than Shai and Embiid both those years, easily.
Joker currently leads the league in rebounds AND assists. Lmao. Who else in history could even think about doing that?