We announced it yesterday in a preview as one of the great dangers hovering over the duel between Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors; and it was fulfilled.
We all know that Nikola Jokic has no ‘defense’ capable of completely canceling him out. Giving him benefits is also a bad idea. But that’s exactly what GSW looks like right now: an ease to score with.
By both name and system, one of Steve Kerr’s priorities in executing his defensive plan is to draw a stifling outside line to prevent the ball from reaching the painted area in a comfortable position. Because that’s where things get complicated.
There is no longer an Andrew Bogut, a Draymond Green in his primoa fabulous Kevin Durant in aid or a Kevon Looney with knees to shoot from. The San Francisco team lacks centimeters, intimidators and heavy rivals to escape from in the home and away game. So attacking him with balls on the post is one of the best possible strategies in this 2024/25 season.
It goes without saying what happens when Nikola Jokic is in front.
OPPONENT SHOT SHEET
unanswered
Golden State is the NBA team that shoots the most between 5 and 9 feet from the rim (1.5 to 2.7 meters), that is, between the restricted area and the center of the bottle. A total of 13.2 field goal attempts per game, being the fifth team that suffers the most success from rivals in actions from that distance (46.2%).
Mike Malone was lucid last night and did not joke with experiments or gestures of chivalry. Jokic knew what was there and solved the problem in a big way, reaching 38 points and 10 rebounds (+23 in +/-), moving freely in rival territory.
The Serbian distributed the ball at will from the low post and barely found any opposition when he wanted to end up in the Warriors’ “pain zone”, either blocking or executing (as a passer/finisher) the shot pick and roll.
He also shined on the other end, causing several steals that became easy points in transition.
And there are five of them
The final touch came in one of the last actions of the match, because with the Warriors one basket away from equalizing, it was Jokic who stood up to Kuminga and blocked him in a great way, ending a beautiful and balanced game, but that, at the same time, four previous games, they ended up turning their backs on Steve Kerr’s team (119-115), adding their fifth consecutive defeat and moving them away from the leadership of the West, where they weren’t many days ago.
Even so and despite the defeat, The Warriors will be in the next stage of the NBA Cup, since they had done their homework previously, which the Nuggets had not done, and for whom this victory is not enough to qualify for the quarterfinals.
