Nikola Jokic deserves his own thread

[Goo Punch 4275]

How can you not love this guy?

 

 

[Braff Zacklin 13552]

Lot of stupid threads have popped up during the suspended season/COVID lockdown, but this isn't one of them. Jokic definitely deserves his own thread.

Love the two-man offense that he and Murray run. Even when they were putting a clinic on my Spurs in last year's playoffs, it was still fun to watch. Genuinely don't know how you stop it other than do your best and hope for a miss.

[Napoleon 8658]

I lived in Denver for a season and a half (January 2018 - June 2019) and he is just a joy to watch.

His arms look like he was a stretch Armstrong doll and someone just pulled on his arms before he was passed the ball.

He has about a 2" vertical leap, but with those arms and his height, he can still dunk.

He has Magic/Bird type of court vision as well. He sees EVERYTHING.

Denver is a really fun team to watch and he's the biggest single reason for that.

[Goo Punch 4275]

I would love to see see this team evolve around him to the point where we got a Nuggets vs Bucks Finals, just to see these two teams that are built around these two freak players who couldn't be different from one another. I would really enjoy watching that. 

Edited May 27, 2020 by Goo Punch

[Goo Punch 4275]

 

that teardrop fade away is fucking devastating. such a badass signature move. 

edit: also note how many and-1's he gets for his teammates. he drops a perfect pass in to a moving target with a defender draped all over him and its a layup +1 all day. such a unique weapon. 

Edited May 27, 2020 by Goo Punch

[Sweetnsourpoke 166]

Big fan of Jokic. You need to check out his recent weight loss. A different guy. 

Edited June 12, 2020 by Sweetnsourpoke

[Tylerocks 2553]

Good article in a recent SI about him and the Serbian Way.  Basically teaching positionless basketball all the way from youth to whenever...

https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/28/nikola-jokic-nuggets-the-serbian-way

[TommyGufano 6021]

Anybody tracked him during the quarantine? Wonder if he shows up looking like he did in March or at the beginning of the season

[hobbes2702 13028]

He’s super thin. Lemme try to find a pic

https://twitter.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/1271138110705991686?s=20

Edited June 12, 2020 by hobbes2702

[Pato del Muerto 52484]

Went from 1992 Magic to 1982 Magic in a few months. 

[TommyGufano 6021]

4 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Went from 1992 Magic to 1982 Magic in a few months. 

somebody better alert the CDC

[Napoleon 8658]

17 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Went from 1992 Magic to 1982 Magic in a few months. 

...from 1952 Rock Hudson to 1982 Rock Hudson in a few months.

[Goo Punch 4275]

 

[hobbes2702 13028]

Nba ain’t happening 

[Js1 85258]

Next time don't hang out with Djokovic

[Goo Punch 4275]

hey this is no Djoking matter. 

[conVINCEd 21469]

My dad called me and said he heard that Luka tested positive.  I’m guessing it’s either Jokic or Djokovic, cause my dad can be dumb like that.

[shadow_operative 15932]

Career playoff averages: 25.3 ppg, 11.9 reb (2.8 oreb), 7.2 ast, 0.9 blk, 0.9 ast, 51% FG, 42% 3P (5.0 3PA/gm), 84% FT. That's through his first four playoff series of his career, all four of them being 7-game series, with the nuggets now being 3-1 in those series. He's a superstar. 

 

[Braff Zacklin 13552]

Late in yesterday's broadcast, JVG summed up Joker's performance: "He's 5 of 13 from the floor and dominating." 

Haven't seen passing like this since the days of Magic and Bird, except Nikola is taller and even less athletic. I think the reasons he's mostly impervious to double teams are 1) he doesn't panic, and 2) he can always see over the defense due to his height (good luck finding a pair of 7-plus-footers to guard him).

And speaking of defense, Joker's isn't great but it's not terrible, either. Being tall helps.

Edited September 16, 2020 by Braff Zacklin
Derka already had the video.

[Brian Fantana 6677]

57 minutes ago, Braff Zacklin said:

Late in yesterday's broadcast, JVG summed up Joker's performance: "He's 5 of 13 from the floor and dominating." 

Haven't seen passing like this since the days of Magic and Bird, except Nikola is taller and even less athletic. I think the reasons he's mostly impervious to double teams are 1) he doesn't panic, and 2) he can always see over the defense due to his height (good luck finding a pair of 7-plus-footers to guard him).

And speaking of defense, Joker's isn't great but it's not terrible, either. Being tall helps.

In my opinion it's not fair to call him unatheltic either, he is actually pretty damn quick for a man of his size. He has some stiff hips on defense, but I think some of that comes from a lack of confidence on that end, at least in isolation situations. He can't jump out of the gym but he's got some damn quick moves on the offensive end for a "slow" guy.

[Braff Zacklin 13552]

9 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

In my opinion it's not fair to call him unatheltic either, he is actually pretty damn quick for a man of his size. He has some stiff hips on defense, but I think some of that comes from a lack of confidence on that end, at least in isolation situations. He can't jump out of the gym but he's got some damn quick moves on the offensive end for a "slow" guy.

It's all relative. Compared to us common folk, virtually every NBAer is hyper-athletic. They set a very high bar, and relative to that bar, Joker is well below it.

Thing is, if Joker could jump out of the gym and outsprint a cat from one end of the court to the other, he probably wouldn't have developed his world-beating skillset, i.e., he's going to be fine regardless of what anyone thinks of his athleticism.

[shadow_operative 15932]

he's got super quick/active hands on D that help him get all of those pesky steals and blocks. his instincts and timing are pretty damn good too. 

[Horn of Gabriel 1614]

17 hours ago, Braff Zacklin said:

It's all relative. Compared to us common folk, virtually every NBAer is hyper-athletic. They set a very high bar, and relative to that bar, Joker is well below it.

Thing is, if Joker could jump out of the gym and outsprint a cat from one end of the court to the other, he probably wouldn't have developed his world-beating skillset, i.e., he's going to be fine regardless of what anyone thinks of his athleticism.

Yes and his game will age better as well.

[Beau Vine 54203]

One of my best friends growing up -- his father played for OU in college.  Every once in a while, he would show up and play with us, 30 years older, less athletic, but much much much smarter than us about how to play basketball.  That's who who I see when I watch Jokic.  

[Braff Zacklin 13552]

This is a good watch:

 

[Drew 2401]

On 9/16/2020 at 5:41 PM, Braff Zacklin said:

Late in yesterday's broadcast, JVG summed up Joker's performance: "He's 5 of 13 from the floor and dominating." 

Haven't seen passing like this since the days of Magic and Bird, except Nikola is taller and even less athletic. I think the reasons he's mostly impervious to double teams are 1) he doesn't panic, and 2) he can always see over the defense due to his height (good luck finding a pair of 7-plus-footers to guard him).

And speaking of defense, Joker's isn't great but it's not terrible, either. Being tall helps.

You just described Luka as well. League is in good hands with these guys.

Also, as said above, I think we need to adjust what we think athletic means.  Yes we think it means jumping out of the jim and super fast/quick.  But I think with these guys and guys like James Harden, the ability to start and stop on a dime and change direction effortlessly, plus change your pace and hesitate are athletic as well, just in a different way.

[Braff Zacklin 13552]

Again, it's merely a relative term. Most people understand this.

Compared to us, virtually anyone in the NBA is super athletic. But compared to the league's freakishly explosive best, Jokic is not very athletic. He's even quipped about it.

[shadow_operative 15932]

ho hum.

Edited December 29, 2020 by shadow_operative

[Wulaw Horn 19063]

He just destroyed houston tonight. His size was a huge problem for the Rox, like the proverbial man amongst boys. 

[Vic Mackey 47006]

[conVINCEd 21469]

On 9/18/2020 at 3:31 PM, Drew said:

You just described Luka as well. League is in good hands with these guys.

Also, as said above, I think we need to adjust what we think athletic means.  Yes we think it means jumping out of the jim and super fast/quick.  But I think with these guys and guys like James Harden, the ability to start and stop on a dime and change direction effortlessly, plus change your pace and hesitate are athletic as well, just in a different way.

IMO, There are two kinds of athletic talent.  The first is the guys who blow up the combine with size/speed/strength.  The other is that there are some people who can just play ball.  Check out some video of Luka playing tennis.  Tony Romo was a pretty good nfl quarterback, was an all-state basketball player in high school, and is a scratch golfer.  Invent a game where a ball is involved, and he would probably be pretty good at it.

[ztejas 43411]

13 hours ago, shadow_operative said:

ho hum.

I will play devil's advocate and say they are 1-2 in those games but Jamal was a sack of moist, hot garbage in their first game and not much better in their 2nd. If they stay relatively healthy their floor should be around the 6th seed. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

 

 

[Braff Zacklin 13552]

Fun.

He's so big and composed that it doesn't matter who's defending him because he's standing there like an oak, surveying the entire landscape at his leisure. It's a joy to behold--even when he's doing it to your team.

Fun.

[shadow_operative 15932]

those little put backs and floaters are a thing of beauty. his soft shooting touch with either hand from 6 feet and in is rather unique. sometimes he'll essentially "pass" the ball into the basket with reverse english off the glass with his left hand and things like that. his control there is otherworldly, as his deceptive quickness makes it impossible to stop most of the time. 

[Radical Larry 28539]

 

 

[shadow_operative 15932]

he's the best passer in the NBA and he's a center. i had a thought when i was watching the game tonight- the gap between Jokic and whoever is the next best passer in the league is so gargantuan that i don't recall there ever being such a gap between the best passer and the second best passer in the NBA. not in my lifetime. Magic had Larry; Mark Jackson overlapped with those two; Jason Kidd and Steve Nash had each other, not to mention White Chocolate. Nikola Jokic has no peers. He is so far and away the best passer in the league it's just crazy. if he's not the most "must-watch" player in the league he's on the very very short list. his game is one of a kind, and so much of it is impressive, but his passing- his passing is otherworldly.

Edited January 15, 2021 by shadow_operative

[Machinator 32099]

Maybe some NBA historian can correct me, but while there have been a number of good passing bigs, Jokic is the first notable "point center". The fact that he can not only lead the break but even bring up the ball against a set halfcourt defense is unique, I think.

[shadow_operative 15932]

maybe if we had gotten to see Arvydas Sabonis in the NBA during his prime then we would have seen something similar to this, but i agree- i don't recall ever seeing a true point-center before, and i've been enamores with this guy for four years now because of it. he's one of a kind. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

just wanted to pop in and mention how much i megaloathe the accepted American pronunciation of his name- Knee-Cola Yokich. it's not even a difficult name to pronounce. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

Jokic and the Nuggets are on ESPN tonight against the Suns. Must-see TV.

[ztejas 43411]

On 1/15/2021 at 12:38 AM, shadow_operative said:

he's the best passer in the NBA and he's a center. i had a thought when i was watching the game tonight- the gap between Jokic and whoever is the next best passer in the league is so gargantuan that i don't recall there ever being such a gap between the best passer and the second best passer in the NBA. not in my lifetime. Magic had Larry; Mark Jackson overlapped with those two; Jason Kidd and Steve Nash had each other, not to mention White Chocolate. Nikola Jokic has no peers. He is so far and away the best passer in the league it's just crazy. if he's not the most "must-watch" player in the league he's on the very very short list. his game is one of a kind, and so much of it is impressive, but his passing- his passing is otherworldly.

You think Jokic is that far ahead of CP and LeBron? I'm not sure I buy that. 

Who's batting 4th - Harden?

Also - Murray needs to get his shit together. Wasting this Jokic season so far. 

Edited January 23, 2021 by ztejas

[shadow_operative 15932]

26 minutes ago, ztejas said:

You think Jokic is that far ahead of CP and LeBron? I'm not sure I buy that. 

 

i do. i don't think either of them is close. he regularly makes passes that neither of them even attempt, and he's just as good with his left hand as he is with his right. his vision and actual passing ability are unreal. he does things like grab the ball off the defensive glass with one hand, and in one motion turns and fires a full-court outlet pass like it's nothing. the man is a passing savant. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

final 3:30 of the game. beautiful shot by Jokic to tie it at 106 apiece. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

Jokic with a couple of big shots and rebounds down the stretch of OT, and just got a steal with 12 seconds to go and three point lead to ice it. 31-10-8-3 stl on 15-27 shooting. Typical night for Jokic. 

[Machinator 32099]

 

[shadow_operative 15932]

5 minutes ago, Machinator said:

 

that's what i mean when i say that he makes passes that other elite passers don't even attempt. i mean it's not Chris Paul's fault that he isn't a 7-footer, and therefore is never even in a position to make that pass, but that's kind of the point, isn't it? you don't see Bam Adebayo or Giannis or Embiid making passes like this, and yet Jokic does it nightly. he's a big, slow, pasty white unicorn, and i couldn't have a bigger man crush on him if i tried. 

[Braff Zacklin 13552]

The big, slow, pasty-white unicorn dropped in a career-high 47 points today. Also tallied 12 boards, five assists, two steals and a block.

Eleven-game Jazz win streak is no more.

[Radical Larry 28539]

50 pts, 12 assists, 8 rebs, 3 blocks. Not too shabby.

[shadow_operative 15932]

 

he scored 1 v 1 against six different Laker defenders in the first half alone. they could not stop him, he dominated the game and the Nuggets won rather easily. dude is something else.