Nikola Jokic 21-22 Thread - 2022 NBA MVP Any thoughts?

[BelgradeNugget]

I'm starting to think that his defense has improved dramatically. Small sample size yes, but Denver is sitting at 2nd in DRTG. And from just watching him, he's gotten a lot more active around the rim - showing earlier on drives, contesting shots and just taking up space. From watching his warm-up footage, he's made a concerted effort on improving his foot speed and so far (along with the weight loss) it looks like it's paid off as he's handling high pick and rolls a lot better.

He'll never be quick but I wonder if he can play Marc Gasol type defense. If he can, we might be looking at a multiple MVP winner.

Problem with 2-way players is that you can't play 100% on O and D and survive 35 mins. per game in 82 games NBA season. Even the best athletes must coast on O or D in some parts of the game. Nuggs are now so dependent on Jokic on O that it takes 110% of him in every game. Combine that with the fact that he is not the best athlete, so he can't recover if he gets beat, but must play perfect effort/position defense, I think his D will drop off with time. In some games he looks exhausted from the burden he must carry right now. This is not looking good on his teammates and Malone.

[Peregrine01]

I'm starting to think that his defense has improved dramatically. Small sample size yes, but Denver is sitting at 2nd in DRTG. And from just watching him, he's gotten a lot more active around the rim - showing earlier on drives, contesting shots and just taking up space. From watching his warm-up footage, he's made a concerted effort on improving his foot speed and so far (along with the weight loss) it looks like it's paid off as he's handling high pick and rolls a lot better.

He'll never be quick but I wonder if he can play Marc Gasol type defense. If he can, we might be looking at a multiple MVP winner.

Problem with 2-way players is that you can't play 100% on O and D and survive 35 mins. per game in 82 games NBA season. Even the best athletes must coast on O or D in some parts of the game. Nuggs are now so dependent on Jokic on O that it takes 110% of him in every game. Combine that with the fact that he is not the best athlete, so he can't recover if he gets beat, but must play perfect effort/position defense, I think his D will drop off with time. In some games he looks exhausted from the burden he must carry right now. This is not looking good on his teammates and Malone.

Seems like the Nuggets are just plain missing wide open looks - MPJ in particular. I think their offense gets a lot better over time.

[TroubleS0me]

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[Peregrine01]

10 games in and Jokic is by far and away the leader in RAPTOR. Even more astounding is his defensive ranking:

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[Clyde Frazier]

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Oh my

[Peregrine01]

I really think that he's the most complete offensive player of all-time. It's crazy to think about but he combines the low post scoring ability of a Shaq with Dirk-like shooting ability and unmatched passing.

[Whopper_Sr]

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Oh my

I do not remember him taking or making any corner 3s this season. He's pretty much never in that spot.

[DCasey91]

Barton +
Gordon neutral
Bones as a rookie has been great

And Jokic.

3rd in the West, 2nd in def rating. Lol OPing the advanced metrics. Jokic/KD can raffle this one. KD can’t seem to miss for awhile some aimbot demigod.
Casual and media fans ride Curry pretty badly he’s had 5 so so games so far.

He’s literally Dirk+Bird at 7”1” and his defense has been great.

Love Dirk but Jokic is peaking higher. Can’t see him doing this with this kind of cast. One the best carry jobs this century imo.

[Clyde Frazier]

Spoiler:

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Oh my

I do not remember him taking or making any corner 3s this season. He's pretty much never in that spot.

well he's 1-2 on the season so yeah lol

[Peregrine01]

I don't think this stuff will last (especially on the defensive end), but this is utterly ridiculous:

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[JLei]

He's the best player in the league. And people are still clinging to last years narrative that he won MVP because everyone got hurt instead of just watching what's happening here.

You might be looking at the best offensive big man (and one of the best offensive players period) of all time. And the fact that it's pretty quiet on his front for MVP and how good he is surprising to me but I suppose he won't get the respect until he gets to the FInals/ wins it, which if you give him a healthy Murray and they might this year.

[parsnips33]

What's the story with Denver's defense this year? Were outside the top 10 in DRTG last season but are top 2-3 so far this season.

Did they switch up there scheme at all? Improvements from their players? Or do you think the defense will come back down closer to what it was last season?

[Texas Chuck]

He's the best player in the league. And people are still clinging to last years narrative that he won MVP because everyone got hurt instead of just watching what's happening here.

Was this narrative? Because I seem to remember Steph and Giannis not seriously getting hurt and being very legit candidates themselves. Obviously Curry hurt by the Warriors team record.

But Jokic won the MVP on merits. KD or Lebron weren't on pace to have better seasons than him regardless.

[falcolombardi]

anyone else feeling jokic trajectory is reminiscent of giannis ?
he is in pace to win back to back mvps while probably being booted out od the playoffs uncerempniously

it seems like all these mvp players follow a similar trajectory, they start their early prime in the middle of their 20's were their skillsets and iq Match up with their youth and best athletism/"motor" win mvps, break regular season métrics then falter somewhat in the playoffs against more experienced players

then they enter their full prime where their regular season work rate slows down but they are more effective in the playoffs despite no longer dominating the mvp races with videogame boxscores

then they enter their early 30's late prime where they are diminished athletically and have to pick their spots but are the smartesr amd more skilled they will ever be

jokic right now is in that early prime with the otherworldy production, like giannis was before, then harden before, then curry before, then durant, then lebron before all that in 2009

where they break the stats and look like the new greatest thingh ever during the regular season before the next big thingh comes and outproduces them in regular season

[frica]

anyone else feeling jokic trajectory is reminiscent of giannis ?
he is in pace to win back to back mvps while probably being booted out od the playoffs uncerempniously

it seems like all these mvp players follow a similar trajectory, they start their early prime in the middle of their 20's were their skillsets and iq Match up with their youth and best athletism/"motor" win mvps, break regular season métrics then falter somewhat in the playoffs against more experienced players

then they enter their full prime where their regular season work rate slows down but they are more effective in the playoffs despite no longer dominating the mvp races with videogame boxscores

then they enter their early 30's late prime where they are diminished athletically and have to pick their spots but are the smartesr amd more skilled they will ever be

jokic right now is in that early prime with the otherworldy production, like giannis was before, then harden before, then curry before, then durant, then lebron before all that in 2009

where they break the stats and look like the new greatest thingh ever during the regular season before the next big thingh comes and outproduces them in regular season

I don't think Jokic can really be compared with Giannis that way since I don't think the playoffs have slowed down Jokic at all.
If he had a better team, or just a healthy Murray...

[GSP]

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Oh my

I do not remember him taking or making any corner 3s this season. He's pretty much never in that spot.

Corners 3s are much easier and spots reserved for role players mainly Kds short chart looks the same almost no corner 3s

[GSP]

What's the story with Denver's defense this year? Were outside the top 10 in DRTG last season but are top 2-3 so far this season.

Did they switch up there scheme at all? Improvements from their players? Or do you think the defense will come back down closer to what it was last season?

Denver's had hot defensive starts before. Not the first time there were a top 5 defense to start. Based on opponents shooting percentage it should regress

[GSP]

He's the best player in the league. And people are still clinging to last years narrative that he won MVP because everyone got hurt instead of just watching what's happening here.

Was this narrative? Because I seem to remember Steph and Giannis not seriously getting hurt and being very legit candidates themselves. Obviously Curry hurt by the Warriors team record.

But Jokic won the MVP on merits. KD or Lebron weren't on pace to have better seasons than him regardless.

Kd wasn't a candidate last year Harden was but the Mvp race before Bron got hurt by that **** Solomon Hill it was a 3 way race w him, Jokic and Embiid

[BelgradeNugget]

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Oh my

I do not remember him taking or making any corner 3s this season. He's pretty much never in that spot.

Corners 3s are much easier and spots reserved for role players mainly Kds short chart looks the same almost no corner 3s

Rainforest is saved. Look at 2:38

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[JLei]

He's the best player in the league. And people are still clinging to last years narrative that he won MVP because everyone got hurt instead of just watching what's happening here.

Was this narrative? Because I seem to remember Steph and Giannis not seriously getting hurt and being very legit candidates themselves. Obviously Curry hurt by the Warriors team record.

But Jokic won the MVP on merits. KD or Lebron weren't on pace to have better seasons than him regardless.

Kd wasn't a candidate last year Harden was but the Mvp race before Bron got hurt by that **** Solomon Hill it was a 3 way race w him, Jokic and Embiid

Yes. I think the media narrative is he was winner by default but most had one of Lebron or Embiid ahead of him (narrative or per minute basis). I think he's a deserving winner but that's definitely the media narrative and it's carried over to the disrespect he's seeing this year.