2024-25 NBA MVP Discussion Thread (Pt. 4: Who is the MVP?)

[Infinite Llamas]

More statistical proof for Jokic's MVP case. He kept his man down to 34 from 28 shots.

Sarr was barely above 30 % from 3 going into the game. Leaving him open for 3’s seemed like a reasonable game plan. Law of averages I suppose.

Daring bad shooters to shoot isn’t the worst idea. I watch teams leave Jaylen Brown open on the perimeter every game. It’s the shot the defenses want.

Dreadful shooters like sarr and George shooting 9-17 from downtown is an anomaly.

I.Q. off the charts. Strategically decided to play no defense.

The end result wasn’t ideal for Denver, but there are a worse strategies. Teams wanted Giannis to shoot 3’s and he finally stopped taking them. Any time Giannis took a 3 it was a win for the defense.

You don’t overreact to bad shooters hitting shots. Clearly the defensive game plan called for having Jokic try to control the boards because the Wizards are a gunning team.

If you could sell out on a guy, wouldn’t it be the one shooting 30%?

[Infinite Llamas]

I mean, Jokic wasn’t a world beater tonight, but many, many players will score 34 on 28 shots. It’s really not that impressive at all.

I mean, the fact that a timid 18 year old rookie felt comfortable and compelled enough to take 30 shots in a game when he has never even taken 20 in any other game in his young career just proves that he felt he wasn’t being guarded great and he felt he could win his matchup.

That speaks to Jokics dismal defense. Its an ongoing trend, every average big man has their career best performance against Jokic. The outstanding duo of Plumlee and Nik Richards both put up 20 against him a few games back, but all anyone cared about was “30-20-20”

If SGA put up 30/10/10 with 10 free throws you’d be creaming yourself.

“Better than peak Jordan could EVER do it…”

[SpurNani]

I mean, Jokic wasn’t a world beater tonight, but many, many players will score 34 on 28 shots. It’s really not that impressive at all.

I mean, the fact that a timid 18 year old rookie felt comfortable and compelled enough to take 30 shots in a game when he has never even taken 20 in any other game in his young career just proves that he felt he wasn’t being guarded great and he felt he could win his matchup.

That speaks to Jokics dismal defense. Its an ongoing trend, every average big man has their career best performance against Jokic. The outstanding duo of Plumlee and Nik Richards both put up 20 against him a few games back, but all anyone cared about was “30-20-20”

The mental gymnastics some of you are doing to belittle a 30/20/20 game is ridiculous. If SGA put up 30/10/10 with 10 free throws you’d be creaming yourself.

Sabonis just came back from a week and half absence and put up a triple double in limited minutes against the checked out Suns defense.

[_NoMas]

RealGM. Where Jokic is either in the goat debate or the most overrated, useless player in the league, and there’s nothing in between it seems like.

[AmIWrongDude]

Defense and team record are massive gaps for Shai over Jokic. Voters better not mess this up.

[Handlez]

Admittedly I mostly just look at box scores.

But why do centers seem to have huge games against Jokic constantly?

Sarr career best game.

[Infinite Llamas]

Admittedly I mostly just look at box scores.

But why do centers seem to have huge games against Jokic constantly?

Sarr career best game.

Because it’s a smart strategy for opposing teams?

Getting Jokic into foul trouble is a great strategy and if he avoids fouls, then they get easier looks. It’s really quite elementary. It’s also why as Jokic gets older, the need to surround him with a strong rim protecting power forward will become essential.

Attack him on defense and make him work tirelessly to get open on the offense mode is really the only way to slow him down.

But with that said, I think Denver is more concerned with health at this point than seeding. Gordon is very important to whatever Denver does so resting him is imperative. Having Jokic tire himself out chasing guys on the perimeter won’t help his legs going into the postseason either.

[SpurNani]

Admittedly I mostly just look at box scores.

But why do centers seem to have huge games against Jokic constantly?

Sarr career best game.

I am a betting man and I’ve honestly made some good coin off betting the opposing big mans numbers against Jokic. Just look at the last month

ROOKIE Sarr - 34 Points
Horford - 19 Points
Nik Richard/Plumlee in same game: 40 points combined
Jonas V - 19,13,6
Brook Lopez - 22 points
Myles Turner - 23 points
Nurkic - Near triple double in 19 minutes
ROOKIE Clingan - 17,20
Wendell Carter - 19 Points

[OkcSinceSGA]

Read on Twitter

[WhatTheBuck]

Sarr was barely above 30 % from 3 going into the game. Leaving him open for 3’s seemed like a reasonable game plan. Law of averages I suppose.

Daring bad shooters to shoot isn’t the worst idea. I watch teams leave Jaylen Brown open on the perimeter every game. It’s the shot the defenses want.

Dreadful shooters like sarr and George shooting 9-17 from downtown is an anomaly.

I.Q. off the charts. Strategically decided to play no defense.

The end result wasn’t ideal for Denver, but there are a worse strategies. Teams wanted Giannis to shoot 3’s and he finally stopped taking them. Any time Giannis took a 3 it was a win for the defense.

You don’t overreact to bad shooters hitting shots. Clearly the defensive game plan called for having Jokic try to control the boards because the Wizards are a gunning team.

If you could sell out on a guy, wouldn’t it be the one shooting 30%?

There's truth to what you say, and I'm half just trolling, but Jokic just struggles to play meaningful defence at the best of times when teams are rim running.

[WhatTheBuck]

Admittedly I mostly just look at box scores.

But why do centers seem to have huge games against Jokic constantly?

Sarr career best game.

Don't be hard on yourself. Most Jokic fans just look at box scores too.

[Infinite Llamas]

Admittedly I mostly just look at box scores.

But why do centers seem to have huge games against Jokic constantly?

Sarr career best game.

Don't be hard on yourself. Most Jokic fans just look at box scores too.

Nah.

Most Jokic fans prefer to watch him because he’s such an inventive, offensive genius. It’s like watching Bob Ross paint something. The final painting is cool and all but it’s the sublime process of how it’s all created that accounts for the appeal.

Box scores simply don’t do Jokic justice.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Can Jokic overcome the mighty Wizards?

[WhatTheBuck]

Admittedly I mostly just look at box scores.

But why do centers seem to have huge games against Jokic constantly?

Sarr career best game.

Don't be hard on yourself. Most Jokic fans just look at box scores too.

Nah.

Most Jokic fans prefer to watch him because he’s such an inventive, offensive genius. It’s like watching Bob Ross paint something. The final painting is cool and all but it’s the sublime process of how it’s all created that accounts for the appeal.

Box scores simply don’t do Jokic justice.

If only there were defensive box score metrics available to really do him justice

[RB34]

Can Jokic overcome the mighty Wizards?

You should probably heed some of your own advice.

[kazyv]

we're getting close to unanimous MVP territory. Jokic and his Nuggets show time and time again that they aren't consistent enough to be in the MVP consideration.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Can Jokic overcome the mighty Wizards?

You should probably heed some of your own advice.

I’ll take that as a no.

[jg77]

Admittedly I mostly just look at box scores.

But why do centers seem to have huge games against Jokic constantly?

Sarr career best game.

Don't be hard on yourself. Most Jokic fans just look at box scores too.

Nah.

Most Jokic fans prefer to watch him because he’s such an inventive, offensive genius. It’s like watching Bob Ross paint something. The final painting is cool and all but it’s the sublime process of how it’s all created that accounts for the appeal.

Box scores simply don’t do Jokic justice.

That's what you see when he's handing the ball off?

[AleksandarN]

I think this is a great video of Shai. Love thinking basketball and Ben Taylor’s break down of the game. Whether you like SGA or not this is a great video

Watch on YouTube

[OkcSinceSGA]

I think this is a great video of Shai. Love thinking basketball and Ben Taylor’s break down of the game. Whether you like SGA or not this is a great video

Watch on YouTube

Love this channel. Thanks for sharing, watching.