RRR3 wrote:EPM generally has Jokic as a slightly above average defender. Wouldn’t say it ranks him as good. I use a combination but I don’t trust defensive stats.
I think slightly above average in regular season is fair for jokic
Albeit i would argue slightly above average is mediocre for a center (centers -usually-average to be positive defenders in stats that evaluate across all positions, just like guards usually average to be below average in defensive value) so jokic being a small plus is pretty average
(Granted being even average per position while carryng such a offensive load is pretty decent)
I just think jokic defense is more vulnerable in playoffs, against better teams in a series context that it is in regular season and even his historical offense seems to lost a bit of value against good playoff level teams (while still being probably the #1 offensive player ib the current league landscape)
I dont think is a coincidence jokic volume and efficiency both take big hits against top 10 teams this year (and yes, part of why they can force him to take a hit is the lack of other on ball creators outside murray who is not a great decision maker, but i think not being a main ballhandler makes it somewhat easier to force him to defer and take him out of the play) who can both sell out to defend his scoring without allowing him easy assists either
Is why i think for regular season jokic is in the short list of goat peaks (as data shows) but for playoffs, like most other players, he takes a small hit to "merely" mvp tier if that makes sense
