Why is there silence after another Jokic embarrassing defeat?

[dballislife]

Owners and league can't be happier, i mean less games meas less chance of injuries.

[SpurNani]

Sorry to burst your bubble but most people here don't care about international basketball. What happens in Eurobasket is irrelevant to the NBA

If you hold the mantle of being the best player in the world, I don't care if it's a game of ping pong, all eyes will be on you and you will be judged.

LeBron James is 41 years old and there was just an 8 page thread on him because of a commercial. But that kind of spotlight and hate comes with being the best in the world for over 15 years.

Jokic has 3 MVPs and many feel like he should have even more then James, so yes any time he plays the game of basketball i am paying attention. I don't care if its Euro or NBA. I am noticing a disturbing trend when it comes to Jokic not impacting his team winning on the highest of levels. Many Serbians feel they are better off without him and don't view him as the most important player on the team. Thats not alarming to you for a guy some are saying is at a greater peak than Jordan/LeBron?

[SpurNani]

One and done tournaments have wonky results sometimes. Best not to over extrapolate from them…but haters gotta hate somehow, someway.

Jokic's last 3 NBA one and done playoff games, he has disappointed, too.

Game 7 vs Minny 2024 his team suffered the biggest collapse in game 7 history on his homecourt. 20 point 2nd half collapse

Game 7 vs Clippers 2025 he got off to a terrible start but his team luckily picked up the slack and blew the Clippers out before halftime.

Game 7 vs OKC 2025 Jokic gets locked up by 6'4 Alex Caruso. Only attempted one shot in the entire 2nd half vs OKC when team was already down 25+ points.

And let's not forget the Olympics when Jokic got destroyed multiple times in the clutch vs team USA when guarding one legged Embiid.

And now this latest disappointing defeat in win or go home game vs Finland, where they targeted him relentlessly in the 4th quarter and scored all their clutch baskets on him.

This is a trend for the supposed best player in the world and I am making everyone here aware of it. But it's Jokic so most will sweep it under the rug because he's not American and most only hate on great USA players.

[MarcusBrody]

I feel like we should agree to simply stop replying to threads like this. The Nuggets played in two great series last playoffs - winning one and losing one - and yet the game threads were essentially a wasteland because one poster - with maybe two supporters - wanted to trash talk Jokic at literally every opportunity. It was very similar to some previous posters and LeBron.

I'm all for people sharing their opinion, but after a certain point, it's probably prudent for the rest of us to acknowledge that nothing can dissuade them and just ignore the one negative topic posters and continue the discussion of the games in parallel.

[SpurNani]

I feel like we should agree to simply stop replying to threads like this. The Nuggets played in two great series last playoffs - winning one and losing one - and yet the game threads were essentially a wasteland because one poster - with maybe two supporters - wanted to trash talk Jokic at literally every opportunity. It was very similar to some previous posters and LeBron.

I'm all for people sharing their opinion, but after a certain point, it's probably prudent for the rest of us to acknowledge that nothing can dissuade them and just ignore the one negative topic posters and continue the discussion of the games in parallel.

Im all for discussion but the results are the results. I listened to a podcast meticulously break down every Finland 4th qtr possession and who they targeted - it was Jokic.

I kept up with EuroBasket because I am Basketball starved and I knew Serbia was heavy favorite heading into tournament.

It is worth a discussion when they are calling it the biggest upset of the century and it came at the expense of who many consider the best player in the world. Jokic coming up short has become a trend in the biggest games lately as I outlined above. I am simply asking where is the discussion when it comes to Jokic or are we just okay to turn blind eye to Jokic's failings because he is generally liked by most posters here?

[Capn'O]

Maybe five of us watched it

[SpurNani]

Finland has one active NBA player in Markkanen and he's empty stat tweener in the NBA.

Not interested in the Jokic hate agenda, others can address that if they want. But Markkanen isn't empty stats, he's just stuck on a terrible team.

And no one cares about "tweener" anymore in the era of positionless basketball.

Lauri can't defend guards, wings or bigs in NBA. Yeah he's a nice shooter and offensive player but he will forever be a tweener because of that.

[NO-KG-AI]

Y’all just have to learn to stop responding to obvious burners and previously banned posters.

[SpurNani]

Y’all just have to learn to stop responding to obvious burners and previously banned posters.

Never been banned or never had an alt account.

Haven't said one thing in this thread that is out of bounds, just making others aware of what Fiba is calling the biggest upset of the century and asking hard questions about who many consider the best player in the world.

[pepe1991]

He already was exposed by Caruso in game 7, when he was held scoreless in the second half of a game 7. As per these latest developments it seems Jokic is still recovering in shamble land.

Given disparity of talent among Nuggets and OKC, fact that Nuggets got to game 7 speaks everything you need to know about Jokić greatness.

Talking how Caruso "exposed" him is hilarious.

Disparity of talent:

Game 5.

Jokić: 44 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 17/25 FG= 68% FG, ( 4-7 for 3 =57%) , 5-5 FTs
Rest of a team: 61 points, 34 rebounds, 15 assists, 23/70 =32,8% FG, 8/39 for 3=20% & 7-8 FTs


OKC's production in very same game, without their best player, SGA:
81 points
37 rebounds
16 assists
29/59 FGA= 49% FG
11-26 for 3 = 42%
12-17 FTA

So let's just sum this up. Isolating production of both team's best players:
Okc scored 20 more points than Nuggets - while taking 11 shots less
Grabbed 3 more rebounds
Had 1 assist more
shot 16% FG better
shot 22% better from deep
drew near 50% more FTA


And this "second best Nuggets player", Jamal Murray, in this one in particular, had more fouls and turnovers (4) than assists (3) while shooting abysmal 10/27 FG on 3-13 for 3 , while max contract Porter shot 1-7 FG and had 4 rebounds ( 2 points total) in 30 min. Once again, like Murray, having more fouls than assists (4 vs 2).


When rosters for 2024-25 were set any person with IQ over 72 knew that Nuggets will struggle because they had no depth whatsoever. Winning 50 games with team with 6 guys even being at nba level is difficult task.


I have no horse in this race, being from country where i supposed to hate on Serbs i should probably be anti- Jokić. But Jokić is just amazing basketball player. Guy had triple double in battle for bronze at Olympics, beating active World Cup winners, Germany, being only 4th player in history of Olympics to record triple double.
Serbia, on other hand, without Bogdan, with Micić being just terrible, has no reliable ballhandler, and that costed them. There is just so much center at FIBA basketball can do if 3 possessions in a row, in close game, your teammate is shooting (and missing) stepback 3s. Gudurić thinking he is prime Kobe i guess.

I guess, you as Laker fan, just can't stand Jokić because every time you see him in playoffs, your team is already bringing broomsticks. But it's okey, look it from another perspective, Jokić helps you secure more free time for family and friends

[Lalouie]

i don't jump ship!

greatness is F***G greatness. centers don't generally control the rock,,great as jokic is - and there's the rub

maybe they should have let jokic literally do everything but i guess they didn't

[SpurNani]

He already was exposed by Caruso in game 7, when he was held scoreless in the second half of a game 7. As per these latest developments it seems Jokic is still recovering in shamble land.

Given disparity of talent among Nuggets and OKC, fact that Nuggets got to game 7 speaks everything you need to know about Jokić greatness.

Talking how Caruso "exposed" him is hilarious.

Disparity of talent:

Game 5.

Jokić: 44 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 17/25 FG= 68% FG, ( 4-7 for 3 =57%) , 5-5 FTs
Rest of a team: 61 points, 34 rebounds, 15 assists, 23/70 =32,8% FG, 8/39 for 3=20% & 7-8 FTs


OKC's production in very same game, without their best player, SGA:
81 points
37 rebounds
16 assists
29/59 FGA= 49% FG
11-26 for 3 = 42%
12-17 FTA

So let's just sum this up. Isolating production of both team's best players:
Okc scored 20 more points than Nuggets - while taking 11 shots less
Grabbed 3 more rebounds
Had 1 assist more
shot 16% FG better
shot 22% better from deep
drew near 50% more FTA


And this "second best Nuggets player", Jamal Murray, in this one in particular, had more fouls and turnovers (4) than assists (3) while shooting abysmal 10/27 FG on 3-13 for 3 , while max contract Porter shot 1-7 FG and had 4 rebounds ( 2 points total) in 30 min. Once again, like Murray, having more fouls than assists (4 vs 2).


When rosters for 2024-25 were set any person with IQ over 72 knew that Nuggets will struggle because they had no depth whatsoever. Winning 50 games with team with 6 guys even being at nba level is difficult task.


I have no horse in this race, being from country where i supposed to hate on Serbs i should probably be anti- Jokić. But Jokić is just amazing basketball player. Guy had triple double in battle for bronze at Olympics, beating active World Cup winners, Germany, being only 4th player in history of Olympics to record triple double.
Serbia, on other hand, without Bogdan, with Micić being just terrible, has no reliable ballhandler, and that costed them. There is just so much center at FIBA basketball can do if 3 possessions in a row, in close game, your teammate is shooting (and missing) stepback 3s. Gudurić thinking he is prime Kobe i guess.

I guess, you as Laker fan, just can't stand Jokić because every time you see him in playoffs, your team is already bringing broomsticks. But it's okey, look it from another perspective, Jokić helps you secure more free time for family and friends

Would you say the talent disparity between OKC and Denver in 2025 playoffs was bigger or equal to Serbia and Finland in EuroBasket? Denver had just won a championship 2 years prior with the same core.

[knicksfan974]

In this Eurobasket Lauri looks stronger than ever, and has been looking to attack the basket time after time, much like Giannis does. Lauri can be so much more than just a jump shooter also in the NBA. His talents are pretty much wasted if you just make him stand in the corner waiting to shoot the open three ball.

[Lalouie]

He already was exposed by Caruso in game 7, when he was held scoreless in the second half of a game 7. As per these latest developments it seems Jokic is still recovering in shamble land.

let's see 'em try it again

[SpurNani]

i don't jump ship!

greatness is F***G greatness. centers don't generally control the rock,,great as jokic is - and there's the rub

maybe they should have let jokic literally do everything but i guess they didn't

Well they let him try to defend in space and he was attacked relentlessly in the 4th qtr. https://youtu.be/K9JLo_2Zs94?si=0gbWQTgqKC1wgiwA

Just from that little highlight clip I count 16 points alone given up by the guy Jokic was responsible for in 4th qtr. Lazy late closeouts on 3s, slow footed and unable to guard in space on the perimeter. Loses his man several times when it's clutch time. Everybody on the team was going right at the best player in the world when it mattered the most. Guys who most never heard of.

Yeah Jokic put up his usual great stats on offense but what good is 33 points when you are giving up 20 points in one qtr with lazy defense.

[oversteerdawg]

Sure. Let's call a spade a spade on what Jokic is...the current best player in the world.

The current best player who can't get out the second round in NBA and can't lead his heavily favored national team past the round of 16 without Bogdan Bogdanovic

Was it a fever dream of mine when he won a chip?

[Tetlak]

Impact on winning?

He's won a title as the by and away best player on the team and been a major threat to win more.

Drop the weird narrative

[SpurNani]

Sure. Let's call a spade a spade on what Jokic is...the current best player in the world.

The current best player who can't get out the second round in NBA and can't lead his heavily favored national team past the round of 16 without Bogdan Bogdanovic

Was it a fever dream of mine when he won a chip?

Against arguably weakest field in NBA history, yes.

[Buckets22]

Because he is a lovable goof.

[pepe1991]

He already was exposed by Caruso in game 7, when he was held scoreless in the second half of a game 7. As per these latest developments it seems Jokic is still recovering in shamble land.

Given disparity of talent among Nuggets and OKC, fact that Nuggets got to game 7 speaks everything you need to know about Jokić greatness.

Talking how Caruso "exposed" him is hilarious.

Disparity of talent:

Game 5.

Jokić: 44 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 17/25 FG= 68% FG, ( 4-7 for 3 =57%) , 5-5 FTs
Rest of a team: 61 points, 34 rebounds, 15 assists, 23/70 =32,8% FG, 8/39 for 3=20% & 7-8 FTs


OKC's production in very same game, without their best player, SGA:
81 points
37 rebounds
16 assists
29/59 FGA= 49% FG
11-26 for 3 = 42%
12-17 FTA

So let's just sum this up. Isolating production of both team's best players:
Okc scored 20 more points than Nuggets - while taking 11 shots less
Grabbed 3 more rebounds
Had 1 assist more
shot 16% FG better
shot 22% better from deep
drew near 50% more FTA


And this "second best Nuggets player", Jamal Murray, in this one in particular, had more fouls and turnovers (4) than assists (3) while shooting abysmal 10/27 FG on 3-13 for 3 , while max contract Porter shot 1-7 FG and had 4 rebounds ( 2 points total) in 30 min. Once again, like Murray, having more fouls than assists (4 vs 2).


When rosters for 2024-25 were set any person with IQ over 72 knew that Nuggets will struggle because they had no depth whatsoever. Winning 50 games with team with 6 guys even being at nba level is difficult task.


I have no horse in this race, being from country where i supposed to hate on Serbs i should probably be anti- Jokić. But Jokić is just amazing basketball player. Guy had triple double in battle for bronze at Olympics, beating active World Cup winners, Germany, being only 4th player in history of Olympics to record triple double.
Serbia, on other hand, without Bogdan, with Micić being just terrible, has no reliable ballhandler, and that costed them. There is just so much center at FIBA basketball can do if 3 possessions in a row, in close game, your teammate is shooting (and missing) stepback 3s. Gudurić thinking he is prime Kobe i guess.

I guess, you as Laker fan, just can't stand Jokić because every time you see him in playoffs, your team is already bringing broomsticks. But it's okey, look it from another perspective, Jokić helps you secure more free time for family and friends

Would you say the talent disparity between OKC and Denver in 2025 playoffs was bigger or equal to Serbia and Finland in EuroBasket? Denver had just won a championship 2 years prior with the same core.

Bigger. it goes below radar how great OKC was. They won 68 games. Only 7 teams ever did it. Among 7 who did, 5 won a title (and 3 of 7 happened in 60s and 70s ). Historically good defense and top 3 offense.


Thing with Serbia is, like my Croatia, they are not as deep as people think. During second stage of qualification for Eurobasket, Serbia, without NBA players, they lost to Belgium- twice, beat Latvia by 1 but lost vs Latvia on a road 7. They were placed 3rd in group of 4 teams.

Once Bogdan got hurt and it was clear Micić is complete garbage ( guy stats: 4 ppg, 34% FG for a tournament, guy is former Euroleague MVP ) they pretty much ran out of guards capable of handling the ball.

Out of nowhere, those guys were asked to become point guards and scorers, and they were pooping pants whole tournament long:
Marko Gudurić - SG/SF = 6,3 ppg, 33% FG for tournament
Stefan Jović - SG/PG - 3,7 ppg - low usage 3 and D role player, not full time PG (btw, couldn't shoot 3s at all )
Avramović - combo gaurd- played well, but played under injections due achilles injury so didn't play second half

I think Serbia made wrong roster construction for a tournament, like France. Brought too many bigs, too many specific role players that need to be set, and once things rolled in wrong direction ( Bogdan injury) whole thing went downhill fast. Imo pairing Nikola Jović and Jokić is terrible idea for defense.

Serbia knew that losing to Turkey will send them to hard side of bracket ( originally thinking it will be : Sweden, France, Germany on road to finals). So that game had all the big stakes for Serbia to win. But they just lost. Not that they played anything special vs Portugal nor Latvia, matter of fact they could have lost that Latvia game, if Latvia didn't miss what, 3 or 4 -threes in a row in last min.


Nuggets team that won a title had several men deeper roster than one from last year ( KCP, Green, younger version of Deandre, Bruce Brown, Reggie Jackson ). Brown averaged 12ppg in playoffs for title run. I guess that's why they brought him back now

Overall, basketball is team sport. Blaming or praising one man for everything is dumb.

just to see what other Serbian players did, i think this is epic:



What more he could have did? Officiate and coach games as well? Be coach- player? Play point guard and center and set pick& rolls for himself?

Guy led team in 5/6 categories and was 2# in only one that he didn't lead.