Game 51: Houston Rockets (29-21) @ Denver Nuggets (35-15) - 10:00 PM ET

[Sgt Major]

Who taught Jokic to constantly pop out and double on defense? I'm not a fan of that really, his guy often stays alone for an easy jumper or a layup. Now, there's probably a stat to back that up, so maybe I'm not seeing the point, but I'd still like him not to do it.

On another note, that's a great statement win! Denver started the game the same way they did in the previous matchup with Houston, but quickly changed the pace and shots were going in, which is the only way to defeat the Rockets - use their own weapons against them. Props to Beasley, he has done a hell of a job.

[Mickey8]

What the hell you talking about ???

[NuggetsWY]

Who taught Jokic to constantly pop out and double on defense? I'm not a fan of that really, his guy often stays alone for an easy jumper or a layup. Now, there's probably a stat to back that up, so maybe I'm not seeing the point, but I'd still like him not to do it.

I believe they said it was the way Jokic wanted to play off the picks. They call it "edging". I'm not a big fan of it, but Denver seems to like it as an attempt to reduce 3pt shots. The problem, as you point out, is leaving a man with an open path to the basket and our wing defenders are not real good at covering.

What's worse is when Plumlee does the same thing. It's worse because Jokic seems fairly decent at releasing and getting back to his man but Plumlee seems to like the challenge of trying to stop the guards one-on-one (and while he's not terrible for a big man, he's also not very good at that IMO).

[Sgt Major]

Yeah and Jokic is usually leaving his man only when he's popping out to prevent the opponent behind the 3pt line to shoot or pass, while Plumlee is regularly doing that while he's in the paint, doubling up when not necessary, leaving his man for an easy dunk, as it happened several times yesterday. Jokic kinda tries to intimidate the rival and then return to his guy, so that makes some sense, but Plumlee really needs to stop doing that.

What the hell you talking about ???

I'll try to cut out a sequence from some highlights video or tonight's game to show you what I'm referring to.

[Maf]

What a Win!!! After 1st q I thought Rockets just can't miss any shot. Since than Nuggets went crazy. Jokič, Beasley, Craig, Morris... awesome. If I was at this game I probably wouldn't sit down since start of the 2nd q and would be jumping there like crazy.

Ok, let's be negative for a change. Didn't like Barton tonight. Seemed kinda selfish to me. And Lyles played like Lyles again but that's nothing new.

I didn't see Barton as selfish - mostly because he wasn't chucking shots all over.

I know he didn't take many shots but some of them were forced and not in a flow. Just to be clear, this is first time I said I didn't like Barton's game this year.

And probably it's caused by everyone else playing awesome so his average play might looked to me worse then it was.