MarcusBrody wrote:Exp0sed wrote:LakersSoul wrote:
Norm?
Its all about Kawhi, Harden plus Zubac.
On the other side, Joker, Murray plus Braun/Gordon/Porter.
Yeah, the way the Nuggets defense works, Jokic obviously can't close out to the 3 pt. line quickly and\or recover and in time and by default they choose to concede the shot,to conserve Jokic's energy, avoid fouling and have him be in a rebounding position, rather than closing out late which puts him out of position and he's too slow to step out and really bother the shooter anyways. They usually concede the outside shot and the mid-range shot
With Zu crashing the offensive glass it's even more important as neither AG or MPJ can really box him out or even bother him down low
If Powell can make those shots not just consistently but also at a large volume, the Nuggets default strategy will fail
Zu sets mean screens and outside of Braun the Nuggets are very deficient in guards (or players) that can navigate well through screens
Powell will have alot of open looks
Btw, Powell has consistently been lighting up this Denver core, well before he was a Clipper0
This was true the last few years and the beginning of this year, but given KCP's absence and the inability of Denver's current perimeter players to navigate screens effectively, Denver has had Jokic come much higher and stay with the ball handler longer (sometimes doubling) in the second half of the season. To my eye, it hasn't been very effective. Jokic is much better in that drop role where his good hands and reading of the pass can be utilized rather than on the perimeter where his speed is an issue and it requires the other Nuggets to make much more dramatic rotations. Murray and MPJ have never been noted for their great rotations, but Gordon has looked much more likely than previous to fall asleep for some reason. Then - as you note - Jokic pushing up means he's away from the rim so the Nuggets give up more offensive rebounds.
Harden is one of the best ever at using that high screen to torture switching bigs and draw fouls, so i'm really interested to see how the Nuggets approach this.
I watch alot of Nuggets games during the Jokic era. Jokic being high on the screen isn't a new thing, it came and went and also matchup dependant
In order for Jokic to concievably be high on the screen vs. the Clips - the Nuggets will have to change their starting lineup
Maybd that's something we'll see if they'll be down 0-2 or at the halftime of game two if they're down one and behind
What i mean is, that Zu has been rolling very aggresively to the basket, like a, knocking guys in his way over. Harden is one of the GOAT lob pasers, both in terms of placement and timing\"connection" with the rolling big. If Jokic is high on the screen, he uses his i.q, hands and playing the angles to deny the entry pass but since Zu is so big and rolls very aggresively and because Harden can throw any pass and is automatic with the lob - Jokic isn't going to have the time to recover. thus imo, this strategy isn't viable for the Nuggets vs. the Clippers
If they go with Watson instead of Murray (if he's sucking or his injury is acting up) or perhaps MPJ if he's getting lost defensively and Watson cheats off shooters lurking to help down low, to break up the lob or at least provide some sort of contest at the rim when Zu catches it deep, then...maybe but in their usual starting unit I just don't think it's viable
Either way, Nuggets will mix looks and coverages cuz that's just how it's done in 2025, you can't give a player like Harden the same coverage on every posesion
But mostly I think they'll at least begin the series daring Harden to hit 3's, mid range shots\floaters or go to the cup meaning: they'll dare him to attack the drop
If he capitalizes on that and punishes them, we'll see which adjustments Adelman can muster up
Jokic high hedges put pressure on mediocre ball handlers and passers but Harden is an elite ball handler and passer that probably has the most muscle memory and experience as a pnr ball handler since Stockton and he can make the right read and execute the right pass in his sleep
Sent from my SM-A055F using
RealGM mobile app
