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So maybe Nikola Jokic, in addition to being arguably the best player in the NBA, among the best big men in the history of the game and a perennial MVP candidate should also add head coach to the resume. With due respect to interim David Adelman, who replaced the fired Michael Malone three games before the end of the regular season, it sure looks like Jokic is the guy marshalling the Nuggets' forces.
On Monday night in Oklahoma City, facing the enormously favored Thunder, Jokic summoned another great performance to secure a Game 1 win, 121-119. He logged 42 points with 22 rebounds and six assists, and Aaron Gordon scored 22 points--including the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds to play, completing a comeback after trailing by 11 points with 4:32 to play.
“I never felt like anybody wavered,” Adelman said. “And that doesn’t mean you’re going to win the game. But we all know in the NBA playoffs these games are so long. You just try to give yourself a chance. We did that.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
During the game, though, it was a video of Jokic on the sideline that captured the attention of fans. In it, he was vocally--with the help of a lot of arm-waving--imploring his teammates to play better after they fell behind, 46-39, with 5:05 to go in the first half.
"Jokić trying to get the guys going in Game 1," the NBA wrote in an X post highlighting the video.
The popular parody account "Hater Report" wrote on Twitter/X, "Bruh I’m NEVER going to stop laughing at this (expletive). The Nuggets fired Michael Malone and now Nikola Jokic gotta coach the team too. LMAOO Bro literally has to do EVERYTHING HIMSELF."
Denver radio host Zach Bye wrote, "You’ll never see a group of NBA players hang on every word from another player like you’ll see here. Jokic has taken total control. Maybe indirectly through a late season firing but we’ve asked to see this level of ownership for years & we’re seeing it."
"That's Coach Jokic to you," Complex Sports posted.
One fan wrote: "Remember when people said he didn’t care? THIS is the kind of leadership people expect from a franchise player. You taking notes KD? Kawhi? Harden?"
And another noted, "If they win a chip with no coach jokic the goat."
We're only one game in, of course, and the Thunder won 68 games this year. Game 2 wil be played in OKC on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.
Continue reading...
On Monday night in Oklahoma City, facing the enormously favored Thunder, Jokic summoned another great performance to secure a Game 1 win, 121-119. He logged 42 points with 22 rebounds and six assists, and Aaron Gordon scored 22 points--including the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds to play, completing a comeback after trailing by 11 points with 4:32 to play.
“I never felt like anybody wavered,” Adelman said. “And that doesn’t mean you’re going to win the game. But we all know in the NBA playoffs these games are so long. You just try to give yourself a chance. We did that.”
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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
During the game, though, it was a video of Jokic on the sideline that captured the attention of fans. In it, he was vocally--with the help of a lot of arm-waving--imploring his teammates to play better after they fell behind, 46-39, with 5:05 to go in the first half.
"Jokić trying to get the guys going in Game 1," the NBA wrote in an X post highlighting the video.
The popular parody account "Hater Report" wrote on Twitter/X, "Bruh I’m NEVER going to stop laughing at this (expletive). The Nuggets fired Michael Malone and now Nikola Jokic gotta coach the team too. LMAOO Bro literally has to do EVERYTHING HIMSELF."
Denver radio host Zach Bye wrote, "You’ll never see a group of NBA players hang on every word from another player like you’ll see here. Jokic has taken total control. Maybe indirectly through a late season firing but we’ve asked to see this level of ownership for years & we’re seeing it."
"That's Coach Jokic to you," Complex Sports posted.
One fan wrote: "Remember when people said he didn’t care? THIS is the kind of leadership people expect from a franchise player. You taking notes KD? Kawhi? Harden?"
And another noted, "If they win a chip with no coach jokic the goat."
We're only one game in, of course, and the Thunder won 68 games this year. Game 2 wil be played in OKC on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.
Continue reading...
