Which player (all time) can replace Jokic on THIS Nuggets team? +1

[elementally morale]

Resulting in a better team?

Everything is the same. Players, coaching staff and 2023 officiating. Who can replace Jokic for this Nugget team to become better than they are now? Walton? Bird? Any form of MJ or LeBron? I think neither... but I'm curious as to what you think.


+1
If you are the Heat how would you play the Nuggets? I'd ask Butler to really really shot down Murray and be a defender first and second, with occasional scoring. There is no way stopping Jokic. Can the zone work in the halfcourt? How would you stop transition baskets? Etc.

[FultzNationRISE]

Lebron.

Shaq.

Lebron.

Andddd… probably Lebron.

[AlternativeAcc.]

Well, it'd be hard to replace a Center with a forward on a team built around their Center

Bill Walton would be a good fit, gives you that playmaking and elite rim protection. But wouldn't make a better team.


Peak Shaq would be great, Him and Murray would be Shaq/Kobe 2.0. About the only guy I see potentially making them better.

[BarberSchool]

All of these big men could get a similar W/L total and level of overall success with the same roster:

They would just do it differently, some with less assists but much better defense.

Others with a very similar style.

Etc


Hakeem

Prime Dad Sabonis

Kareem

Prime Robinson

Prime Shaq

Pre-injury, blotter of acid in his headband Walton.

[elementally morale]

Lebron.

Shaq.


You need a player, who is a great playmaker (LeBron is) and can play center effectively (Shaq can). I'd choose Magic over these players, I think. On the other hand, you may go for a player who does not contribute as much on offense but is still a very good playmaker while being a lot better defensively (I come up empty right now). LeBron would end up being not much better on defense as he would have to defend centers all game long. It's tough replacing Jokic. Hakeem? Duncan? I don't know.

[elementally morale]

If you are the Heat how would you play the Nuggets?

[elementally morale]

Hakeem

Prime Dad Sabonis

Kareem

Prime Robinson

Prime Shaq

Pre-injury, blotter of acid in his headband Walton.

Hakeem is a maybe. On defense, sure. On offense he would be up there in scoring and perhaps efficiency but playmaking should be delegated. At least Hakeem can run.
Kareem? More of the same.
Prime Robinson? A bit worse than the other two.
Prime Shaq? Yes, I can imagine that.
Walton? He was my first guess. I'm not sure but he was the first who came to mind.
Prime Arvydas Sabonis is absolutely possible but that was in the 80s and I haven't seen enough footage. Defense and points absolutely, playmaking... same issue as with most of the others.

Jokic is a threat form 3 and is great to have if you want spacing. Pulling the defending center out is key here. It is really tough replacing Jokic.

[AlternativeAcc.]

If you are the Heat how would you play the Nuggets?

I think the Heat have the best zone defense in the NBA, but the Nuggets typically destroy zone defense. I think you have to force the ball out of Jokic's hands and make the role players beat you. Can't give Murray easy looks so any time they screen for him they need to switch immediately or fight through and not let him get any good looks.

Make Porter, Gordon, and Pope beat you from 3. Don't let Jokic dominate the paint and have Bam in foul trouble every game.

[iamgine]

Definitely resulting in a better team? I'd say no one. His level right now is just that high.

People tend to have false memories of all time great dominating all the time when they simply didn't. Peak Shaq had moments where he scored 20 ish pts on bad percentage against Vlade Divac for multiple games. Even worse against Sabonis. He's not as unstoppable as people claimed. I've also seen Larry Bird went for a long time without touching the ball in an important playoff game.

[elementally morale]

Definitely resulting in a better team? I'd say no one. His level right now is just that high.

I have a hard time imagining anyone being better for this team because the next best playmaker after Jokic is at least two tiers below. Maybe 3. And you have to have someone orchestrating the team while at the same time being capable of playing center. If you go for the latter and defense, the team as an overall unit will suffer due to lack of high level playmaking. I doubt Murray is enough. Walton, Bird, Shaq and Magic are my best guesses, I think. Prime LeBron? Peak Hakeem? I dunno.

[Im Still Ballin]

Pre-injuries mythologized Arvydas Sabonis. Big, athletic, long, skilled. Strong improvements on defense; a lightweight version of Jokic on offense.

[elementally morale]

I think the Heat have the best zone defense in the NBA, but the Nuggets typically destroy zone defense. I think you have to force the ball out of Jokic's hands and make the role players beat you. Can't give Murray easy looks so any time they screen for him they need to switch immediately or fight through and not let him get any good looks.

Make Porter, Gordon, and Pope beat you from 3. Don't let Jokic dominate the paint and have Bam in foul trouble every game.

Containing both Murray and Jokic at the same time is a tall order. I believe Butler can shit down Murray but if he does he won't be much of a factor on offense. I also don't really see Bam having much success on the offensive end. Jokic is much bigger and Bam's hands and touch are just not that great plus he isn't the athletic freak or outside shooter to cause much trouble. Defending Jokic on the other hand... you use... who? Adebayo on his own will result in him fouling out or playing with 4-5 fouls for a half. The best defense on Jokic so far was Hachimura+LeBron in tandem. But the Heat don't have two such players. Jokic being a lot taller than the Heat team will result in lots of point and overhead passes, I think.

I'm curious as to what coach Spo will try.

[Charlie Sheen]

+1
If you are the Heat how would you play the Nuggets? I'd ask Butler to really really shot down Murray and be a defender first and second, with occasional scoring. There is no way stopping Jokic. Can the zone work in the halfcourt? How would you stop transition baskets? Etc.

The Nuggets are not a Shaq and Kobe offense. I don't see this playing out like the 2004 Finals. Murrays fantastic playoff run is fueled by making the correct decisions within the flow of the offense. Try this strategy and I see it playing out like the 2007 finals in a sweep with Murray in position to win a fmvp like tony parker when the cavs put lebron on him.

[Akeem34TheDream]

Heat should try to force a switch with Jokic on guards, especially Butler. They should keep raining down 3s(lol). Jokic handles the ball a lot, maybe they can go for sneaky steals? They are very good at that but Jokic is also very good at reading defenses and responding quickly so idk. DO NOT PLAY ZONE. Don't double Jokic. Also don't give huge minutes to Herro right away if he comes back. That might hurt imo. I think Nuggets got this but Heat can make it very tough for them.

[elementally morale]

The Nuggets are not a Shaq and Kobe offense. I don't see this playing out like the 2004 Finals. Murrays fantastic playoff run is fueled by making the correct decisions within the flow of the offense. Try this strategy and I see it playing out like the 2007 finals in a sweep with Murray in position to win a fmvp like tony parker when the cavs put lebron on him.

I can see your point. Don't necessarily agree. No, it isn't like Kobe&Shaq. But you should try to slow at least one of them down or play zone defense... that's what first came to mind. But a zone probably won't be effective.

Anyway: What would you do then if you think my strategy is futile?

[Foster5k]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Nuggets would be title locks for foreseeable future. Aint nobody taking Joker over Kareem.

Michael Jordan - Not a plug and play like Kareem. However, add the most unstoppable force on offense the league has ever seen to any current NBA team, and they become instant contenders. Trade Murray for some pieces to surround Jordan. Make a few more tweaks, and the Nuggets become title locks for the foreseeable future.

LeBron James - I mean, we all know the history. Not to mention, a 38-year-old LeBron dropped 40 on this very Nuggets team. He was one torn tendon away from pushing the series to its limits, and who knows what would have happened after that? All of this at 38 YEARS OLD! Now, imagine what peak LeBron would do. Setting aside all the jokes and hate, peak LeBron is a force of nature. Adding him to the Nuggets, making trades, tweaks, and championships would come sooner or later. It would only be a matter of when, not if.


That's my top 3.

[Charlie Sheen]

I can see your point. Don't necessarily agree. No, it isn't like Kobe&Shaq. But you should try to slow at least one of them down or play zone defense... that's what first came to mind. But a zone probably won't be effective.

Anyway: What would you do then if you think my strategy is futile?

If it aint broke dont fix it. Find out what you have before making a radical change. I dont like the timing. Save it for an in series adjustment when it becomes necessary.

[tpols]

Larry Bird or Magic Johnson.

It would need to be an elite teammate elevator and also a physically imposing player. Those are the only two that'd have a chance.

[FultzNationRISE]

Larry Bird or Magic Johnson.

It would need to be an elite teammate elevator and also a physically imposing player. Those are the only two that'd have a chance.

Le.

King.

James.

[tpols]

DO NOT PLAY ZONE. Don't double Jokic.


They're getting burned with either of these options as a choice. Only way to beat the Nuggets is with man defense, double Jokic with AG's man, and force Gordon to beat you. It's easier said than done in the scramble though.

[elementally morale]

If it aint broke dont fix it. Find out what you have before making a radical change. I dont like the timing. Save it for an in series adjustment when it becomes necessary.

Okay, it ain't broke but as the playoffs is a question of matchups, you have to have an initial strategy. I think I missed the games in the regular season between these two teams, so I have no idea how the Heat played the Nuggets this year. Do you remember that?

[elementally morale]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Nuggets would be title locks for foreseeable future. Aint nobody taking Joker over Kareem.

Michael Jordan - Not a plug and play like Kareem. However, add the most unstoppable force on offense the league has ever seen to any current NBA team, and they become instant contenders. Trade Murray for some pieces to surround Jordan. Make a few more tweaks, and the Nuggets become title locks for the foreseeable future.

LeBron James - I mean, we all know the history. Not to mention, a 38-year-old LeBron dropped 40 on this very Nuggets team. He was one torn tendon away from pushing the series to its limits, and who knows what would have happened after that? All of this at 38 YEARS OLD! Now, imagine what peak LeBron would do. Setting aside all the jokes and hate, peak LeBron is a force of nature. Adding him to the Nuggets, making trades, tweaks, and championships would come sooner or later. It would only be a matter of when, not if.


That's my top 3.

You can't make trades in this hypothetical scenario, sry. That leaves you with Kareem. I'm not sure I'm convinced. Lack of playmaking. I might be wrong though.

[tpols]

You can't make trades in this hypothetical scenario, sry. That leaves you with Kareem. I'm not sure I'm convinced. Lack of playmaking. I might be wrong though.

You're not wrong. Kareem never came close to winning anything without GOAT playmakers by his side. He himself produced on a GOAT level but he didn't rally teammates or enhance the whole.

[Charlie Sheen]

Okay, it ain't broke but as the playoffs is a question of matchups, you have to have an initial strategy. I think I missed the games in the regular season between these two teams, so I have no idea how the Heat played the Nuggets this year. Do you remember that?

No idea how those games went either. I could look it up, but I would just be feeding you some garbage analysis based off box scores :lol

For me the priority is establishing a baseline and make adjustments from there. I do not place that much value on regular season matchups anymore for a number of reasons...load management, attention from the coaching staff, to name a few. I would not use that as my baseline to make adjustments from before the series started... does not mean i am correct just explaining where i am coming from. My initial strategy would be to continue playing Miami's base defense. I do not think you are being unreasonable. Heat should be thinking about this stuff and prepared with solutions to counter everything they can come up with.

[Charlie Sheen]

Without realizing it... earlier I was factoring in Jimmy wearing down over the 2020 finals because he took on too much of the load himself.

Also I do not think your strategy is futile. The analysis and conclusion are reasonable. I was just disagreeing, did not mean to come across that strong. :cheers: