Nuggets have a 0-4 record in the playoffs when Jokic scores 40+ points

[bdonovan]

Steve Kerr on Draymond’s post-game 2 show: “What Miami did tonight… they said let’s make Jokic a scorer and take away other people”

Nuggets have lost all 4 games in the playoffs when Jokic scores over 40. 3 of those 4 were this year.

Time and again I see people here thinking far too tactically about why teams win or lose. Basketball is not a game of stats. If you go there looking for the answer, usually you see outcomes, not causes.

Team play precedes individual stats, so does momentum from one side of the floor to the other. What happens when you isolate Jokic from his teammates, forcing him to score? 2 things. First, you erode team play from the Nuggets and that shows up on the defensive end in lack of Nuggets cohesion in contesting shots, leaving Miami wide open time and again.

Second, you enhance Miami's team cohesion in the work needed to isolate Jokic, specifically working together to deny the pass from Jokic to his teammates. You then see enhanced cohesion from Miami on the offensive end.

The reason NBA coaches like Kerr recognize the larger strategy of whats involved is because they are thinking big picture, unlike many of you. To you, some times teams have good shooting days, sometimes they have bad days, it's that simple! But you're not thinking of WHY that's the case, and it usually has to do with team cohesion, open vs. contested looks, ball movement and the like. Defense and offense are much more related than you think (or take a look at "cross-matchups" on Thinking Basketball).

In a media interview, Heat coach Eric Spoelstra DENIED that the Heat's strategy was to turn Jokic into a scorer. Yet his explanation made no sense. He claimed that Jokic is a great player and shouldn't be disrespected. That wasn't the question. It's clear to me that Spoelstra as a coach knows he's onto something and doesn't want to give away the game.

Expect the Heat to do the same thing in Game 3.

[ShawkFactory]

We get it, you don't like Jokic.

[tontoz]

OP doesn't understand that correlation does not equal causation.

When Joker's teammates are scoring well, like early in game 1, Joker takes fewer shots. When they are struggling he will try to carry the team by taking more shots.

Denver had an ORTG of 126 in game 2 which is elite. Joker scored 41 with a TS of 65%. That doesn't equate to good defense from the Heat.

The Heat won by shooting 17-35 from 3.

[Carbine]

OP doesn't understand that correlation does not equal causation.

When Joker's teammates are scoring well, like early in game 1, Joker takes fewer shots. When they are struggling he will try to carry the team by taking more shots.

Denver had an ORTG of 126 in game 2 which is elite. Joker scored 41 with a TS of 65%. That doesn't equate to good defense from the Heat.

The Heat won by shooting 17-35 from 3.

Exactly, Denver's offense was not a problem. It was Miami hitting 3s they normally would not, they were amongst the worst shooting team in the NBA from deep this year.

Basketball is not some complicated thing. Porter Jr missed a shot that he normally would make, Duncan made a 3 he normally would not off a dribble Iso and that's the difference in the game. Literally.

[Overdrive]

Steve Kerr on Draymond’s post-game 2 show: “What Miami did tonight… they said let’s make Jokic a scorer and take away other people”

Nuggets have lost all 4 games in the playoffs when Jokic scores over 40. 3 of those 4 were this year.

Time and again I see people here thinking far too tactically about why teams win or lose. Basketball is not a game of stats. If you go there looking for the answer, usually you see outcomes, not causes.

Team play precedes individual stats, so does momentum from one side of the floor to the other. What happens when you isolate Jokic from his teammates, forcing him to score? 2 things. First, you erode team play from the Nuggets and that shows up on the defensive end in lack of Nuggets cohesion in contesting shots, leaving Miami wide open time and again.

Second, you enhance Miami's team cohesion in the work needed to isolate Jokic, specifically working together to deny the pass from Jokic to his teammates. You then see enhanced cohesion from Miami on the offensive end.

The reason NBA coaches like Kerr recognize the larger strategy of whats involved is because they are thinking big picture, unlike many of you. To you, some times teams have good shooting days, sometimes they have bad days, it's that simple! But you're not thinking of WHY that's the case, and it usually has to do with team cohesion, open vs. contested looks, ball movement and the like. Defense and offense are much more related than you think (or take a look at "cross-matchups" on Thinking Basketball).

In a media interview, Heat coach Eric Spoelstra DENIED that the Heat's strategy was to turn Jokic into a scorer. Yet his explanation made no sense. He claimed that Jokic is a great player and shouldn't be disrespected. That wasn't the question. It's clear to me that Spoelstra as a coach knows he's onto something and doesn't want to give away the game.

Expect the Heat to do the same thing in Game 3.

The illtimed switches on off ball screens killed them. Leaving shooters wide open. Yes, bringing Love and putting Butler on Murray prevented Denver from shifting the scoring load away from Jokic, but Porter missed easy buckets and gave up easy looks aswell. He hits 2 more jumpers, Denver wins.

[FultzNationRISE]

OP doesn't understand that correlation does not equal causation.

When Joker's teammates are scoring well, like early in game 1, Joker takes fewer shots. When they are struggling he will try to carry the team by taking more shots.

Denver had an ORTG of 126 in game 2 which is elite. Joker scored 41 with a TS of 65%. That doesn't equate to good defense from the Heat.

The Heat won by shooting 17-35 from 3.

This.

Also, the Nuggets now have their turn to adjust. If they see something in Miami’s scheme that they think caused them to struggle, they wont just bang their head against the wall. Theyll look to come up with new answers.

Denver is 0-4 when hes scores 40 and theyve played 4 series so far. That means basically every series included a high scoring Jokic loss.

And yet here they are with a 13-4 record. Does OP think this is the first time a team thought of this idea? Clearly it’s a lot easier said than done.

The Heat may yet pull the upset, nobody knows. Literally the only thing we can be certain of is that OP is deranged and is furiously praying to his personal God that Jokic fails simply because Jokic is white.

What a nut.

[Axe]

So? It doesn't mean that he's not the real mvp. And his team still made it to the playoffs while murray and mpj were both injured before at least.

OP doesn't understand that correlation does not equal causation.

When Joker's teammates are scoring well, like early in game 1, Joker takes fewer shots. When they are struggling he will try to carry the team by taking more shots.

Denver had an ORTG of 126 in game 2 which is elite. Joker scored 41 with a TS of 65%. That doesn't equate to good defense from the Heat.

The Heat won by shooting 17-35 from 3.

Sounds like you-know-who, uncle. ;)

[tontoz]

So? It doesn't mean that he's not the real mvp. And his team still made it to the playoffs while murray and mpj were both injured before at least.


Sounds like you-know-who, uncle. ;)

I already saw you bring up your daddy's name in the thread about OP saying he might be Billy Donovan. You are obviously dying to do it again you just can't help yourself.

[Axe]

So? I mean it was just an honest observation, after all. Judging by how he still wanted the warriors to win badly before.

[tontoz]

So? I mean it was just an honest observation, after all. Judging by how he still wanted the warriors to win badly before.

Doesn't matter what the thread is about. Your daddy is always on your mind so you are always looking for a reason to bring him up.

[Axe]

Rofl seething.

[tontoz]

Rofl seething.

Can't you at least come up with a word other than what RRR3 always uses?

[Duffy Pratt]

If KCP hadn’t made two bone-headed fouls on three point shots, no-one would be talking about Spolstra’s genius today. It was a close game. Denver came out flat. Miami was on fire from outside. Miami solved their mismatch problem by playing Love, which also allowed Butler to switch to Murray. There was a horrendous non-call on a goal tending. Porter has turned into a liability, which could change on a dime.

With almost every chance factor going in Miami’s direction, they barely managed to eke out the win. Maybe they can do that three more times. If they do, they definitely will have deserved the win. But remember, if Denver comes out and tears them apart in Miami, everyone who can only see the results of the latest game will again do a 180 degree switch on their opinions, while insisting that they’ve always been right all along. Sports commentary is so awful.

[RRR3]

Can't you at least come up with a word other than what RRR3 always uses?

Rent free

[Heat_chips]

Exactly, Denver's offense was not a problem. It was Miami hitting 3s they normally would not,.

Wut? The Heat shot better in multiple games vs Boston in the playoffs (more makes and more attempts in those games), and in games vs the Bucks. Look up the game logs. This is totally normal for the Heat.

And like i said in another thread,

The Heat were the #1 three point shooting team last season with the same roster. just replace PJ tucker for Kevin Love. its the same team. Not a fluke whatsoever when you've been the best at it over the course of an entire recent season. The Golden state Warriors won 4 titles by shooting great from 3 and playing great defense, and playing smart disciplined basketball. Just like the Heat. The Heat are just like that