Nikola Jokic’s defense earned him significant criticism, but the two-time MVP shut it down with scintillating play on that end in Game 3 vs. the Miami Heat.
NBA writer Mat Issa gave great insight into Jokic’s rim protection. “In Game 3, Nikola Jokic contested 11 shots within six feet of the rim and held the Heat to 36.4% on those attempts (per http://NBA.com). He had an awesome rim protection game. So much for him being a bad defender!”
In Game 3, Nikola Jokic contested 11 shots within six feet of the rim and held the Heat to 36.4% on those attempts (per https://t.co/J2cZKdb7vL).
He had an awesome rim protection game. So much for him being a bad defender! pic.twitter.com/HysRPbU2DU
— Mat Issa (@matissa15) June 8, 2023
The general consensus was that Jokic was subpar on defense and that meant he was vulnerable on that end, but the center upped the game on that front against the Heat.
Earlier, his teammate Aaron Gordon backed Jokic amid the flak. “I don’t care, Defensive Player of the Year. It doesn’t matter. And he was getting fouled. If you’re not fouling him, you’re not stopping him. And he was fouling him, and he was still getting buckets. They weren’t calling and-1s. He’s ridiculous.”
Now, Jokic’s defense is one of the things that the Heat will have to crack if they want to even up the series.
Mike Malone Calls Criticism Against Nikola Jokic A Hatchet Job
Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone wasn’t a pleased man when criticism around his star surfaced.
“Hatchet jobs are made about Nikola’s defense,” the Denver Nuggets coach said, according to Nuggets reporter Harrison Wind. The comments come on the back of the team’s blowout 107-88 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans during the regular season. “I don’t know who’s paying some of these people to write these articles. They’re just so one-sided,” Malone further added.
Jokic has been influential off the ball as well, and that has greatly benefited his teammates. Defensive lapses or not, his team is playing the brand of basketball that puts them in contention to be legitimate title contenders, and that’s more key than focusing on one aspect of his game.
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