The Denver Nuggets are 44-28 on the season, currently occupying the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference in what’s been an injury-riddled season for the franchise. MVP candidate Nikola Jokic has done everything he can to carry the team as much as he can, but even he’s been forced to miss time with injury, currently at-risk of becoming ineligible for awards if he misses even one more of the Nuggets’ remaining 10 games this season.
Jokic needs to play to secure his All-NBA nod but also to ensure the Nuggets can have the best position in the standings. They’re two games behind the No. 3 seed LA Lakers, while being tied with the No. 5 Minnesota Timberwolves, and just half a game ahead of the No. 6 Houston Rockets. Jokic has to play meaningful regular-season basketball over the next month, which has left the Nuggets concerned.
ESPN’s Marc Spears revealed that the Nuggets are concerned with how opponents are defending Jokic on the court. Their increased physicality against the 31-year-old Serbian center has the team worried, but Jokic has managed to thrive despite such defensive strategies in recent games.
“I’m actually hearing that the Nuggets are a little concerned about how he’s being defended of late. Teams are guarding him 18 feet from the basket, leaning on his legs, fronting him, putting their arms around him, but he’s still figuring out a way to ball.”
Jokic is averaging 28.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.6 assists this season, on pace to become only the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook (4x) in incredibly rare air in league history.
Jokic is averaging 25.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.6 assists over the last 10 games, proving that he can break down almost any defensive challenge thrown at him. The question is if his body can withstand punishment from this point in the season and last till June without breaking down? The Nuggets have championship expectations, so safeguarding Jokic for the Playoffs will also be a key requirement for Denver.
The team has had extended stretches this season without key players. Jamal Murray has missed five games, Aaron Gordon has missed 42 games, Christian Braun has missed 36 games, and Peyton Watson has missed 22 games. The team can’t withstand another major absence if they want to live up to their preseason status as the best contenders to dethrone the OKC Thunder.
Jokic is aware of what the team needs on their side heading into the final 10 games of the season. He emphasized the requirement of good health and reiterated to all his teammates that they all have to make sacrifices in order to compete for a championship.
“We definitely need to stay healthy and get collectively in one direction and get everyone on board,” Jokic stated. “Sacrifice if you need to sacrifice and play harder if you need to play harder. Whatever needs to be [done]. We only have 10 more games.”
Jokic will certainly be sacrificing his health by playing extended minutes after rushing back from an hgamstring injury earlier this season. With opposing defenders using physicality to try and slow Jokic down, he is at-risk of both getting hurt and playing selfish basketball in a bid to protect his health.
Hopefully, the Nuggets can find ways to make sure Jokic is protected on the court while maximizing the wins they can get over their remaining 10 fixtures, starting with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
