The Joker and The Nuggets
The Joker and The Nuggets
On Saturday, Jokic delivered an impressive performance, scoring 56 points, securing 16 rebounds, and providing 8 assists in a seven-point defeat to Washington. The following day, he continued his remarkable form with 48 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists in a 30-point victory over a formidable Atlanta team. Over these two games, he accumulated a total of 104 points, 30 rebounds, and 16 assists. Not elite numbers but rather historic.
NBA History
Only three players in NBA history have achieved the feat of scoring at least 45 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists in consecutive games, with Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor being the other two.
Legends
Jokic has now become the 26th player in NBA history to surpass 100 points in a two-game span, joining the ranks of legends such as Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, and Michael Jordan. He is once again a strong candidate for the MVP award, justifiably so, with an impressive stat line of 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, averaging a triple-double in the highly competitive Western Conference. His scoring average of 32 points per game ranks second in the league, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Jokic leads in rebounds and stands second in assists behind Trae Young. After securing multiple MVP awards and a championship, Jokic continues to evolve, posting career-high numbers in both rebounds and assists.
The Nuggets
One significant factor contributing to Jokic’s impressive statistics is the team's heavy reliance on his performance. This was particularly evident during the recent loss to the Wizards, a team struggling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Currently, the Nuggets sit in seventh place in the Western Conference and have faced challenges in starting the season strong, following a disappointing exit last year against the Timberwolves. Several issues that emerged during that playoff series persist, as the team remains largely unchanged. The Problems with Denver During their championship season, secondary scoring was not a concern, with Jamal Murray serving as a key contributor. However, both this year and the previous one, there has been noticeable regression in his offensive output. When Murray is performing at his best, the Nuggets rank among the league's elite in total offense. Nevertheless, his inconsistent shooting has led to a deficiency in secondary scoring, further exacerbated by the struggles of their third scorer, Michael Porter Jr. With Gordan being mainly a Pick and Roll, in the paint player, the shooting can go dry quickly for the nuggets and puts more pressure on Jokic to score. Jokic will go down as one of the greats but if he and the Nuggets want to become a dynasty, they will need to win rings. Jokic’s stateline may win him another MVP, but we all know the talented player from Serbia is out for more titles, so look for the Nuggets to make some moves before the trade deadline to help the big man out. These Championship windows only last a couple years and Nuggets would be wise to make the most out of it.