Nikola Jokic and Denver won Game 3 on Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead over Miami. On the first play of the third quarter, the Nuggets ran their “flex” offense, and Jokic curled off an off-ball screen for a more standard jumper from the same spot …eighth among 22 players who’ve attempted at least 50 in the playoffs. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page
Nikola Jokic and Denver won Game 3 on Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead over Miami.
NBA Finals on Wednesday, the two-time MVP has more 30/20/10 playoff games in his career (3) than every other player in NBA history combined (2).
He’s a huge human with great hands, a deft touch, and incredible vision, which allows him to play like both a center and a guard.
109-94 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 3.
1. Playing big … in the post
He didn’t score against Bam Adebayo on any designed post-ups the post on Wednesday, but toasted the Heat’s guards and wings when he got a switch. Early in the first quarter, Jamal Murray attacked Adebayo off a Jokic screen, forcing the Heat big man to switch. And Jimmy Butler, one of the best defenders in the world, was no match for Jokic in the post …
Jokic was also effective in the post against the Heat’s zone. He found space and then found cutters …
2. Playing big … on the roll
3. Like a guard … off a screen
Jokic’s skill set allows the Nuggets to use him, at times, like a guard. After Murray (570) and Bruce Brown (149), the Nugget who’s had the most ball-screens set for him in the playoffs is Jokic (95, 5.3 per game).
a ridiculous turnaround shot off one foot that swished through the net.
On the first play of the third quarter, the Nuggets ran their “flex” offense, and Jokic curled off an off-ball screen for a more standard jumper from the same spot …
eighth among 22 players who’ve attempted at least 50 in the playoffs. So you might want to challenge him on the perimeter.
4. Like a guard … with the pump and go
Then again, you might not. Because if you bite on a pump fake, Jokic can put the ball on the floor. He beat Adebayo off the dribble once, drawing help and tossing a lob to Gordon …
got all the way to the rim.
the third-lowest rate among 46 players with at least 50 drives in the playoffs.
5. Like a big … on defense
score on occasion when he didn’t leave the basket. But he was also a big deterrent, and if Miami wanted to shoot a bunch of 10-15 foot jumpers, so be it. If they tried to get to the rim, he was there …
Over the three games in this series, the Heat have outscored the Nuggets by 49 points from outside the paint. But Denver is a +50 in the paint and a +22 at the free throw line. The biggest reason is the big man who can play both inside and out.
8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
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