Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic can do just about everything offensively. He can shoot. He can do work in the post. He can pass. He can dribble. He can make free throws.
Obviously, that makes him one of the toughest covers in the league, and the Portland Trail Blazers will begin figuring out just how to defend Jokic when they open up their second-round playoff series on Monday night.
So, does Nuggets head coach Michael Malone have any advice for the Blazers on how to guard Jokic? Not really:
“Good luck. Do whatever you want to do,” said Malone, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. “Nikola has seen every kind of coverage and double-team before. Now it's a matter of us spacing the floor correctly and making shots, and we'll be ready for that.”
Jokic is coming off an outstanding first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs in which he averaged 23.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.3 steals over 37.3 minutes per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from 3-point range and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line in what ended up being a seven-game victory for Denver.
In the closeout game on Saturday night, the 24-year-old registered 21 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, but his most impressive performance came in a Game 6 loss, when he racked up 43 points, 12 boards and nine assists, making 19 of his 30 field goal attempts.
With Portland already missing Jusuf Nurkic and Enes Kanter possibly out Game 1 due to a separated shoulder, the Blazers may end up having a heck of a time trying to stop Jokic.
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