After another MVP-type campaign in the regular season, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has noticeably struggled in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Golden State Warriors have willfully exerted their dominance to take a 2-0 lead.

Uncharacteristically, Jokic let his emotions get the best of him in Game 2. He was ejected after getting two technical fouls and was visibly irked when Warriors guard Gary Payton II gave him a seemingly harmless butt tap. The Nuggets got crushed, 126-106.

Former Nuggets coach George Karl a.k.a. DeMarcus Cousins' Least Favorite Person called out Jokic on Twitter for his poor showing in their series against the Warriors. But he also motivated the reigning MVP to bounce back.

Of course, while Karl remains a big fan of Jokic, the same couldn't be said as much for Cousins. Karl blasted the volatile big man after reflecting on his turbulent time with the Sacramento Kings. Karl coached Cousins for one and a half seasons with the Kings and their acrimonious relationship was well-known.

The 70-year-old Karl, who coached the Nuggets from 2005 to 2013, must have flipped when the team added Cousins in the middle of the season.

But this isn't about them, isn't it? It's about Jokic. While he has put up the numbers—25.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in Games 1 and 2—he hasn't really kept the Nuggets together against a cohesive unit like the Warriors.

He has the chance to finally do so when the series shifts to Mile High City for Game 3 this Thursday.