3 ways Nikola Jokic can dominate Oklahoma City Thunder in WCF semi-finals

Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets survived the onslaught they struggled with at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. The latter matched the 2023 champions every step of the way, only to come short in the pivotal Game 7.

The Serbian ended up averaging 24 points in that first-round series, but it does not reflect how he struggled in the final three games. His teammates bailed him out in those final three games, where he averaged just 18 points, a figure not befitting a three-time league MVP.

Now, the Denver Nuggets prepare to take on the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder. The matchup will be intriguing as the two teams split their regular-season battles. But a few things stand out. For starters, the Nuggets are a lot different from the team that faced the Thunder in those four battles.

They do not have championship-winning head coach, Michael Malone, leading them. Instead, rookie head coach David Adelman is helming the team. The record under him is not an indication of how they are playing, as the series against the Clippers proved.

But it does set up the Joker to do something he has not been able to do in the first round. He can go out and dominate against the Thunder. He has the tools, is driven, and wants to silence those critics who believe he did not play to his usual standards.

Nikola Jokic can win the deft and physicality battles

One look at Nikola Jokic, and the casual person might not believe that he is one of the best basketball players on the planet. He lacks the physical attributes required to excel in his job, and is not intimidating like some other players are. But that is where it gets interesting.

The Serbian is strong and can hold his own against the best big men in the league. Sure, he struggled at times against European neighbor Ivica Zubac in the first round. But that might not happen against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The league leaders beefed up their interior by signing Isaiah Hartenstein. But Jokic has already won two battles with him on the court. Hartenstein is good at handling physicality, but if the Joker resorts to his deft, the Thunder center might struggle.

If Hartenstein’s fellow seven-footer, Chet Holmgren, comes over to help, Jokic can use his body to create separation. Either way, the now father of two has both abilities to counter the twin towers of Oklahoma City.

Taking away the Thunder’s elite perimeter defense

The Los Angeles Clippers helmed one of the best perimeter defenses in the league. The combination of Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr., and Kris Dunn was the reason they were 19-5 since March.

But Nikola Jokic helped his teammates to outmaneuver that stingy defense. Statistics might not reveal it, but he orchestrated his teammates to run rings around that Clippers defense in both Games 5 and 7. The result saw Jamal Murray obliterate the Clippers in Game 5.

Game 7 did not see any one Nuggets player dominate the game. But the entire team contributed to outsmarting their opponents. This shows that Jokic could try the same against the stingy perimeter defense the Oklahoma City Thunder employ. All he would need is for his teammates to score.

Dominate the game when needed

In the four games the Denver Nuggets played against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokic scored close to his usual standards in the last three. In the final game, he scored 35 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and notched 8 assists.

This was against the twin towers of Holmgren and Hartenstein. It was also against a Thunder team that was winning against anyone and everyone. The Serbian can elevate his game against the league leaders anytime he wants.

He might not have resorted to Michael Jordan‘s mindset in Game 7 against the Los Angeles Clippers. But evidence suggests that if he does turn it on against the Thunder, they might have a problem on their hands.

There are a few teams that counter the Joker when he is at his best, and the record this season proves the Thunder are not amongst them. Their two wins against the Nuggets were a result of their defense and poor shooting nights from the other Nuggets players.

But now they are in form and will go up against the Thunder, who have been resting for nearly two weeks. That could result in some rust, which the Joker and his teammates could exploit on the road. Even if it goes down to it, expect the Olympic bronze medalist to dominate the series the way his team needs him to.

Also Read:

• Pacers ban Tyrese Haliburton’s father after taunting Giannis Antetokounmpo
• LeBron James’ ex-rivals beg him to retire after lackluster performance in 1st round exit