3 ways Nikola Jokic still holds key to West despite Luka Doncic’s Lakers resurgence

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are a serious threat for the NBA title and currently are third in the West.

3 ways Nikola Jokic still holds key to West despite Luka Doncic’s Lakers resurgence

Nikola Jokic and Denver Nuggets can upset Luka Doncic and Lakers chances

The team everyone is talking about in the NBA is the Los Angeles Lakers. Luka Doncic‘s arrival has spearheaded a run that has many believing they are NBA title contenders. One of the games that helped fuel that belief was when he went up against close friend Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets were known as the Lakers’ Kryptonite. The men in purple and gold had no answer to The Joker and his squad for nearly two full seasons. Even their first battle this season was an embarrassing and soul-searching blowout.

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But it was that second matchup, and the fourth game of Luka Doncic’s Los Angeles Lakers career, where they gave the world the blueprint to beat the Nuggets. But while the world rejoiced in a new era of basketball, the 2023 champions were quietly building a run of their own.

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Excepting that loss to the Lakers and a couple more against solid playoff teams, the Denver Nuggets are on a stellar 11-3 run since February 1st. Tonight, his 30-20-20 performance, an NBA record at that, has again brought the focus back to Jokic. However, other than that performance, this past month, he and his Nuggets have shown three signs that they are the ones to beat in the West.

Entire Nuggets team starting to dominate

In that run, Nikola Jokic was not the highest scorer every night, nor did he have the most assists or rebounds now and then. A few nights, it was Michael Porter Jr. who led the scoring charts. Other nights it is Jamal Murray. In that Lakers loss, it was Aaron Gordon.

Even Russell Westbrook, famously brought in to lead their bench had a high scoring night. The same can be said about rebounds, although Jokic being the center has a greater advantage than his teammates. But what should catch the most attention is the assists column.

Sure, Jokic has had monster nights as he is the leader of that offense. But a game or two, someone else ends up with more assists than him. What all this means is that the Denver Nuggets no longer live or die with their leading superstar.

Head coach Michael Malone has realized that his team is more successful if everyone gets to give their best. That has helped them to this run. If they keep this up in the playoffs, opponents will struggle to defend them.

Nuggets are a different team in the playoffs

During their championship run, it was all about Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Last season, a lack of experienced veterans cost them a consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. This season, they have not added much, but have collectively taken a step up to become a better team.

If each of their starters are capable of dominating when needed, it gives a different dimension to the team. They are now multi-dimensional, which makes them a serious threat. In addition to that, come playoff time, no analyst will pick against the Denver Nuggets.

The team have proved that they can turn it up in a playoff series. They will learn from their mistakes from last season and will be a force to be reckoned with this time around. That is before even their most important player decides to turn it.

Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the NBA

Nikola Jokic might not be the front runner for the MVP award this season. But he is still arguably the best player in the NBA. His overall play lifts his Denver Nuggets up, and the Serbian is as motivated as they come.

If anyone had a doubt, his Paris Olympics exploits were proof that he will give his all to win. That means, come playoff time, even if Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers, or any other team tries to give them a run for their money, expect The Joker to step up.

He can turn the game with his intelligence, playmaking or scoring. There is not one facet that can slow him down. In case a team does try to slow him, he can resort to another 20-assist night like he had against the Phoenix Suns.

One cannot count out Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets when it comes to fighting for the NBA title. They have built a team that responds to him. On top of that, the 30-year-old is not someone any team wants to bet against. With him at his MVP best, they are a legitimate contender for the NBA title.