Is Nikola Jokic unguardable? LeBron James, Lakers provide blueprint

The Los Angeles Lakers handed Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets a 123-100 defeat, laying the blueprint for how to defend the 3x MVP

Is Nikola Jokic unguardable? LeBron James, Lakers provide blueprint

LeBron James and Nikola Jokic

The Los Angeles Lakers finally clicked on all cylinders on Saturday night. After struggling to find their rhythm against the Denver Nuggets in recent matchups, the Los Angeles Lakers finally delivered a statement performance, led by Luka Doncic. In the process, the Lakers may have also discovered the formula to stop their troubles standing up to Nikola Jokic.

The Slovenian star, who had been adjusting to his new surroundings, exploded for his first 30-point game as a Laker in a dominant 123-100 victory over Denver. More than just a strong offensive night, this win showcased a potential defensive formula to slow down Nikola Jokic, the reigning three-time MVP. It was an uncharacteristic performance from Jokic, who was held to just 12 points on 2-of-7 shooting.

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While he still managed to impact the game with 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 turnovers, the Lakers made sure he never found his usual offensive rhythm. Their strategy? Throwing a combination of size, strength, and length at Jokic to disrupt his playmaking and force his teammates to take on a bigger scoring load – i.e., LeBron James and whatever other wings can be thrown alongside him to get a stop.

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Jokic is one of the smartest players we’ve ever seen, so it’s nearly impossible to stop him outright. But if he can be made to second-guess, make the passes a little tougher and the shots a little harder every single time he touches the ball, that might just be something that the rest of the league looks at.

This was something that Team USA used in the Olympics as well, with LeBron James guarding Jokic down the stretch of the Men’s Olympic Semi-Finals, using his strength and physicality alongside a team defensive scheme.

His isolation scoring rate is at an all-time high nearly, but with the decline of his teammates in Denver, it may be slightly easier for teams to load up on the Joker and make the rest of the team beat a squad of lengthy and strong wings. This is similar to the formula that Chris Finch’s Minnesota Timberwolves used in the playoffs last season to eliminate the defending champs in a tightly contested second round.

To the Lakers’ advantage, their offensive capabilities with James and Doncic will far outweigh what the Wolves were able to put up against Nikola Jokic, which makes their ability to slow down Jokic even more potent. This approach plays into one of Denver’s biggest challenges this season: their declining supporting cast. Jamal Murray has not been the same star from the 2023 playoffs, and the departure of key role players over the past couple of years has thinned out their offensive firepower.

Can Nikola Jokic be held in check by the Lakers in the playoffs?

While this regular-season win was significant, the real test will come in the postseason, where the Nuggets have historically raised their level. The Lakers have tried different defensive strategies against Jokic in the past, but none have led to sustained success. With the loss of Anthony Davis, their defense should become more vulnerable, but the offensive firepower they possess may just even the scales.

Nikola Jokic is historically one of the most difficult players to guard in the playoffs, raising his playmaking and scoring abilities to an even higher level come playoffs. He exhibited this in the 2023 Western Conference Finals as well, putting up a reply to anything that LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers had to throw at him.

However, Luka Doncic may be the game-changer in the new-look Lakers. While their defensive scheme will still revolve around limiting Jokic’s scoring as much as they can to get him to focus on his teammates, their offense will be a new dynamic. Not only will the Lakers be led under rookie HC JJ Redick’s new offensive system, but a healthy Doncic will add a variable to their team that cannot be computed.

That being said, no defensive game plan is foolproof when facing a player of Nikola Jokic’s caliber. He has seen virtually every type of coverage thrown at him and has always found ways to adapt. The question is whether the Lakers’ defensive scheme can hold up under playoff intensity, where Jokic tends to be at his best.