2023-06-09 15:27:00
DPOY in 2022/23, Jaren Jackson Jr. knows a whole lot about ways to pocket a player, but there’s one he still hasn’t quite nailed down. We reassure him, they are quite few – ZERO – to have managed to stop Mr. Nikola Jokic.
At ease on vacation, JJJ took to the Paul George podcast set to talk basketball, and right now when we’re talking about basketball, it’s hard to tell about Jokic. Then comes the topic of “How to defend Nikola Jokic? », the Grizzlies strong winger – expert in the matter is rather clear. It’s absolute hell.
“He really does everything on the pitch. […] Players know they’re going to get the ball so they cut more, you’re lost, there’s more to watch out for. – Jaren Jackson Jr, on Nikola Jokic
He may be there the most difficult aspect to manage in defense on Niko Jokic: the variety of his game. We have already witnessed these evenings during which the Serb decides to take ten times fewer shots, and – just with his vision and passing quality – transform any of his teammates into superstars. Aaron Gordon as Charles Barkley, for example. Once the ball is in the hands of the Balkan doll, each role player becomes a threat and the offensive options are multiplied. Hell, we tell you.
POV: this is what it’s like guarding Jokic as a DPOY ???? pic.twitter.com/JxmW3o1j8o
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) June 7, 2023
The former Michigan State continues on how to directly defend the double MVP. Needless to say, it looks complicated. Hook shotsblind passes, post-up, screens… the Joker literally does everything you can do on a parquet floor. The worst thing, and which is very visible as a spectator, is that even when you think you’ve had it, well you haven’t really had it.
“And when you think you finally got it… It’s a 3-pointer, you see the arc shot and you know it’s going to go in. I’ve never seen him miss a shot against us, they all fall in. He doesn’t even seem to push.”
It’s not that we didn’t expect it, but this kind of praise from a Defender of the Year, that says it all about the technical panoply of the 41st choice of the 2014 Draft. For him, everything seems easy, everything is obvious. Why force your stats when you can let talent do the talking? As the Grizzly says, the Joker never gives the impression of forcing, or even making an effort in the field. Your daron who beat you at ping-pong while sipping a beer? It’s exactly the same idea, except that he faces the very best athletes in his discipline, at the highest possible level.
Source : Podcast P with Paul George
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