Nugg Love
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Nuggets vs. Clippers: Grades

By Michael Longhofer

Los Angeles Clippers v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 27: Boban Marjanovic #51 and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers talk during a timeout as the take on the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 27, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)Getty ID: 925203916
Los Angeles Clippers v Denver NuggetsDENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 27: Boban Marjanovic #51 and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers talk during a timeout as the take on the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 27, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)Getty ID: 925203916 /
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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 01: Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets look at a loose ball at Pepsi Center on February 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 01: Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets look at a loose ball at Pepsi Center on February 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

C-. . C. Denver Nuggets. NIKOLA JOKIC

We’ve been riding a nice bubble with Nikola.  He drops triple-doubles like nobody we’ve seen in generations.  His upside is well-documented.

Last night, we saw some of the 23-year-old Serbian’s deficiencies.  His offensive numbers were solid, at 18 points, six rebounds and four assists.  He had five turnovers, tied with Jamal Murray for team-high (dis)honors.  He was a perfect eight-for-eight from the free throw line.

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Where he hurt this team last night was on the defensive end.  We’ve seen a troubling trend lately with his defense:

  • Clint Capela tore the Nuggets apart in their first February meeting.  Okay, acceptable, Capela is having a breakout season.
  • Nuggets castoff and Spurs reserve Joffrey Lauvergne lit the Nuggets up for 26 on February 23rd.  Okay, not as acceptable, Lauvergne is in no danger of becoming anything more than a serviceable backup in this league.
  • Last night, afterthought and caveman Bogdan Marjanovic, on his way to another DNP-CD was inserted in the second half of what was shaping up as a blowout loss. He responded with the (half) game of his career.  18 points, five offensive rebounds, eight for nine from the free throw line (nine free throw attempts in a half….) and an absurd +27 rating.  All in 15 minutes of action.

This doesn’t even address DeAndre Jordan putting on a show, dunking on a bewildered Nuggets team over and over again. Nikola looks lost on defense.  He has reverted in the last two contests to a palms-up baby with the referees.  Whining about calls and then walking away is still whining about calls.

For all of the superlatives heaped on Jokic for his February run, he deserves equal criticism for sub-par defensive performances he’s put up lately.

If the Nuggets are going to claw their way back into the playoff picture, Nikola is going to have to figure out how to play some semblance of defense.  There are too many strong centers in the West for him to punch out on that end of the floor.

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