Nuggets: Grizzlies matchup to watch
A while back, Will Barton took back-to-back buzzer beaters for the Nuggets and missed them both. At the time, we commented that nobody on the squad needed a “win” more than Thrill.
Well, now it’s Nikola Jokic’ turn to get a win. The Joker has put up solid numbers and is only one game removed from stacking up triple-doubles. It’s not as if he’s Boban Marjanovic or something……..oh, wait, that’s the problem; Jokic has let some pretty pedestrian big men have unfettered access to the basket, lately. Between Joffrey Lauvergne and Boban, the Nuggets big man has put up some shaky defensive performances.
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Tonight, he will have opportunity to reset his defensive footprint with Memphis’ uber-big, Marc Gasol.
We’ve chosen Gasol vs. Jokic as our matchup to watch for tonight’s game.
Marc Gasol has the ability to carry the Grizzlies to victory. Nikola Jokic has the ability to stop that.
Marc Gasol enters tonight’s game against the Nuggets averaging 17.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and four assists. He shoots 41.3% from the field. At 7’1″, 255 lbs, he is a load to guard. He has soft touch and three-point range (32.5% from deep).
Nikola Jokic averages 17.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and six assists, on the season. He shoots 48.8% from the field and 37.2 from the three-point line. He also demonstrates fantastic touch with his mid-range game and is a standout three-point shooter at the position. Nikola stands 6’10” and weighs 250.
Statistically and physically, you don’t get much more similar than the two bigs. Nikola, of course is the anomaly and the Nuggets love to run their read and react offense through him. Gasol is much more of a traditional post player. While adept at passing, he is not as strong handling the ball as Jokic.
Nikola needs to find his footing on the defensive end and Gasol may be mother’s milk, to that end. Marc is never going to be mistaken for some of the more fleet-footed big men around, I believe his vertical is “he can get his heels off the ground”. Nikola, never the leaper himself, should be able to stay with Gasol on the defensive end. Hopefully the Nuggets and Jokic will get a reprieve from the relentless pick-and-roll the Nuggets have seen lately.
The Nuggets hold a 51-33 advantage, all-time, over the Grizzlies. They’ve won both matchups this season although in far closer fashion than is comfortable.
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If The Joker can find a way to get his footwork and his defense right, the Griz should be over matched in this game. If Gasol is allowed to bang and score at will, well………the draft is supposed to be really deep this summer.