It’s been three days since the Nuggets lost in Dallas. It feels like it has been three months.
There have been many debates over the last three days about what is wrong with the Nuggets and what they should do. It’s easy, after a win and solid performance from the starters, to declare not much wrong with this squad. Obviously they should just do what they did last night, 16 more times, right?
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It’s more complicated than that. First, what did they “do” last night that was different from the preceding two games? My feeling is the disconnect, if there was one, between Millsap and Jokic was resolved. I don’t think either man had personal issue with the other. I think both men have been trying to defer to the other. When we signed Millsap, it was because Karnisovas and Connelly determined he fit this team.
Fitting this team means get the ball to Nikola, move/cut and be prepared to receive passes even when you think you’re covered. This team is designed for the offense to flow through Nikola. When it is, when he’s confident and in control, the Nuggets are hard to beat.
When looking for heroes to last night’s victory, Nikola may not immediately come to mind. Murray and Harris were great, Millsap was great, even Mason Plumlee stood out defensively.
Jokic posted 21, six and six. He also had two big steals. More importantly, we saw Jokic and Millsap having success together. The marriage of offense and defense may not be as daunting as thought but whichever path this team takes down the stretch, it has to be at the command of Nikola Jokic.
Is he up to it? If the last week provides an answer, it is “I don’t know”. What is certain is that he is capable.