Denver Nuggets: 3 takeaways as the series heads to San Antonio

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 16: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets puts up a three point shot against the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth quarter during game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 16, 2019 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

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Down the stretch plenty of people went after Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets playoff inexperience with the style of play we see teams use in the playoffs of isolating big men and how the Nuggets would adapt to Jokic getting targeted by teams with faster smaller perimeter players.

During the break from the regular season to the playoffs plenty of talking heads questioned Jokic’s toughness and mental wherewithal to handle how the Spurs could attack him on the perimeter in the playoffs, and the Joker has proved the naysayers wrong.

Jokic has entered the playoffs hotter than he left the regular season recording his first triple-double since the All-Star break and following it up with another great performance in-game two with 21 points, 13 rebounds and led the Nuggets with eight assists.

Going through the small things like setting screens and help defense Jokic looks like he cares more and is playing with a more physical edge that we haven’t seen from him during the regular season. Jokic has also improved his effort on the defensive end of the ball staying in front of smaller players and relying on help defense to make the right play.

Jokic has shown in these first two playoff games that if teams are going to want to go after him it will be harder in the playoffs than it was down the stretch during the regular season.

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