Denver Nuggets Game 3 lessons: Nikola Jokic can’t do it by himself
Even though Jokic was just crowned the MVP, it is insane to think that one player can win the game all by themselves. While the Joker was impressive with a stat line of 32 points, 20 rebounds, and ten assists, there was simply not much help surrounding the superstar.
The next top scorer was Monte Morris on 21 points, who came off the bench. Compared to Phoenix, the Nuggets’ spread of scoring in this series has not been great, with the majority of the offensive output coming from the MVP throughout the series. Players such as Morris and Porter Jr have had a quiet series compared to their first-round performances.
Meanwhile, Phoenix has had a dominant offensive spread throughout the series. In Game 3, both Paul (27 points) and Booker (28 points) carried the offensive load, with previous games seeing multiple 20-plus point scorers for the Suns.
The way the Suns have handled the Nuggets during the series showcases that the Nuggets will only be able to make a major comeback if the rest of the team steps up to help their leader. Props to Jokic for his performances throughout the series, now the rest of the team needs to get their offensive game clicking.