The Denver Nuggets got off to a rough start during their opening game at Ball Arena against the New Orleans Pelicans back in October. It brought a rain of boo birds who seemed to be upset to see the same effort and quality of play that they saw when the Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs last year. Nikola Jokic wasn't happy about it at all. But that's all water under the bridge now.
Jokic had a right to be upset with the boos, but he said those "weren't real fans." They are. They were just displeased, and they have no other way to voice their concerns. But everything seems to be fixed in the relationship between Ball Arena fans and Jokic, and he let them know after the Nuggets' 128-109 win over the Toronto Raptors just how he feels about them.
"Thank you. Thank you, guys, for staying. It was a pleasure to play in front of you guys. I love you guys," Jokic said to the crowd still at Ball Arena after Katy Winge asked him if he had anything to say to "Nuggets Nation."
Water under the bridge, Joker. It's all good, and I think we're all back on the same page.
Jokic has been playing with increased energy
We should have known. I think, in the back of all Nuggets fans' minds, we had thoughts about whether Jokic had lost a step or some of his touch on his shot (his three ball is still missing, though). The team was sluggish in the home opener, and the stale taste from last year's first-round collapse still lingered.
But Jokic is a slow starter. He got off to a similar start last year, too, before picking up the pace in game six. Well, it took seven games this year for Jokic to have one of his vintage three-quarters triple-doubles, the 90th of his career, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists while sitting out the entire fourth quarter.
Jokic's turned it up a notch in the last couple of games, and he's been increasingly active on the defensive end. He's been helping to double-team on the perimeter and down low near the baseline, and his active hands have been creating errant passes that he's converted into 2.1 steals per game, including 3 against the Raptors to lead the team.
If he keeps up this level of play and intensity moving forward, like he did last year, he'll be well on his way to challenging for his fourth MVP award and his seventh-straight top-two finish.
We love to see it, Joker, and we're glad that whole little speed bump is in the rearview mirror.
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