Nikola Jokic is the best offensive basketball player in the world. But there's a style of defense that works a little better against him, and it even gets on his nerves a little bit, which is probably why opposing teams have been throwing it at him more and more since the Oklahoma City Thunder first rolled it out. It's the Alex Caruso style. The Utah Jazz just used it against Jokic in their preseason meetings, and he and the Denver Nuggets could see it a lot this season.
It's the defense where the opposing team throws out a physical guard to front Jokic in the post, which disrupts the Nuggets' offense from getting set up. They pester him, and Jokic basically gets double-teamed. The two-man game between him and Jamal Murray takes a hit, and the flow of the offense is slowed. But Jokic's basketball IQ is too high, and both he and the Nuggets will adjust.
Jokic will have a little help from his friends
Jokic should have no problem turning to his friends in the starting lineup. Aaron Gordon already looks like the AG who started last season on fire. Gordon just carved up the Jazz for 18 points in 15 minutes, partly because the Jazz defense was too distracted trying to distract Jokic. Gordon has hit 50% of his threes in the first two games, and the added space he's had in the paint has helped him get some easy baskets in the paint, helping him shoot 70% from the field.
And if it's not AG, it's Cameron Johnson. The Nuggets are already looking good on their decision to keep Johnson over Peyton Watson. Cam's hitting 44.4% of his threes to start. He looks comfortable in his role so far, finding space for a catch-and-shoot three while not hesitating to let the shot fly.
And if Christian Braun can just make good on his summer practice of shooting and making more threes, the Nuggets will really be in business against the Caruso-esque defense. Braun's only 1-of-5 from deep so far, but he's got his explosive first step back, which should help him create space for more open threes since he's a cutting threat again. If he starts knocking more down, the defense won't be able to use their guard to leave Braun.
It's not like Jokic won't be able to find his teammates open if he's getting double-teamed. He led the league in assists last year for a reason. The best passer in the game just needs a little help from his friends when the fronting guard comes out. And once they start stepping up, it's back to the usual 30/13/12 a night, Jokic.
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