My daughter’s indoctrination came somewhere around Game 4.
Between the diaper changes and the interrupted sleep of a newborn, I monitored the Nuggets’ second-round series against the Suns as best as any new dad could. If you’re wondering about the rotating cast of (outstanding) bylines by my colleagues on the Nuggets, that’s why.
While she slept under my watchful eye, I propped my phone next to her bed, volume on low, and watched as Nikola Jokic assembled a 53-point masterclass, tussled with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, and watched from afar as the Nuggets entered a 2-2 tie with Phoenix.
Even in my sleep-deprived state, I deduced that the Nuggets weren’t in any serious trouble of bowing out early. The Suns’ two wins were via an average of six points; Denver’s came by an average of 17 once the series was over. The Nuggets confirmed my hunch that they were the deeper team and had more levers to pull than a team disproportionately spearheaded by superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
We’ll get to Jokic in a second. From my view, the Nuggets disassembled the Suns in six games, leading to a date with LeBron James’ Lakers for a chance at Denver’s first appearance in an NBA Finals, due to a tenacious defensive effort. Aaron Gordon mobbed Durant, limiting him to just 38% shooting in the series. (That, after holding Karl-Anthony Towns to just a 37% clip in the first round).
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope held Booker to 56% shooting, which, after the Suns star broiled the Clippers in the first round, was a victory. In Denver’s four wins, Booker managed a pedestrian 45% shooting in 40 minutes per game. He was a team-worst -17.8 in the defeats. Caldwell-Pope’s defense was relentless and suffocating.
Caldwell-Pope’s had a larger impact on their current run than maybe he’s been given credit for. At every timeout, he implored teammates to fight defensively, and any time a referee was within earshot, there was Caldwell-Pope working them. As the only champion on Denver’s roster, his voice appears to carry just as much weight as that of Jokic’s or Jamal Murray’s. Though this upcoming series won’t be highlighted by Denver’s best perimeter defender guarding an offensive firehose, Caldwell-Pope has been a pillar of what’s, thus far, been the fifth-best defense among all playoff teams.
The star of the first round in his triumphant postseason return, Murray came back down to earth against the Suns. At times he was inefficient and at others, he seemed to undermine the offense. But to advance past the Lakers, Denver needs Murray to thrive. Behind James and Anthony Davis, that paint is going to be clogged. Perhaps Murray can soften the Lakers’ defense with his deadly mid-range and perimeter game.
But whether the Nuggets take one pivotal step closer to their championship goal is going to be predicated on how Jokic navigates the Lakers’ spate of arms and athleticism. Through 11 games, Jokic is averaging over 30 points per game, to pair with nearly 13 rebounds and 10 assists. His credentials as a playoff performer are unimpeachable, and they were that way even before this postseason, when his teammates were rehabbing significant injuries. Now, perhaps more people are paying attention.
What struck me as he ran Deandre Ayton off the floor in the second round was his stamina and conditioning. That was a 7-footer beating his man down the court, forcing a mismatch in the post, and then capitalizing when his teammates rewarded the effort. If he wasn’t pirouetting inside, then he was sinking floaters from the elbow, or dropping 44% of his 3-point looks. Right now, Jokic is at the peak of his powers on a basketball court, and he’s still ascending.
Off the court, he calmly and professionally defended himself amid the Ishbia dust-up, not allowing any distraction to fester. There’s an air of professionalism in how he’s approached this postseason, likely because he knows it’s the best chance he’s ever had.
Curious why I wasn’t peppering him with questions after Game 3, Jokic asked a room full of reporters about my absence and was informed of our new arrival.
“Good job, Mike,” Jokic said.
You, too, Nikola. While she’s sleeping, I’ll be watching.
Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.
