It’s undeniable that Jokić will get his, regardless of what kind of coverage you throw at him and who you throw at him - including Green. Even if you push him off his spots, see point #1.Your best bet at limiting Jokić is to push him off his spots.Jokić will find ways to score, no matter what.You can pretty much conclude three things from the clips above: Here are a couple of clips of Green guarding Jokić last season: In any case, the numbers would have you believe that Green had a more difficult time against Jokić than initially perceived. There were possessions where Green was merely in the vicinity of a Jokić shot attempt, but was still credited with guarding him. Ultimately, the only point of reference left are games from last season, where plenty of data can be obtained from Green guarding Jokić.Īccording to NBA.com matchup data, in 3 regular season games during the 2020-21 season, Jokić shot a combined 14-of-23 (60.9%) when guarded by Green. Kevon Looney had bouts of success - but he can’t do everything by himself, especially in terms of surviving solo against an offensive force. That wasn’t his typical scoring efficiency he put up a 66.1% True Shooting mark during the regular season.īut such numbers were good enough to put pressure on a Warriors defense that had limited options in single coverage. The Warriors did not have Draymond Green’s services in every one of their 4 matchups against the Nuggets in the regular season, where Jokić averaged 28-16-9 on 52/17/68 shooting splits and 57.6% True Shooting. The simple question that will define this matchup is this: which team is more willing to gamble by letting the non-Curry/non-Jokić contingent take the shots?Īs you may have already guessed, the Warriors have a couple of factors going their way in that aspect. He can do it from anywhere on the floor - whether it be on “Delay” sets up top, at the elbows/high post, or in the low post. He has a preternatural knack for finding open teammates on the perimeter (sometimes, before said teammates don’t even know they’re open), or accurately placing a pass to cutters. Sending a double against him isn’t that much better. His 33.7% from three on around 4 attempts per game is technically below league average, but leave him open on pop outs and flares and he will drill those shots from beyond the arc. He shoots 59% from the mid-range (96th percentile). Jokić is a three-level scorer whose high release point makes it near impossible to affect his jumper.
He has an arsenal of post moves buoyed by effortless footwork, while possessing arguably the best touch of any post player in modern times. Not a lot of players on this planet can match up to him in single coverage, especially in the low post (1.17 points per possession in the post, 91st percentile). His perpetual off-ball movement sows discord within opposing defenses, and opens up looks for his teammates.
His on-ball adventures almost always draw every type of aggressive ball-screen coverage: traps, blitzes, hedges, screen-level step-ups. While those two superstars - two of the greatest offensive players in NBA history - drive plenty of their respective team’s success, it also comes down to who can take advantage of their offensive fulcrum’s pull.Ĭurry practically invented the term “gravity” in a basketball context. reigning MVP (and prohibitive MVP favorite) Nikola Jokić. The headline practically writes itself: two-time MVP Stephen Curry vs. the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
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