Jamal Murray‘s return from an ACL tear turned the Nuggets into serious title contenders, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. Coach Michael Malone points to a December 8 game against Portland when Murray sank a game-winning shot and ran off the court in celebration.
“That was the night that we were reminded of Jamal’s greatness,” Malone said. “It was also a jump-start for us as a team. We started playing really well after that night.”
Denver pulled away from the field and spent more than 100 days as the top team in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are 6-0 at home in the playoffs and have posted convincing series wins against Minnesota and Phoenix on their way to the conference finals.
Jones sees a similarity to the Spurs teams of last decade and suggests that the combination of Nikola Jokic and Murray evoke memories of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
“We understand how much talent we have on the roster, and I think this team has proven that it can beat anybody,” Malone said. “I think with the two-time MVP, this team has worked very hard to get to this point. This is not luck or happenstance. We’re healthy, which is important. But we’re a very good basketball team.”
There’s more from Denver:
- The offseason addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was acquired in a trade with the Wizards, brought some championship experience to the roster. Malone emphasized the need for poise prior to Thursday’s closeout win in Game 6, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post, and Caldwell-Pope responded with 17 points in the first quarter. The veteran guard sees an atmosphere similar to the Lakers’ title team he was part of in 2020. “Just being around these guys every day — practice, shootaround — I can just see it in them,” Caldwell-Pope said. “The confidence is there.”
- Suns star Kevin Durant was impressed after watching the series-long performance from Jokic, who had three triple-doubles in the six games, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “Jokic is an all-time great,” Durant said. “He’s going to go down as one of the all-time great centers to ever touch a basketball.”
- ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson has apologized for leaving Jokic off the top five on his MVP ballot, relays Cydney Henderson of USA Today. Jokic was first, second or third on 99 of the 100 ballots, but didn’t crack Jackson’s top five. “Made an honest mistake with my MVP votes,” Jackson tweeted. “My apologies to the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic. He’s not only a legitimate MVP candidate who deserved my vote, but he is truly one of the all time greats!”
Wtf does he mean “made an honest mistake”? Like did you click send by accident??
Seriously. What the heck. MVP and all-nba teams affect millions (even tens of millions) of dollars that these players can make — due to incentives, and the nba pay scale that is directly tied to these awards. What is Mark doing with his votes?
Jokic is definitely top three. Mark is foolish.
Those who never saw Bill Walton play. He was a more athletic Jokic. Better defender not as good a shooter. Better team player too. Jokic a better scorer. Unfortunately injuries got the best of him. Both high IQ centers. Bill Walton is considered best college center ever.
…
Lew Alcindor
Walton a close second.
Definitely both great …. probably can’t go wrong with either as a college center. But
“Wooden probably believes that Walton was a slightly better all-around player (and that was kind of the consensus opinion during his early healthy years in the NBA among sportswriters of the day). Alcindor was a better shooter and scorer, while Walton may have been a slightly better passer, rebounder, and defender.”
link to google.com
A young Walton. Is only center I can compare Jokic to. He could have been as good. I consider Kareem best ever in NBA. In college it’s really close. I mean really really close.
Kareem was 88 and 2 with 3 championships. Walton 86-4 with 2. Crazy. (In between them they were 57-3 with 2. Crazier.)
I must say that I have been watching NBA for the past 40 years… & I have never seen anyone playing at the level of Jokic the last 3 years, simply he has been the greatest player I have ever seen in the league!
I’ve been a Nuggets fan since their Denver Rockets days. I’ve never enjoyed watching a players career grow like I have Nikola Jokic’s. He has come a long way since his first season. But we saw the skill even back then. And he’s only 28, with his style of play he can play until he’s 40. So good and so much fun to watch I love seeing him stump other teams and coaches with what he does.
Is this a Jokic to you?
Mark Jackson: Yes.
Jackson would have yelled racism over a slight like this. He would have been right as well. Didn’t Mullin once catch a break like this? Why does the media get a vote on this?
In Arnold Schwarzenegger voice ” Don’t fn bllsht me. You must be watching 40 years of highlights
He doesn’t play defense. Pushes his fat body around. Or pushes people when he’s upset. Overated. Just a healthy Walton or sabonis
Sorry to disrespect your defense Walton my bad . I take that back
Young Sabonis is another good comparison. High IQ center. Great passer. Too bad we didn’t see him young in NBA. He was 31-32 when he got to NBA.
This is freakin crazy lols …….
Jokic playoff stats —
30.7 pts, 12.8 reb, 9.7 ast
That’s a Center doing that.
link to basketball.realgm.com
I can see the first two stats from any good center and be quite impressed, then you add in the third and your head explodes. Jokic is one of a kind and it’s a joy to get to watch him play.