[Highlight] Jokic plays defense against Fox
he can do this shit. he’s probably going to break down quick if he did it all the time. 280 lbs is not meant to move that way.
Yea this is his own way of “load management”. He has stayed healthy because of that (except this season)
freak accident. this whole season has been nothing but a series of unnatural bad luck.
Yeahhh his first major injury is due to a freak accident which shows how underrated his durability is
In the long run it might end up being beneficial for you guys. Lots of guys stepped up into bigger roles and really improved.
It also helped Jamal get his first all star
It’s obvious how much of Jamal’s game is mental, considering the inconsistency, so anything he needs to feel confident going in to be the #2 option for a playoff run is a positive IMO
He only got injured this season because of a contact injury that caused hyperextension… which is admittedly a bit different
obviously you know this but posting for others:at least two of our injuries this year were direct results of this off-arm push off move that the league is adopting.
To be fair someone landed on him and hyper extended his knee or I bet he wouldn’t have missed as many games.
Yeah he was only injured because he bumped knees with his own teammate (spencer I believe). He truly has exceptional health for how many minutes he plays every single game. I love joker so much
Also it’s not just load management but fouls. I’ve been saying this for a fucking decade lol. Jokic in foul trouble fucks us. People talk shit about his D all the time but a good coach knows he needs to stay out of foul trouble.
For sure. That’s why he lets the occasional layup go through. It’s not worth getting a 3rd foul in the second or third quarter.
yep which was a huge problem pre-2020ish. especially the stupid take fouls (before they were penalised as take fouls)
and people wonder why he looks like a traffic cone sometimes. he doesn’t care what it looks like, he’s not going to risk a foul on a low-percentage contest at the time
He is one of the best rim protectors in the league at Not fouling. That comes with its downsides of course, but it’s really useful at times.
True, but it’s also because he relies on his hands on defense way more than most other centers. It requires a lot more energy and precision than correctly filling the lane and staying vertical
I feel that but that’s just part of the same convo about defending.
A good defender can do so without fouling too much
I was thinking this too. If you can only lock in occasionally because you’re scared you’re gonna foul, that’s bad lol.
Been screaming this for ten years lol so happy we have this clip in our pocket
Harden locked down Kobe when he cared. Probably the most slandered SG in NBA history.
“he could have been good at defense, he just didn’t want to” is honestly even worse than “he couldn’t be good at defense”
You obviously don’t understand how that function in Denver with Jokić. But you certainly have an opinion.
“could have burn the candle both ways and reduced his years played” (and lose 100s of m’s) is a better statement lol
Tell that to the long list of top players on the wing who are also great defenders.
Yea especially all the ones that repeatedly beat records that have been held by Wilt all these years. So many great players on that list.
I mean that’s fair, but at the same time excusing low effort on defense for health or foul trouble is saying that he’s a subpar defender. Which is fine, he’s obviously one of the greatest ever, I don’t understand why it’s such a crime that he’s below average at something.
Because it’s half of the game.
I agree, but he’s obviously been successful without it.
Never heard could have burned the candle both ways before. Great term honestly.
I don’t really understand why this matters. “He didn’t care, so he didn’t lock people down.” That’s just a description of bad defense, not an excuse.
You are not making the argument that you think you are, lol
I agree. The key is to pick when to do it. You cant be playing defense like this all day and play exceptional offense too. Youll be too tired
It’s not even that man. I’ve watched his Euros and Olympics when he clearly had worse teammates. He is so afraid of getting fouls, whenever he gets second he just starts dropping his effort.
Beyond true. He just can’t do this shit night after night being a bruiser
yeah.. and that is a 280lbs that is not fat (contrary to popular belief).
I always reference my past clients, some were around 280lbs but obese… they get motivated to lose weight and all that.. and want to go on running expeditions daily etc.. and im like dude… you will break yourself and you won’t be able to do anything for a while if you attempt to do that at the start. You gotta, like you say, ‘load manage’ for a little while until you a. lose some weight so make it easier on your body and b. put on sufficient muscle to be capable of doing what you want to do.
But even supreme athletes with millions behind them with personal wealth, infrastructure, muscle/fitness and organizations… can’t go full pelt 24⁄7 and have to load manage their effort and consequently stress they put on their body or they will break down.
That is, if you are smart. Or you could ‘red line’ it and risk injuries and your body deteriorating (maybe embid is a good example here). You also have to credit the ability/skill to be able to not ‘red line’ it and still be a GOAT player. Of course though, there are times where you gamble or risk things by playing in the red zone, like specific matchups or times of years (play offs, international duty etc)
isnt this why at the end of Duncans career, he had to trim down a bit. Jokic has been an iron man, this year’s injury was a freak accident. Jokic has gone lighter in his career (I think he went 265 - 270) he wasnt comfortable playing the post. It’s just a tradeoff - there are supremely gifted athletes in the NBA, he isnt one of them.
Luka couldn’t move like that if his life depended upon it. I never want to hear that comparison again.
Yeah he does but obviously it won’t get posted here because it won’t fit the narrative.
The narrative that Luka sucks on defense?
Yeah Lakers fans are so unwilling to spam the board with highlights
yeah I think they deserved that win pretty handedly
It’s why Lukas prime could last to 35⁄40
Body don’t down moving downhill offense.
It breaks down playing defense side to side and backing up.
I love Luka but no it won’t
Body don’t down moving downhill offense. It breaks down playing defense side to side and backing up.
The broest of science
This shit is actually frightening LOL
Imagine a gigantic angry fuck doing his best to impede your movement
Imagine ancient times with spears and shields and actual battles to the death… no wonder legends like Hercules and Achilles exist, probably just Jokers born in the right century
Imagine Giannis with a spear. Like fuck
Giannis with a spear would dominate whatever war he’s in but have his agent doing side quests leaking his dissatisfaction to rival kingdoms lol
Achilles in troy movie
Im so sad that is part of his legacy now
All are inferior to the trebuchet.
As a fantasy nerd, that actually describes a main character from The Stormlight Archives.
lol are you saying Dalinar is Doc rivers ?
Maybe not Dalinar, but the Stormfather is.
Nah Hercules was Jalen Duren
those guys were probably huge for their time but small compared to now…funny how humans have grown in size
Joker born in the right century to be perpetually pissed about not being allow to be in the calvary.
Still remember Embiid doin that to pascal durin the 22 playoffs
Gasol to everyone his whole career
Embiid had a very short peak, his knees just couldnt really handle that shit.
Isn’t that called football?
Nikoraga adapts to anything
No hate but I think we shoulda thought a little harder before launching that nickname.
Well, I barely watched mappa glaze Yuta for 28min so it was kinda fresh on my mind
My goat getting slandered in r/nba man😭😭
I’m browsing NBA rn to see Jokic clips and man JJK jokes and Yuta slanders were the things I never thought I’d see in here
Yuta slander agenda is dead. Anyone still holding onto it is a fraud.
they’re praising my jjk oc in the anime? that’s awesome
JuJokic Kaisen?
Aside from Satoru GoJokic of course.
ANY AND ALL PHENOMENON
How will he hold up against Bronkuna in the Heian era tho
Speed taken, the Fox relies on quickness and is quickly gobbled up by the giant
This post was read by David Attenborough
Damn I didn’t know joker had it like that
He saves it. He’d break down if he did that more games.
Exactly If im not mistaken he lead the league it total steals one year
if i’m not mistaken, he’s usually top 10ish last several seasons
The whole narrative is if you can’t block shots you’re a bad center but his hands are always active. I think Drummond lead the league too but you wouldn’t consider him a good vertical defender so he’s trash.
Drummond is actually trash though.
That has nothing, literally nothing to do with this.
Most of his swats are in the post and he gets his steals there when players pass by because he has amazing hands.
Yea he’s one of the best at playing the passing lanes and intercepting or swatting passes. They’re literally never from on ball defense
He always can do this shit. But 280lbs moving that way plus the offensive load means he’s gonna gas and break down.
I’m not kidding literally every player can do this it’s about effort even the smallest guys are 6 foot 3 with long arms. Even Trae when he goes alll out can be a good defender
Casual
Joker could’ve been a legendary defensive lineman in the NFL with that kind of lateral quickness.
The video is sped up
and he peeled off to box out wemby
That was arguably the most impressive part. Him getting back after all the perimeter defense to help compete for the rebound.
The number of times a game he simply makes the correct basketball play is still astounding. He might not always give the level of defense in this clip (because he’d die trying) but he’s in the right spaces, makes the right passes, boxes out, etc etc etc. awesome to watch
You mean when he shoves him with both arms?
Jokic is something else
I love him
DPOY
frrr
YASSSSSS
Breaking News: Jokic out with a Hip Contusion for 4 weeks
That’s why he saves it for special occasions
And got back in time to box out Wemby . Thats my MVP
It’s wild how a dude that big can move around like that. Like every semi tall person I know is a giant slog
Joker aka Tim Duncan
Pains me to say… Jokic is probably even better than Timmy.
I was just joking about defense
But nah I can’t put him above Duncan all time, he needs to win more titles for that against his peers
Naaaah
*insert Future “ain’t no fuckin way”
I dunno, probably AI
Allen Iverson is retired
Well done
Lmao, The Truth
That’s Fox
Good shit Jok
You know it’s playoff time when Jokic playing defence like this. Mans is LOCKED in and ready to go. Bring on them Rockets.
It’s why I hate all the “this just isn’t the Nuggets year” nonsense. His version of load management is to not go 100% all the time, especially on defense. It can and should hurt his MVP chances because it’s a regular season award, and his lack of effort hurts the Nuggets in the standings. But when the playoffs come around, he locks in. Still the biggest threat to OKC.
Dude had a serious injury in January lol. It wasn’t even load management he was hurt. If the Nuggets are healthy and OKC doesn’t have the whistle they will take out the Thunder in 7.
Honestly if we have this years Pwat last year we take them down in 5 or 6. We had fourth quarter leads in games 4 and 5 IIRC. We were like one reliable scorer away from winning that series.
See ya in the WCF, lots of improvement from both rosters :)
He played amazing today, but this isnt the best play to show, Fox lost him completely and Cam had to leave Champagnie open on 3 who was 6⁄8 at that point
yeah i was confused by this post. looks like he makes a great first stop but then is bailed out by murray and cam
Dude yes this post honestly reminded me this sub is on reddit so most of these dudes have never played ball fr
BOTH SIDES OF THE FUCKING FLOOR!
The Spurs need the old Fox so bad for the playoffs.
I miss the old fox
Cpoy fox
Faster than light Fox
I’ve seen no evidence such a player exists. He can score against bad teams when it doesn’t matter, but in the clutch, in this role, he’s generally bad.
What kills me are the unforced errors that cost points and the bad defense.
Disappointed with his handles.
For a “star” guard, he fumbles the ball too often for my liking.
He’s just not that good and I’ll stand on that. Harper is better if only for Harper’s better defense. But Harper can do everything Fox can do. I’m sure if Harper takes step back 3s, early in the clock for no reason, he can brick them too.
I just hope we can get off Fox in the expansion draft.
Hopefully we can overcome Fox and win this year, but I truly think Fox holds us back.
That said, Fox off the bench, for bench money, would be legit.
I do wish they’d do more of the (can’t believe I’m saying this) Kings sets with fox down the stretch. Fox and sabinos had great chemistry and I think that fox still exists, he just doesn’t have an elite dho/screen partner. Teams put wings on Wemby and the switch isn’t the same as it would be with a big. fox was clutch player of the year destroying whoever was guarding sabonis
jokic’s footwork is pretty impressive considering his size
Shoutout Cam Johnson, terrific team defender and was clutch.
ai getting good
And then boxes out Wemby!
Giving me KLove defending Curry vibes
Damn this is cool to watch– 400 pounds hustling back and forth like that
Fastest vs Fattest (not really but fits)
And got the board. What’s the point in rim protection if you can’t clean it up.
like kevin love against curry in.game 7
Thats scary to see ngl
see those bigs move like that at ground level is impressive
that’s winning hustle. love to see it
Luka would’ve gotten blown by 3 separated times
Spurs fan here. Denver’s defensive possessions down the stretch were extremely impressive. Our coach had us playing iso ball during this time and we got taught a lesson. I stood up and screamed with genuine joy watching Joker move his feet against one of the faster guards in the league. Truly spectacular possession from Joker
Shades of Looney locking up Harden in terms of sheer improbability
show them his blocks too
And then blocking out Wemby! Joker is unreal sometimes, fr
He’s actually above average on the perimeter for a big man. The only defensive skill he isn’t good at is blocking shots. Jokic is actually an above average defensive player, largely in part because he’s an elite rebounder.
Guarding one of the fastest players itl into boxing out a 7’6 alien 🥶🥶
When people compare Joker to Luka as defenders it always confuses me. 1) Joker is a big body and a presence in the paint, who teams have to at times alter how they attack the rim. 2) Not always but Joker picks his spots where he tries, and that’s just not something I see often with Luka.
Just my 2 cents, I’m no expert and I probably don’t know any more basketball than the next redditor but I trust my eyes.
I don’t believe in Fox
this is the basketball equivalent of brock lesnar chasing you
Best in the world!
Jokic gets up for Wemby.
I get this is playoff intensity but isn’t that a reach in foul that wasn’t called?
Um am I missing something, good job Jokic by initial cut off the drive, after fix sets up again that step back got a lot separation to the point where someone else had to help guard fox.
Then ridiculous reaction by Jokic to read that and go back out.
So to me Jokic D was decent
Down 20, he switched to Olympics Patty Mills and locked him up to win the game in OT. He’s like that.
Not only did he play good defense, he also boxed out Wemby in some capacity
As a spurs fan, this was infuriating. Fox trying and failing to do hero ball in a team that is 100% not built to play in that way. He has to shed his savior complex or he’s going to keep struggling in situations like this.
My guy, you ain’t gonna run your same play book with the freaking joker and keep thinking itll eventually work. He’s top 3 for a reason.
He boxing out was straight up pushing the dude 😂
That game was personnal for Jokic lmao
The only defense you have to play against Fox is to talk enough shit until he gets angry, then foul him every play. He’ll go to the line talking shit back, not take the first free throw seriously AT ALL - miss and make the 2nd one.
Seen it a hundred times.
That is indeed one of my observations with him. Always talking shit during free throws as if it helps him at all.
Mvp performance on both sides of the ball again.
Great effort but with Murray cheating in and cam flying across the floor for the 3, I’m going to assume they wanted anyone to shoot that ball that wasn’t Fox or Wemby?
I’m fine with him giving less effort on defense because he has a heavy role on offense and play excessive minutes. Can’t risk any injury and hope he can play longer for his career.
He literally beat him on the second step back..
Turning a guard twice by any post player is outstanding defense
Horrible defense… if it was so good why did he teammate rotate to help
You clearly never played if you think a center matched up on the perimeter with a guard wouldn’t require some kind of shading from his teammates. Jokic stopped the initial penetration off the switch with zero dig, allowing the backside defense to rotate for the off ball action. That is text book 1⁄5 weakside ball screen defense. This isn’t 2k, this is basketball. the expectation for ball screen switches isn’t for the center to be on a island with zero help it’s for flatting out the initial drive and prevent a paint touch that would require a strong side dig.
I was specifically told he doesn’t play defense.
Is this AI?
It was okay. Fox got the better of Jokic at the end that forced the defense to rotate and help on Fox. It was good team defense though.
People really don’t realize that Jokic is an elite defender. https://readthegame.com/player/203999
He gets a ton of steals, and meaningful blocks and defensive rebounds.
Fun website and stat– it assigns a 14.3 impact score to SGA and Wemby as well fwiw with the disclaimer that guards and wings tend to be underrated relative to bigs. So those three are in a dead tie according to this stat, which is pretty insane.
Next-highest rating I found was Kawhi at 11.5 which is also super impressive and seens about rate for this year.
Yeah, it’s actually incredible how all three of them are tied and yet have different games.
And a great box out tho
The rebound at the end there is crazy too. Is there anyone except Wemby who stops Jokic from getting that rebound?
I was slightly bummed Jokic didn’t get a 40 point triple double but it’s pretty tough against a guy like that.
something something WEMBY WOULD HAVE STOLEN THE BALL AND 720 DUNKED IT BETWEEN THE LEGS
Why can’t Luka do this shit wtf
Thats not defense
Nah tell me why this ain’t the league’s face man this effort is just beautiful to watch!
Fox is arguably fastest player today and Jokic shut him down😭😭😭😭
I mean he did foul him but he did play good defense.
Are we serious? He clearly got lost on the snatch back and cam Johnson had to come rotate to fox and that led to an open 3
yeah idk the jokic fanboys are really out for this one
I think it’s the angle? You can’t really see how far he gets shook. Top angle we’re talking about how he got crossed
A very notable possession in a 53-minute game.
You’ll always find an angle to talk him down lmao
Is this good defense or bad defense.
For a 7 foot 280lb center not exactly known for athleticism to keep up with one of the quickest guards in the league is pretty good D I would say
It was good defense but Fox was able to shake him and then you see Cam Johnson quickly pick up Fox after Fox created separation from Jokic
Well no kidding Fox is gonna be able to pick up separation against a 7’ 285lb center. For a center covering one of the quickest guards in the nba that defense was great
If your starting pg can’t shake the opposing center then you have a problem. And it took fox longer than it should have.
good, pretty hard for a guy jokics size to keep up with someone as fast as fox and stay in front of him
Great defense for someone accused of being a traffic cone way too often.
He had 3 blocks. That’s good.