Renck: As Nikola Jokic’s repeated shots clanked off the front rim, it raised the unnerving question: What is wrong with him? The conclusion is simple. The greatest player in the world is knee-deep in a head-throbbing slump. Jokic has shot below 40% over a three-game stretch with at least 15 attempts for the first time in his career, per ESPN. He is missing bunnies and 3-pointers (6 for 28). Jokic is making no excuses — it is fair to wonder if the sleeve on his right elbow is a sign of an injury – and admits “he has to be better.” What if he is not? Can the Nuggets win two of the next three games if he doesn’t shake his funk?
Keeler: Once Joker’s shot goes funky, the Nuggets aren’t long for the dance floor, my friend. Aaron Gordon is a guy you want as a teammate and cherish even more as a friend. Jamal Murray has a gear that can make it rain from 5,280 feet up. Michael Porter Jr. is the hoops equivalent of a 2002 tech stock. But Jokic is the base. The foundation. The bread for David Adelman’s postseason PB&J sandwich. If he can’t hold up, Denver’s got a big ol’ mess on its hands.
Renck: The Nuggets are finished without the best of Jokic. The problem is that he’s been struggling the entire playoffs. He shot 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from 3 during the season, compared to 45.5% and 33.9% in the postseason. Denver does not have the depth to cover Jokic’s regression over three games against OKC’s swarming defense. The Nuggets did it once in Game 3. But then Michael Porter Jr. disappeared and Bubble Jamal Murray and Playoff Aaron Gordon came back to earth.
Keeler: It’s the elbow. It’s the ankle. But most of all, it’s the legs. Remember all that talk, in hindsight, about keeping the best player on Earth to a pitch count after Game 7 vs. Minnesota last year — so that sort of collapse wouldn’t happen again? Promises made, promises not exactly kept. Per NBA.com, Jokic appeared in fewer of the Nuggets’ final 15 regular-season games this season (nine) than last year (14). But because of that insane, heroic and historic 61-10-10 vs. the T-Wolves, he actually logged more minutes per game over the Nuggets’ final 15 regular season tilts + first round of the playoffs (39.2) than he did during the same span in the spring of 2024 (37.5). Naturally, Minny found a way to mess up the Nuggets’ best-laid plans again.
Renck: Jokic is not immune to bad aim. It happens. He looks exhausted from being asked to do too much, but if he’s not hurt, the answer is simple: let him shoot. There is no way a weary Nuggets team wins two of the next three games, including at least one in Oklahoma City, without him returning to form. And there’s a reason to think this happens. He is getting good shots. OKC is not employing the equivalent of the Jordan Rules. Jokic must make his floaters and lay-ups in the paint and knock down a few 3s. And keep getting to the line, even though he’s only making 74% in the playoffs. Maybe Murray and Gordon go off, but there is no chance the Nuggets stay on track for the Western Conference Finals without Jokic at his best.
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Is Thunder’s depth catching up with Nuggets late in playoff series? Nuggets Podcast: Nikola Jokic’s struggles, Aaron Gordon’s heroics and a Game 4 fade vs. Thunder Renck: Nuggets were not a no-show; they were a no-shoot in ugly Game 4 loss Nuggets’ David Adelman shoulders blame for key 5-second violation: ‘That’s inexcusable’ Nuggets go cold at wrong time, drop Game 4 to OKC Thunder at homeKeeler: One of my favorite things about the Big Honey’s arsenal? He impacts a game in so many ways, on so many levels, that even an “off” shooting night from Jokic usually won’t slow down the offense at all. The Nuggets are better when other guys are on fire and Joker is just the facilitator, the orchestra conductor. That said, Denver’s also 15-21 all-time in postseason games in which the Jokic connects on less than 49% of his attempts from the field. On this stage, the Joker needs to focus more on drawing fouls and less on lobbying for them. If OKC can make him primarily a jump-shooter the rest of this series, the Nuggets are about three bricks away from Cancun.
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