Nikola Jokic is ready for the Clippers
Nikola Jokic is ready for the Clippers
Last night, the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz offered us one of the lowest-scoring games in the past decade. The team coached by Mike Malone won Game 7 with a score of 80 to 78 completing a 3-1 comeback.
This duel was the best series from the first round as it showcased the battle between two spectacular young players: Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell. The Nuggets won the first game in overtime, but Jazz took the next three games of the series. However, Jokic & Co. didn’t lose hope, continued to fight, and their perseverance paid off.
In Game 7, Nikola Jokic scored 30 points and added 14 rebounds and four assists. He was the best player on the court, and he showed this by making the game-winner while being defended by Rudy Gobert.
In the second round, the Denver Nuggets will play against the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that beat the Dallas Mavericks in six games. In my opinion, the organization from Colorado has a fair chance of advancing to the conference final.
First of all, Nikola Jokic won’t have an opponent as tough as Rudy Gobert. The French player is one of the best defenders in the league, and his skills are very well known. The Clippers don’t have such a player, so Jokic’s offense will be crucial.
More importantly, Nikola Jokic showed during the past seasons that he plays very well under pressure. The Serbian big man is a very clutch player and can make a lot of problems against the Clippers in the last minutes of games.
However, there are two question marks. First: will Jamal Murray continue to play at the same level as in the first round? Second: will Paul George continue to struggle, or will he regain his confidence and shot-making ability
*photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo
