The Denver Nuggets are on the cusp of sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers out of the playoffs for the second straight year, after a 112-105 win in Game 3. The Nuggets are now firmly in the driver's seat in this series and after the game, Nikola Jokic was asked about guarding against complacency.
“I think I said one time that winning is a lifestyle for us, and we really enjoy it," Jokic said. "It’s really good when you’re winning, especially when you win a lot of games, everybody's happy. Everybody wants to play. Everybody is buying into the system... I was here when we were losing, so I don’t want to go back."
We saw it last year when these teams met, that the Nuggets won't be getting complacent. It would have been easy for them to take their foot off the gas in Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals but they didn't and I expect another strong showing from them on Saturday.
With Jokic leading the way, winning really has become a lifestyle and a habit for the Nuggets off late. They won the championship last year and for me, are favorites to win it all in 2024 as well.
As Jokic mentioned, there was a time when the Nuggets were losing, as they didn't make the playoffs in his first three seasons. As long as the six-time All-Star remains healthy and is playing at this level, though, those dark days will stay away.
In Game 3 here, Jokic had 24 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal, as the Nuggets went up 3-0. They have now won 11 games in a row against the Lakers, including seven straight in the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic On The Nuggets' Read-And-React Offense
What makes the Nuggets so difficult to defend is their read-and-react offense. Everyone on the team seems to be on the same page and they are at the right place at the right time depending on the situation they find themselves in. Jokic was asked about building that offense over the years.
"Actually, first was me and Gary Harris, then me and Jamal (Murray), then we had the group, Jameer Nelson was here, Wilson Chandler," Jokic stated. "... Well, first of all, you need to learn how to play and then you get the core. Then we add (Michael Porter Jr., then we add (Aaron Gordon) and then we add (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope), you just adding players that know how to play and know where to be.
"Then you need to experience like 2-3 years together just to learn how to play with each other," Jokic continued. "Then you're going to learn your teammates where you're going to kind of read his steps... I think I know what all they're going to do in certain spots on the floor."
The Nuggets had put this kind of offense in place going back to around about 2017. They have almost perfected it now with this core, which has been together for a couple of years.
While everyone deserves a lot of credit for that, there is no doubt that Jokic is the one who ties it all up together. During his postgame press conference, Aaron Gordon called the two-time MVP a genius.
"Joker's a basketball genius," Gordon said. "I mean, he's just a genius and happens to play basketball."
He is certainly a genius and makes life so much easier for his teammates. In all likelihood, Jokic will be winning his third MVP this year and there seems to be a bit more swagger about him nowadays as well.
Getting back to this series, I didn't think it would end in a sweep like last year. At this point, though, I certainly do not like the Lakers' chances of winning Game 4 and extending this series.
More must-reads: