Nikola Jokic reinforces 'best player in the world' tag
Four Timberwolves defenders collapsed on Nikola Jokic when he caught the ball with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter of Game 4. It was a critical possession, as Minnesota desperately needed a stop to cut the deficit to single digits. Jokic scoured the floor and made a mind-boggling pass to Aaron Gordon for the dunk.
On commentary, a stunned Jamal Crawford couldn't help but compare Jokic to a certain GOAT.
"Is that what Tom Brady felt like when he was playing? Look away, drop it off, no problem, I see you but they don't," Crawford said on TNT's broadcast of Jokic's ability to deceive four defenders.
That was one of many such passes Jokic made throughout the game Sunday as Denver leveled up the series at two wins apiece.
Although Jokic finished with only seven dimes to go with his 35 points, don't let that stat line fool you. The Serb picked apart Minnesota's defense by getting to his favored spots — especially the nail — to create all sorts of opportunities for Gordon (27 points), Jamal Murray (19 points), Justin Holiday (10 points) and Christian Braun (11 points). Many of Jokic's passes ended up as hockey assists as Murray, Gordon and Kentavios Caldwell-Pope combined for 17 assists.
The most impressive aspect of Jokic's night was his "give me the ball and get out of the way" attitude in the fourth quarter. Jokic channeled his inner alpha to attempt 10 shots in the final period, forcing the Timberwolves to send double teams and making them pay for overhelping on defense.
In comparison, Jokic attempted only one shot in the fourth quarter of Game 2 when Minnesota's defense imposed its will on the champions. Even in the Game 3 win, he attempted only four shots in the final period. But the three-time MVP, like the chess master that he is, realized quickly in Game 4 that he was two steps ahead of Minnesota's defense and decided to make them pay.
Even Anthony Edwards admitted as much.
"Any time you make a mistake, he sees it. It's hard to beat that," Edwards told reporters after the loss.
Indeed. There's no margin for error against Jokic, who views the game with an unmatched IQ in the modern NBA. Sunday's performance was a reminder of why he is the best player in the world. Luka Doncic or "Ant-Man" could take that mantle one day, but we're in the Jokic era until further notice.
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