SAN FRANCISCO — In a league infamous for curtsying within the presence of its stars, giving LeBron, KD and Steph all of the favorable calls, why do NBA referees insist on giving Nuggets heart and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic the no-soup-for-you therapy?
The Nuggets received blown out 123-107 in Sport 1 of their playoff collection towards Golden State. It wasn’t a good battle, with Jokic taking part in one-on-eight towards 5 Warriors gamers and three referees.
Earlier than he boarded a flight to the California, I requested Denver coach Michael Malone what sort of respect he anticipated the refs would present Jokic.
“They’re going to understand he’s a back-to-back MVP,” replied Malone, punctuating his zinger with a self-satisfied grin. “How about that one, Kiz?”
The zinger? Completely lovely. Liked it.
However as for Malone’s idea refs would present Jokic respect?
Scorching rubbish.
Jokic, who spent a lot of the night cradling a pissed off head in his arms, took 22 field-goal makes an attempt earlier than drawing his first foul from a Golden State defender with 2 minutes, 36 seconds remaining within the third quarter.
“His jersey was getting pulled out quite a bit,” stated Malone, resisting the urge to criticize the officers extra harshly.
The therapy of Jokic may not have been prison, nevertheless it’s actually farcical. What does the as soon as and future MVP should do to earn a extra favorable whistle from the refs?
“My buddy,” Jokic stated, “I feel I’m going to get fined if I reply.”
The meat is reliable. However let’s finish the whining proper right here.
The true downside for the Nuggets now, except they’re intent on heading to the seaside sooner fairly than later, will not be the referees. If Jokic is taking part in one-on-eight, it’s as a result of he has too many teammates, most notably the ridiculously overpaid Aaron Gordon, which might be large fats zeroes on the large playoff stage.
I received a really dangerous feeling of deja vu within the Chase Heart. The dearth of battle within the Nuggets jogged my memory approach an excessive amount of of getting broomed by Phoenix within the playoffs a yr in the past.
They’re Joker and the Invisibles.
Because the No. 6 seed within the Western Convention, Malone beseeched the underdog Nuggets to return out swinging towards Golden State with a nothing-to-lose perspective.
“I realized a very long time in the past from my father,” Malone instructed me previous to tipoff of Sport 1, “when you might have two actually good groups, proficient groups, in most situations, probably the most aggressive staff will win.”
So what occurred? Jokic gallantly waged a battle on the basketball flooring. However the Invisibles shrunk within the highlight.
With Golden State forcing him into unusual inefficiency, Jokic required 25 pictures for 25 hard-earned factors. Will Barton, who scored 24, did present up. Kudos to him.
However the remainder of the Nuggets? Non-existent.
And Gordon was the worst. He was the cellophane man, lacking seven of his 10 field-goal makes an attempt. Unable to make the Golden State protection pay when the Warriors double-teamed Jokic, a mid-range jumper from Gordon was the equal of a Denver turnover.
When Jokic nailed a 14-foot jumper with 4 minutes, 21 seconds remaining within the second quarter, Denver led 43-40. One of many league’s extra raucous arenas was stuffed with murmurs of hysteria. As Warriors guard Steph Curry labored to shake off the rust in his return from damage as a sub, it appeared the time was proper for the Nuggets to steal Sport 1.
With Draymond Inexperienced harassing Jokic, nevertheless, the Invisibles stumbled into halftime, permitting the Warriors to complete the second quarter on an 18-4 run and take an 11-point lead into the locker room. That was the turning level, however not the principle motive why Golden State received. With Curry removed from Classic Steph, the Warriors wanted anyone to step up. Guard Jordan Peele did, burning Denver with 30 factors.
“We’re underdogs right here,” Jokic stated. “However we have to act just like the canines … We have to battle and we can’t give up.”
A yr in the past, Gordon got here up small within the playoffs, averaging a meager 11.1 factors on 43.4% taking pictures. He was little greater than a giant pile of mud below the broom of the Suns, as Phoenix swept away Denver within the second spherical.
That underwhelming playoff efficiency someway earned Gordon a four-year, $86.4 million contract extension in September. Yeah, I do know. If not for the accidents to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., AG can be the Nuggets’ fourth offensive possibility.
No matter occurred to the thought of subsequent man up? Gordon is a $20 million function participant.
Solely in America.
“Aaron Gordon is at his greatest when he’s attacking,” Malone stated. “When he performs with that assault mindset, he’s a distinct participant and he takes this staff to a distinct degree.”
Gordon has two selections now:
Roll up his sleeves and be a canine within the battle with Jokic.
Or Gordon can flip tail and schedule that seaside trip to spend a piece of cash the Nuggets have wasted on him.
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