Nikola Jokic’s passing clinic

1. The thing about Nikola Jokic’s passing is that it isn’t just his touch or vision that make him such an elite facilitator, it’s his ability to bend the court exactly the way he wants to create passing angles or open up opportunities for easy buckets. The clips below are A+ examples of this.

In the first clip, Jokic makes the most subtle movement with the ball, drawing it in and looking away from the cutting Millsap to lure the defender over an extra step. It’s not even a fake. Just a repositioning of his body to open up the angle for the pass. Incredible stuff.

In the second, Jokic appears to be heading towards a turnaround jumper or Sombor Shuffle only to show that he was actually just drawing the helpside defender away from the basket, opening and and-one opportunity for Michael Porter Jr.

2. Last night Jokic and PJ Dozier had a disagreement about where PJ Dozier should be standing and/or cutting when Jokic posts up.

3. Jokic and Murray are on that level where they don’t even need to call a play or say anything to each other. Just read and react in perfect harmony.

4. Anyone remember when this action was a staple of the Denver Nuggets offense? Perhaps it is a good sign that Jokic and Harris were able to find two different opportunities to run this throwback two-man game in the same game.

5. Paul Millsap has turned himself into a very good spot-up shooter but don’t sleep on plays like this one where he demonstrates the ability to catch on the move and square up all in one motion. Most bigs who become stretch shooters are limited in their ability to shoot off of movement but Millsap has managed to make himself reliable on all types of spot-up threes.

6. Michael Porter Jr. had a rough stretch halfway through the game trying to guard James Harden. Harden was hunting him every chance he got and didn’t miss over a stretch that saw Harden’s point total explode. MPJ hasn’t been targeted as much this season as he was in the playoffs last year but moments like this show that he is a ways away from being ready to accept the challenge against elite scorers like Harden.

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