You may have noticed that Nikola Jokić looked particularly aggressive against the Toronto Raptors.
Canada’s team went small with their starting lineup, opting not to blitz the big fella with a flurry of double teams until the second half. Jokić went to work early, dropping 13-5-5 in his first 12 minutes, setting the tone for a much-needed ‘reminder game’ from the 3x MVP.
Trying to determine when and why the enigmatic superstar looks for his own shot has become an argument without end. We could spend hours in discussion without getting any closer to a definitive answer, largely because Jokić denies ever making a premeditated decision about how to play — even when it appears glaringly obvious he’s done just that.
In the case of his dominant triple-double against the Raptors, the answer seems to be staring us in the face. Toronto went small. But if you think that’s why he attacked the rim, think again.
Jokić doesn’t even believe that size advantages exist.
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