The List: Length to crowd the paint, shooting to space the floor

1. Nikola Jokic is absolutely dominant in the post when you surround him with proper floor spacers. Three spot up shooters and one athletic rebounder in the dunker spot is almost an unfair advantage for Joker.

2. PJ Dozier’s length allows him to see over the defense, a trait that becomes especially valuable when playing alongside Jokic. If a point guard can collapse the defense off of a pick and roll (PnR) and deliver the pass to Jokic on the roll or pop, the big man will find a way to capitalize.

3. The first key to great dribble containment on defense is staying in front of the ball. The second key is waiting until the ball handler gathers the ball or goes into his jump before you go for the steal or block. Jrue Holiday is perhaps the best in the league at this skill. Over the last several games, Dozier looks like he isn’t too far behind.

4. I loved this sequence of Michael Porter Jr. guarding Giannis. You could tell that he wanted this challenge and, at least on this night, he was up for it.

5. I loved Will Barton directing traffic on the break. Bonus points to Porter for knowing exactly what to do in this situation.

6. Jokic has a way of stunning the defense with off-rhythm passes. In the clip below, watch how he holds the ball for that extra half beat before skipping it to the corner. Kyle Korver is trying to play in between both Jokic and the corner but Jokic’s hesitation stuns Korver and forces him to wait an extra split second.

7. Spacing the court isn’t just about three-point shooting. Great floor spacers know how to manipulate the defense by perfectly timing screens, cuts, and curls while finding the exact angle to slide your feet to the corner or cut toward the basket. Juancho Hernangomez is an elite floor spacer in terms of timing, cuts, and movements. When he’s making his threes, he’s a very useful Jokic-ball player. He’s also shooting 38.2% over his 4-year career when playing alongside Jokic.

8. Your center runs the break and dishes it off to your point guard. Just how John Wooden drew it up.

9. Watch how well Dozier and Jerami Grant work together to create enough space in the PnR to generate a wide open three from the top of the key.

10. Malik Beasley is a lot more talented and crafty than he is given credit for. Every now and then he makes a really nice dribble move followed by a perfectly delivered pass.

11. It was great to see Jokic and Porter Jr. run the old Gary Harris special. Only Porter is a better shooter and 6 inches taller, so the curl cut is even more deadly.

The Full List