The LIST: Shot selection, the Jokic cut, and defensive breakdowns

January 18, 2021

1. A few weeks ago I highlighted how PJ Dozier got an earful from Nikola Jokic when he wasn’t recognizing a specific cut that Jokic wants from whoever is playing the dunker spot (the spot just outside the paint along the baseline).

On Sunday, Dozier made the appropriate cut without hesitation in one of the highlight plays from the game.

Dozier probably hasn’t played power forward much over the last several years. Certainly never before as a professional. So even though he has a pretty high basketball IQ, he is having to learn an entirely new spot and new role that requires he learn cutting angles and timing. This is especially true when playing alongside such a brilliant passer in Jokic. If every player can read the court as quickly as Jokic, the Nuggets will find open shots every possession. Nuggets fans should be encouraged that Dozier appears to be a quick study.

2. Another thing I love about Dozier is how he is usually very good about rotating into the paint early when he is the deepest defender on the backside of a pick and roll. Getting to the spot early either forces the roller to receive the pass outside of the paint or forces the ball handler to throw the skip pass to the corner, leaving the defense in position to rotate.

3. What I don’t love about Dozier is that he is prone to either hunting for or taking shots that he has no business taking. The clip below is a prime example and one that very well may have lowered Denver’s odds of winning this game by a decent margin.

4. The video below provides a great example of the basic principles of cutting, filling, and replacing within an offensive possession. There are certain reads off ball players must make quickly that allow the team to properly space the court.

5. Here is an example of how players can make a read that is within the principles of the offense, but is nonetheless the worst of all available options. Murray cuts backdoor, then Barton cuts backdoor. When neither are open, Jokic is only left with Harris and Millsap as his dribble handoff options.

To complicate the matter, Gary doesn’t react to the backdoor cut, causing a complete halt to the possession.

6. Jokic has been very good about knowing when the team needs him to put his head down and attack the basket this season. But I’d love to see him pick his spots better when trying to draw some of these ticky tack fouls.

7. This was a great defensive possession and featured a heads-up play by Jokic to run out at Mike Conley after the flare screen.

8. Jokic’s plays basketball like an alien. He holds the ball, dribbles, passes, and shoots unlike anyone else in the league. The slow-motion clip of his “water polo pass” shows just how odd yet perfectly he manipulates the basketball.

9. The Nuggets had a 93.0 defensive rating in this game. That is an incredible number and would easily lead the NBA. The problem was that their offense was as bad as their defense was good. The Jazz took the lead in the 3rd quarter behind a stretch that included seven straight misses, most of which were A+ looks.

10. Campazzo is a rookie but he is also a veteran, having played professionally in Europe for over a decade. With his physical limitations, he will only hang around the NBA if he can manage to completely erase his “rookie” mistakes. Sunday night was filled with them.