Or rather, the two of them defended purely on instinct.
For example, just a moment ago, neither of them had stopped to think about how to defend that play or whether doubling King Arthur might let him pass the ball out.
The instant they saw King Arthur lose the ball, they both felt the urge to rush over and double-team him. So that was what they did.
That was part of defensive talent, too.
After the Raptors scored, the Knicks didn't call a timeout. They quickly inbounded the ball from the baseline.
Jokic got the ball and immediately flung it with both hands toward King Arthur in the frontcourt.
King Arthur had only just gotten up off the floor.
Since every Raptors player had joined the fast break, there was no one in King Arthur's way when he got the ball in the Raptors' backcourt.
And now King Arthur was facing an open basket.
He could shoot a three or go for a dunk.
But he wasn't confident in his three-point shot.
From where he was, it would take no more than two seconds to go from catching the ball to dunking it.
So he wanted to get the dunk first, then foul a Raptors player and send him to the line.
If he got lucky and the Raptors missed one of their two free throws, they'd still have a chance to shoot a three.
They could call a timeout and draw something up.
Then they'd have four seconds to calmly take a three.
Of course, all these thoughts flashed through King Arthur's mind in an instant.
In fact, by the time those thoughts crossed his mind, he was already dribbling toward the basket.
Just inside the free-throw line, King Arthur leaped high and slammed the ball in his right