Waiting and Waiting for AD

Jokic still relied heavily on his scoring threat to create for others. And he still didn't shoot enough from the perimeter to fill the role of a Spacing Option.

On top of that, at this point in his career, Jokic still had a few little issues with his temperament and mindset~~

At least in this game, Teacher Jokic had truly been taught a lesson by Green, and his composure had taken quite a hit...

In short, Jokic hadn't yet become the fully realized version of himself. With Green, Looney, and Wiggins trapping him with Zone defense, the Warriors successfully limited both his scoring and his connection with his teammates.

Once Jokic was neutralized, the Nuggets had only one reliable offensive weapon left to keep their efficiency up over an extended stretch.

That was Jamal Murray creating his own shot through sheer force.

Kobe Mamba was certainly a player with a distinct style and personality.

Over the first half of his career, his numbers across a large sample were usually just ordinary—nothing special. At best, he was around the level of a fringe All-Star.

But when the game grew tense, when the Playoffs began, he was one of the rare players who could elevate his game... provided he wasn't hampered by injuries.

And one important thing about Murray was that he wasn't particularly fazed by elite on-ball defenders.

Not because he was that great on his own, but because he had Jokic.

Even when Teacher Jokic was shut down on offense, his high basketball IQ still let him help his teammates in other ways.

His screens were among the best in the League, and his threat as a roller was enough to draw plenty of defenders away from Murray. That gave Murray room to show what he could do.

Tonight's battle