While Saturday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets began about LeBron James and his pursuit of 40,000 career points, it quickly became about the defending NBA champions and their continued dominance over the Lakers.
Unbeaten vs. Los Angeles dating back to last year’s Western Conference Finals sweep, the Nuggets continue to take care of business against the Lakers, and did so again on Saturday night.
Speaking with reporters after the game, James gave his honest assessment on Jokic and the Nuggets, saying, “They have five threats on the floor at one time. And their biggest threat can do everything, and that’s Joker. That’s what makes it very challenging.”
James added that there is no answer for Jokic, which is the truth. While different teams have tried different coverages against the reigning Finals MVP, he has a counter for all of them. This is made possible by Jokic’s greatness, but also the talent the Nuggets have surrounded him with. Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and others on the Nuggets roster all compliment Jokic perfectly, which is a big key to Denver’s success.
Every Lakers vs. Nuggets game seems to play out the same way, with Los Angeles hanging tough, but Denver putting them away down the stretch with superior execution. This latest game was no different between LA and Denver.