Nikola Jokic is a superb scorer, a troublesome rebounder and an outstanding passer. However his best talent is likely to be are available creatively losing time.
Within the third quarter of Thursday night time’s win over the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown misplaced the ball out of bounds. However the officers dominated {that a} Nuggets participant bought his hand on the ball. Jokic instantly signaled for head coach Michael Malone to problem the decision, however Malone hadn’t gotten a transparent take a look at the play.
Clearly, Malone wanted time to have a look at the replay. That is when Jokic sprung into motion. Or, slightly, knelt into motion.
Jokic leaned down and pretended to tie his shoe instantly in entrance of the in-bounder, inflicting a delay because the referee waited. That gave Malone time to look at the play on the scoreboard, determine to make use of his problem and win a key additional possession for his staff.
Jokic has proven this talent earlier than. When the Nuggets have a lead late within the recreation, Jokic usually invents methods to decelerate the in-bounding course of. He’ll let the basketball bounce away, deliberately mishandle passes or fake to be upset a couple of non-call, all whereas letting the sport clock run with out the shot clock beginning.
Jokic will get away with it partly due to how he seems. On look alone, you’ll by no means suppose the oafish-looking Jokic was a two-time MVP and Finals MVP. So within the second, it appears completely cheap that he would fumble a easy move from the referee and stumble across the baseline.
These additional 5 – 6 seconds he wastes could make a distinction over time. The strikes present Jokic’s smarts, however the important thing a part of being good in that method is to come back throughout as dumb. The Joker retains a straight face, by no means acknowledging his antics, even trying dour and downtrodden about his imaginary untied laces. Seconds later, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made a jumper.
In a recreation the place the Celtics have been down one possession within the closing minute, stealing a possession within the third quarter was big. In any other case the sport would have been tied. Identical to Jokic’s sneakers.