Quote:
Originally Posted by dirk digler
Who is going to guard Jokic for the Lakers? They got swept in '23 and lost 4-1 last year with AD.
I am the opposite of you, I think they a low chance to win against Denver but can and probably will beat OKC.
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They're going to just try to deny the entry pass with improved perimeter defense. I mean Reaves ain't a lock-down guy out there (though he HAS improved), but the bar was D-Lo. Merely having DFS out there along with the length of Rui, Lebron and Luka will be more effective than them trying to body Jokic up down low.
They were never going to shut down Jokic. They didn't get it done with Davis, they weren't going to get it done with Williams either.
The idea isn't to beat him on the defensive side of the ball -- it's to wear him out on the offensive side of the ball and simply to pressure the guys bringing the ball up in such a way that prevents him from handling the entire game.
Bottom line is that Jokic is getting 30-12-10 whether you want him to or not. He got it against KAT in the playoffs last season. He did BETTER than that against Davis. He's going to get his.
So you try something else. If he can manage 40-15-15 for a series, you lose.
But I don't think he will. I think he'll do the same thing against LAL that he was doing when we HAD Davis. But now we may just have the passing and perimeter shooting to answer back.