Nikola Jokic’s ejection was a prime example of what ails the Nuggets
Jun 14, 2021, 6:27 AM
Stephen A. Smith didn’t like the call. Ryen Russillo didn’t either. Heck, even Russell Wilson didn’t think it was warranted.
So, it’s no surprise that it wasn’t a huge hit in Denver. The flagrant 2 that got Nikola Jokic ejected during the third quarter of Game 4 was about as well-received in Nuggets Nation as Carmelo Anthony Appreciation Night.
Let’s get this out of the way: It was a bad call. Not the foul. Not even the flagrant. But the ejection was unwarranted.
It also completely changed the complexion of the game. Tossing the MVP will have that effect.
But the Nuggets didn’t lose the series because of that call. They didn’t even lose the game because of that whistle. They got swept by the Suns because of everything that it represents.
It was dumb basketball. And that’s become the defining trait of Denver’s hoops team.
Did Jokic get fouled when taking a shot just before his ejection? Maybe. But that doesn’t warrant him going after an opposing player in retaliation.
Instead of being smart and finding a way to get even somewhere in the flow of the game, he attacked Cameron Payne some 90-plus feet away from the basket he was supposed to be defending. It was in plain sight. It was impossible to ignore.
As a result, the Nuggets fate was put in the hands of the officials. And they burned them.
Jokic should’ve never given them the chance. He has to be smarter than that.
He knows his value to the team. He knows they’re toast without him. He can’t risk getting tossed. Period.
It was a selfish play. It was foolish. It was emotion overtaking logic. It was hot-headed instead of cold-blooded.
But that’s what the Nuggets do. They beat themselves.
They did it over and over in the series against the Suns. Meanwhile, Phoenix played textbook basketball en route to a 4-0 series win.
There were examples throughout the series. Of both facts.
In the final 3:20 of the first half on Sunday, DeAndre Ayton left the game with three fouls. He was replaced by Dario Saric.
The smart play would’ve been to go to Jokic every time down. Get him the ball in the post and let him eat.
Denver did it once. Once.
Instead, they fired up jump shots. Some of which didn’t even hit iron.
That’s bad basketball. It’s the polar opposite of what the Suns did.
Every time down, it seemed like Phoenix ran the same play. It resulted in Chris Paul shooting 12-footer after 12-footer. Or free throws from the future Hall of Famer. He seemed to make every one of them.
That’s the difference. One team didn’t feed their star. The other one did.
One team knows how to play. The other one doesn’t.
That’s on the players. That’s on the coaches.
And it’s a problem. One that was on full display on Sunday.
The Nuggets are a team that doesn’t show up against lesser opponents. They repeatedly struggle in the third quarter. And they play bad basketball.
That’s why their season is over. And it’s why they won’t win anything until it’s fixed.
The Nuggets don’t play smart basketball. Nikola Jokic provided exhibit A on Sunday night.
