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Nikola Jokic is totally unstoppable nowadays, however again within the 2020 Western Convention finals, Dwight Howard at the least managed to gradual him down considerably.
Jokic averaged 25.4 factors, 10.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per recreation in opposition to the Jazz and Clippers throughout the primary two rounds of these playoffs, however that dropped to 21.8 factors, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in opposition to Howard and the Lakers. LA gained the sequence 4-1 and went on to turn into NBA champions.
This week, Howard detailed the acute lengths he went to to be able to cease Jokic.
“I really like Jokic, the 12 months I got here again to play in opposition to Denver, I studied this man so I knew after I performed him what I wanted to do,” Howard said on his podcast ‘Above The Rim with DH 12’.
“It’s a psychological recreation. I studied him the entire summer season. I watched clips, I watched all the pieces he did. I realized learn how to do what he was doing, not so I might do it in a recreation, however I realized what he was doing in order that when he did it, I used to be in a position to comprise it.
“That’s the entire psychological facet of the sport that folks don’t even perceive why I used to be so good at protection. I studied him a lot after which I began learning his mentality, what he was doing off the court docket. Like, once we was within the bubble, that’s what I used to be doing. I’m watching all the pieces he doing each single day. I’m each participant, I’m all the pieces they doing simply so I can have a psychological edge.
Dwight added that he took issues to such an excessive that Jokic appeared to suppose he was appearing slightly loopy.
“… That reveals you the way a lot respect I’ve for him as a participant, that I’m actually taking this to the purpose the place I’m like, each second I’m watching him. After which he me too like, “Bruh what the hell unsuitable with Dwight?”
“[It was] even to the purpose the place… so their lunch room was throughout from ours. So what I’m doing, is I’m entering into they lunch room. I’m talking to the gamers, I’m talking to the coaches, I’m talking to him too! I’m doing all these items as a result of it’s a thoughts recreation to me. Folks suppose I’m joking and having an excellent time, they don’t realise I’m the one taking part in ‘the sport’.”
It’s value noting that Jokic was not fairly the participant he’s right now. The Joker was 24 when he confronted Dwight within the 2020 convention finals. It was the 12 months earlier than he took one other massive leap and gained his first MVP. Then once more, he nonetheless completed high 10 in MVP voting that season, so he was already an incredible participant.
Dwight did an incredible job again in 2020, but it surely’s protected to say he wouldn’t have as a lot luck in opposition to Jokic now, regardless of tweeting that he might nonetheless assist the Lakers in opposition to the Nuggets this postseason.
READ MORE: Why the Golden State Warriors Decided Against Signing Dwight Howard
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