Nikola Jokić’s 55-Point Masterpiece: Is This the Most Unbelievable Season in NBA History?
Oh, also:
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He leads the league in rebounding and assists per game, which nobody has ever done before for a full season (Wilt led the NBA in total assists in 1967-68, but Oscar Robertson averaged more per night);
Jokić’s touches, time of possession and usage rate are all down, year over year. So, too, are his post-ups, with Adelman saying that “if we can get through games without having to post him up 25 times, I think that’s beneficial for us and his body.”
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More frequently sliding Jokić from the block up to the elbows or the top of the key is working out OK for the Nuggets’ overall offensive ecosystem, too, since stationing him up there lifts his defender out of the paint, creating all kinds of room for split actions, dribble handoffs and backdoor cuts. Denver ranks second in the NBA in possessions per game finished off cuts, according to Synergy, and is scoring 1.39 points per possession on them, tied for fifth-best in the league.



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