Four Timberwolves defenders swarmed Nikola Jokic as he received the ball with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
In a pivotal moment, with Minnesota aiming to narrow the gap to single digits, Jokic surveyed the court and delivered an astonishing pass to Aaron Gordon, who slammed home a dunk.
In disbelief, Jamal Crawford, on commentary, couldn’t resist drawing comparisons between Jokic and a certain GOAT (Greatest of All Time).
“Is that what Tom Brady felt like when he was playing? Look away, drop it off, no problem, I see you but they don’t,” During TNT’s broadcast, Crawford marveled at Jokic’s knack for deceiving four defenders with his moves.
That pass was just one example of Jokic’s incredible vision and playmaking abilities showcased throughout the game on Sunday, as Denver evened the series at two wins apiece.
Despite recording just seven assists alongside his 35 points, Jokic’s impact transcended the stat sheet. He adeptly exploited Minnesota’s defense, orchestrating plays from his preferred positions, notably the nail, facilitating scoring opportunities for Gordon, Murray, Holiday, and Braun.
Numerous passes from Jokic resulted in secondary assists, with Murray, Gordon, and Caldwell-Pope collectively contributing 17 assists.
Jokic’s standout performance was his assertive demeanor in the fourth quarter, epitomized by his “give me the ball and get out of the way” mindset.
He took charge, attempting 10 shots in the final period, compelling the Timberwolves to resort to double teams and capitalizing on their defensive vulnerabilities caused by excessive help defense.
In contrast, during Game 2, Jokic took just one shot in the fourth quarter, succumbing to Minnesota’s defensive prowess. Even in the Game 3 victory, he only attempted four shots in the final period.
However, displaying his strategic acumen akin to a chess master, the three-time MVP swiftly recognized his advantage over Minnesota’s defense in Game 4 and capitalized on it, exacting payment for their defensive lapses.
Even Anthony Edwards conceded to this reality.
“Any time you make a mistake, he sees it. It’s hard to beat that,” Edwards told reporters after the loss.
Absolutely. Jokic leaves no room for mistakes, leveraging an unparalleled basketball IQ in today’s NBA landscape.
His display on Sunday served as a testament to why he reigns as the world’s top player. While talents like Luka Doncic or “Ant-Man” may ascend to that status in the future, for now, we remain firmly entrenched in the Jokic era.
