....we're not a month removed from watching AD wash Jokic on both ends of the court and we're supposed to entertain him being better?
Stop it
You mean their respective individual impacts where one had a significant advantage of playing in more favorable conditions?
Jokic had a number of ISOs against AD, where he took full advantage of that matchup and did whatever he wanted against him. That avenue of offense would've been exhausted more had AD not had the luxury of having Dwight/McGee rotating on Jokic. If here you're stating it's not a 1v1 exchange, and you don't believe that there was any positional-crossover to any notable degree, and given the fact that AD had the definitively better support cast, how could you possibly come to the conclusion that he washed Jokic on both ends?
Like I said in my original response to your claim - more like we saw the Lakers washing the Nuggets.
@Long Live The Kane this is why your dumbass should've listened to me at the time.Bro this is legendary juelz'ing just to avoid admitting what was obvious, AD was a better offensive AND defensive player in their series...Dwight and Mcgee are bargin salary bench players that could literally be had by any team in the league...if all it takes to nullify Jokic's amazing otherworldly offensive wizardry is a couple of vet min bench centers that average like 20min against him, that wizardry was overstated in the first place
Except it's not fukking Dwight and McGee that made the difference...if it weren't them it'd be some other interchangeable vet min stiffs in their place...this idea that AD was "allowed the luxury" of being everywhere on the court blowing up pick and rolls, running out to contest what Jokic thought would be open 3s, being an elite rim protector, etc....is not some random luxury because he was blessed to be able to play with Javelle McGee....it's a skill and impact that ONLY he (and maybe Giannis) has in the entire fukking league...All that playmaking that Jokic has that's supposed to make him so much better on offense, AD's defense diminishes it more than anybody else in the league.... nevermind that Jokic's playmaking is overrated in the first place, as the nuggets still needed otherworldly guard play to barely make it out the first round...cause AD snuffs that shyt out too, Murray couldn't save him.... then on the other side, AD dropping 31 on elite efficiency
AD is better dog, it is what it is
Everything I said about that series was 100% on the mark and you foolishly thought that AD could handle Jokic all by himself while being just as effective on offense. When he comes up against a legit big man he needs players like Dwight and JaVale to soak up defensive possessions on them. He can't defend legit centers for the entirety of a series. He was food for Jokic in 2020 and was food for him in 2023.
The difference is, he didn't have the personnel around him to guard Jokic in 2023 like he did in 2020. That's the importance of surrounding him with goon big men so he doesn't use up his tank on defending centers, because he can't do it.
This was obvious to anyone paying attention at the time.
And it's obvious to anyone paying attention that when it's mano e mano that Jokic is the superior player. I don't expect you to come in here and admit fault, but let this be a lesson for next time when you think about running your mouth with your shameless ass agendas.
) and keeping AD.
