A spread pick-and-roll team like the Houston Rockets, whom the Nuggets have faced twice in the past week, have drastically exposed his flaws on that end. Jokic rarely moves his feet well enough and is a little foul prone when he’s constantly attacked. He doesn’t hard hedge, instead staying so far away from the pick and roll that the ball handler can make a dribble move before being forced to encounter Jokic. He’s terrible at using angles, gives up on plays and rarely recovers to his man when the ball is finally settled.
Really, it’s been embarrassing to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPMjM08i_PM
There are times where Jokic falls asleep completely when he’s guarding the ball, like on this play where he’s watching the paint on the sideline dry and lets his man gallop past him to the rim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJX8Oo3k8sk
Sadly, these clips are only from one game against the Rockets, the encounter last Monday night was even worse. The Nuggets are in a dog fight for the eight-seed out West, and their defense has been a mess all season. Jokic has carried the offense to new heights, but against good teams it is a zero-sum game.
Before the season ends, Denver faces the new-look Pelicans three times (with big men that can eat Jokic alive), Oklahoma City twice (Westbrook averaging 34 against the Nuggetss this year), the Rockets once more, a pivotal game at Portland, the Miami Heat, and two other road games. Eight of their final 11 come on the road. If Jokic cannot figure out his defense fast, it could even cost them a playoff spot.
