All U Can Heat
Fansided

Miami Heat: 3 blazing hot factors vs. the Denver Nuggets

By Trey Flynn

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 3: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 3, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 3: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 3, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 3: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 3, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 3: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 3, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Factor no. 1: The Serbian Joker is unstoppable

Nikola Jokic (the Joker), has been an MVP this season, and it’s quite possible that he’ll never win one due to the lack of fandom around his game from an average NBA fan. However, to an NBA nerd, Jokic is probably a top 10 player in the league right now, and he’s showing it through his amazing season this year.

Jokic is averaging 18.8 PPG, 10.0 TRB, 7.5 AST, 1.5 STL, with shooting splits of 50.0/31.8/83.6.

I know you can see it from above, but this big man is only 2.5 assists from averaging a triple double, which is absolutely ridiculous and is most likely foreshadowing the future of the league as a point center.

I know what you are thinking, what the heck is Hassan Whiteside going to do against Jokic. And you are probably right, he will most likely be stuck in mud throughout the game, as one of the worst centers in the league to cover big men at the perimeter (Jokic is at the arc a lot because he shoots 3’s and facilitates from there). Luckily, Jokic has been terrible from downtown all season long, only hitting his 3’s at a 31.8 percent clip.

However, he’s been on an uptrend with all of his numbers as of late.

Jokic in the past 3 games: 29.7 PPG, 12.7 TRB, 5.3 AST, 2.0 STL, 1.0 BLK, and most notably shooting 38.9 percent from the arc (6.0 attempts per game).

Unfortunately for Whiteside, the Joker may just be pulling up in his face for the entirety of the night. And while it may seem that Jokic has an impenetrable arsenal, the fact is, he’s still not all the way there in terms of athleticism. Where he lacks in his ability to physically destroy his opponent, he makes up for in beautiful crafty play and his never-ending endurance.

Although, Jokic’s frame at only 23-years-old is still changing month-by-month, so Whiteside or Bam Adebayo can definitely find a way to throw him off his game, as he gets extremely clumsy at times when moving laterally, averaging 5.0 turnovers over the past 3 outings.

And you know who is great at moving laterally on the defensive end? Bam.

So the real factor here is: How much will coach Spo play Adebayo on Jokic? That will be the first test of this game, as I’m assuming that Whiteside isn’t up for the challenge (he could surprise me).

Home/Heat News