Nikola Jokic spoke on Wednesday forward of the first-round playoff sequence towards the Minnesota Timberwolves, addressing matchup dynamics, staff kind, and postseason preparation.
The Serbian star described the repeated postseason conferences between the 2 groups and the way a lot has modified within the matchup profile. “I imply, that is just like the seventh time that we play towards them and naturally it’s not even just like final 12 months. The groups should not related and nothing is. Gamers are higher individually and collectively. So the keys might be to set our tone and we beat the aggressor aggressors not them.”
He additionally referenced the staff’s kind coming into the playoffs after a protracted profitable stretch. “Yeah, it’s undoubtedly higher than the 12-game dropping streak. So once we undoubtedly enjoying effectively all people is feeling in momentum. So undoubtedly helps with the profitable streak.”
On the broader rivalry context, Jokic pointed to aggressive steadiness throughout latest conferences. “I imply I don’t know. I simply suppose it’s actually each recreation is absolutely good recreation and final 12 months was sequence the 12 months earlier than was sequence. So we are going to see. Hopefully this one goes to be too.”
He additionally detailed the defensive problem posed by Rudy Gobert. “He undoubtedly makes you’re employed slightly bit extra for each shot, for each no matter. You already know, it’s a put up up or it’s a catch and shoot. He’s an enormous tall man and he’s undoubtedly a defensive presence there. He’s undoubtedly altering your shot in each attainable means. So it’s undoubtedly going to be a problem. It’s not for me, for everyone else.”
On defensive construction within the sequence, Jokic emphasised team-wide protection rules. “I believe we’re going to protect them. All people’s going to protect all people they usually’re going to protect us. All people’s going to protect us. So it’s not going to be a matchup between any individual and any individual. It’s going to be collectively simply because it’s going to be so many various defensive coverages on either side.”
He additionally famous the frequency of latest matchups. “No. Really, I used to be speaking to Micah and he mentioned I can not watch you anymore in your clips. So we undoubtedly play like 40 occasions in final 3 years towards them. So it’s okay.”
Jokic praised the function of Aaron Gordon throughout the system. “He’s undoubtedly, like I mentioned at one time, he’s most likely one of many high 5 defensive gamers. He can guard a number of positions and he’s actually good in our offensive units and offensive system. He’s all the time in the fitting spot and his potential to shoot the ball is certainly placing him like be actually actually actually vital.”
On Cam Johnson’s momentum coming into the postseason, he added, “Positively the proper momentum for him. He acquired injured, he get again, he get injured, he get again. He was struggling, then he began enjoying rather well and he undoubtedly hit the fitting spot on the proper time.”
playoff fashion, Jokic pointed to depth and physicality. “Most likely physicality. I don’t know. I used to be watching yesterday two video games. It was actually attention-grabbing. The change of leads and the way the coaches placing the performs after timeout and guys are making powerful photographs, huge photographs. So it’s that point of the 12 months. So I believe probably the most possibly it’s going to be physicality however I believe gamers and folks enjoying aggressive the entire not the entire 12 months however a lot of the 12 months.”
On preparation technique, he stored it easy. “We needed to offer you a recreation plan so that you don’t should so Mike can don’t must do his job. Basic rules. Attempt to make them miss and rebound the ball.”
He additionally addressed the prolonged relaxation earlier than the sequence. “To be sincere, I don’t prefer it. I simply need to play as a result of we by no means had the six days in between within the season. So I believe it’s not going to assist. Perhaps it’s going to assist the fellows who’re injured to get again to wholesome, however in case you ask me, I’ll play immediately.”
Jokic closed by reinforcing his readiness for fast competitors. “I don’t keep in mind. I believe final 12 months I needed to play immediately too. So in case you ask me, I can play immediately.”
