Nikola Jokic’s Potential Defensive Issue Could Derail the Nuggets in the Playoffs
It’s not a problem—until it becomes one.
With the NBA regular season wrapped up, the playoff picture is finally clear. The Denver Nuggets ended on a high note, winning their last three games under new head coach David Adelman and locking in the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Their first-round matchup? A showdown with the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
This series promises to be intense, featuring star-studded rosters with playoff experience and championship aspirations. On paper, it’s a fairly even matchup, with both teams boasting strengths in different areas.
Naturally, much of the focus will be on Nikola Jokic—the league’s reigning best player and a three-time MVP. Jokic just completed perhaps his most impressive season yet, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game while shooting a remarkable 58% from the floor, 42% from beyond the arc, and 80% from the free-throw line.
His offensive dominance is the key reason Denver managed to push through a chaotic season—one that saw a front-office overhaul and multiple roster concerns—yet still secure 50 wins and a top-four seed.
Jokic’s Defense Remains the Major Concern
But the looming question for Denver heading into the postseason is their defense—and Jokic’s role in its decline. While his offensive workload has been enormous, it has come at the cost of his defensive effectiveness.
Given how much energy Jokic expends on offense, it’s understandable that his effort on defense may lag. Still, as the team’s starting center and primary rim protector, his defensive responsibilities are unavoidable.
Although his steal numbers have improved, other key defensive stats have taken a hit. Around the basket, he’s struggled, allowing opponents to score at a higher clip than usual when he’s the closest defender. Jokic has never been known as a shot-blocker, but this season, his interior defense has regressed even further.
In the playoffs, every possession counts. And with the Clippers boasting elite perimeter threats like James Harden, Norman Powell, and Kawhi Leonard, Denver’s defenders will be under constant pressure—requiring rim protection and help defense that starts with Jokic.
There have been early signs that the Nuggets may be adjusting. Under Adelman, Jokic has taken a slightly reduced offensive role, potentially to preserve energy for the defensive end. But Denver has limited options behind him, with Aaron Gordon and smaller bench players like Zeke Nnaji and Peyton Watson providing the only other rim protection.
For Denver to contend, Jokic must elevate his defense. If he can regain even his previous level of play on that end, it could be enough. But if his struggles continue, particularly around the rim, it could ultimately be the flaw that ends the Nuggets’ playoff run.
