Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are making the NBA Finals look too easy. So far, it feels like they haven’t even broken a sweat during the 2023 NBA Playoffs. As brilliant as the Miami Heat have been, the Finals could be more of the same. During Game 1, the Nuggets were far off from their best, yet it felt like they had executed everything perfectly. Better yet, the team seemed to almost be able to predict the actions that the Heat were going to run on offense. And sure enough, one such moment was unveiled right after Game 1, leaving Damian Lillard no choice but to appreciate the Joker’s greatness on Twitter.
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Lillard, like Jimmy Butler and the Heat, is in a bit of a pickle at the moment. You see, the man is set to earn $45,640,084 in the upcoming season. While that is incredible money, however, it’s time the Blazers guard started thinking about winning. After all, despite all his loyalty and quality, Portland clearly can’t put the right team around him. Perhaps watching Jokic’s domination in the playoffs will put a pang of jealousy in his heart. And maybe, just maybe, that can move the needle a little.
Damian Lillard left very impressed watching Nikola Jokic predict future Heat Plays
Nikola Jokic is a very cerebral player. He always has been. Of course, that has shown itself in his passing more than anything else. However, the man is extremely quick on the uptake when it comes to strategies too.
As they were down 14 points in the 4th quarter, Miami was looking to get easy buckets fast. With that purpose, the team chose to call a pistol action.
This basketball play can go one of two ways. The first is that there is a simple but very quick give-and-go the ball handler performs with another player on the wing. And the other way is that, after making sure the baseline is relatively empty, the ball handler receives a screen before speeding off toward the rim for an easy bucket.
Of course, there are different variations to this action. Many are even used to create an open look from three. However, in just about every case, this action uses speed above all else and is highly effective.
But then again, how effective can speed be if the opponent sees it coming from a mile away? That is what Nikola Jokic did to the Heat, something Damian Lillard couldn’t help but gawk at. Take a look at his tweet below.
“This is a major force”
This is a major force. https://t.co/7EKCz1fEbr
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 3, 2023
Admittedly, that is a deeply vague compliment. However, it’s a compliment all the same, one we’re sure Jokic will be deeply appreciative of.
How do Damian Lillard and Nikola Jokic’s situations compare to one another?
At the moment, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are just 3 wins away from winning their first-ever NBA championship. Of course, the job isn’t finished yet. However, we’re sure their positive run gives them a high level of confidence.
On the other side of things, Lillard has effectively become the poster child of toxic loyalty. In fact, it seems to have come to a point where even the Blazers want him to ask for a trade. Tragic, to say the least.
It may not be his kind of thing to do, but Dame needs to ask for a trade as soon as possible. If not, he could retire as a player that never won enough to even be remembered.
