In a recent episode of Undisputed, controversial sports analyst Skip Bayless made a bold prediction. He threw his support behind the Denver Nuggets and defended their chances of emerging victorious in the Western Conference Finals. Bayless compared Nuggets’ star Nikola Jokic to Jayson Tatum, highlighting the stark contrast in their consistency on the court.
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Expanding on his argument, Bayless expressed his initial doubts about the Nuggets throughout the season. However, their impressive performance as the top seed, combined with their triumph over Bayless’ beloved Phoenix Suns (albeit without Chris Paul), made him take notice. Bayless admitted that the more he watched the Nuggets play, the more he considered them legitimate contenders. It wasn’t solely about Jokic’s skills; it was about the entire team and their collective effort.
Skip Bayless Contrasts Nikola Jokic’s Reliability with Jayson Tatum’s Inconsistency
During his impassioned monologue on Undisputed, Skip Bayless drew an intriguing comparison between Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum. Bayless pointed out the stark contrast in their consistency on the court, highlighting Tatum’s wildly inconsistent performances throughout the season. In contrast, Bayless praised Jokic for his unwavering reliability and exceptional contributions to the Denver Nuggets. By juxtaposing the two players, Bayless aimed to emphasize the importance of consistency and reliability in determining the team’s chances of success in the WCF.
Skip said, “Boston, all year long I kept saying ‘where did that come from,’ that’s because Jayson Tatum is so wildly inconsistent. But Joker is not wildly inconsistent. He just does what he does.”
Drawing attention to Jokic’s impact, Bayless highlighted the Nuggets’ exceptional rebounding rate in the playoffs, leading the Western Conference in this category. Jokic’s outstanding performance over the past four games, averaging an impressive 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, further solidified Bayless’ belief in the Serbian center’s abilities.
As the Western Conference Finals loom, Skip picks Nikola Jokic
As the WCF approaches, Bayless believes the Nuggets are perfectly positioned to challenge the Los Angeles Lakers. Given their overall talent and Jokic’s consistent contributions, Bayless asserts that the Nuggets have what it takes to win the championship.
“It starts to feel like the pieces all fit and come completely together right on schedule to where it just feels to me that it’s Denver’s year. Heck, It could be Denver’s year to go win the whole thing, because they’re good enough to win the whole thing. I think nobody now would disagree with that premise.”
While admitting that his earlier doubts about the team have diminished, Bayless remains critical of the Lakers’ reliance on Anthony Davis, questioning his consistency and ability to perform consistently at the highest level.
“What do I not love about the Lakers? What has haunted you, not just this year, but for years on end? Anthony Davis comes and he goes. He shows and he doesn’t show, and I can’t figure it out. And how many hours have we spent wasted on this show trying to understand his psyche? How many times have we put Anthony Davis on the couch?”
With Bayless projecting the Denver Nuggets as potential WCF champions, the upcoming series promises to be an exciting battle between Jokic’s resilience and the Lakers’ star-studded lineup. Whether Bayless’ prediction will prove accurate or not remains to be seen, but it certainly adds an extra layer of intrigue to the highly anticipated matchup.
