B+ for Nikola Jokic

Do you have faith in Christmas miracles? Nikola Joki didn’t get a good call against the Warriors on his home court. He received a fantastic one. Joki made a career-high 18 free throws in the game, including ten in the third quarter, and made them all. He is far from the poster child for putting forth the effort at the free throw line. He rarely receives shooting fouls. On the other hand, he draws a lot of fouls on the court. Some conventional fouls were converted into free throws thanks to a significant amount of time spent in the bonus. And don’t kid yourself: he was given the benefit of the doubt on a number of those decisions as well.

After the game, Steve Kerr used the chance to criticize the refereeing. He slammed the idea of players luring referees into infractions and disputed the notion of what spectators want to watch. He’s correct about the dynamic in general, even if the irony nearly suffocated those of us in Denver. This is more than unusual for Nikola Joki. This is unprecedented.

I commend individuals who refuse to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially at Christmas. However, I despise watching free throws. I can’t fathom a star player consistently producing like that. It’s far more entertaining to watch Denver play their beautiful game.

A Jamal Murray

When Jamal Murray is healthy, life in Denver is better. When Jamal Murray is healthy, the Nuggets perform better. The Golden State Warriors, like the Phoenix Suns, would be better off without him. The two-man game is back, and Denver’s performance in close games is progressively improving.

When he detects space or a mismatch, Murray is decisive. He’s brash, even pushing the topic at times. Everything has worked out for the best, notwithstanding the occasional hiccup. He’s got that shine back, and the starters look like themselves again. In Colorado, it’s Murray Christmas.

A Michael Porter Jr.

Klay Thompson might be the best parallel for Porter. They’re a unique breed: players who don’t require dribbles to become hot. They derail game strategies that are already geared toward slowing down all-time greats. Neither is an anchor, but at their best, they can transform excellent teams into practically invincible ones. I’m not a big fan of traditional poetry. Nonetheless, I’m a sucker for poetic sporting incidents. This past Christmas, MPJ looked more like a 6’10” version of Klay.

The opening quarter was dominated by Porter. He was the greatest player on the floor, scoring 10 points in the first quarter, snatching rebounds, blocking a shot, and setting up KCP with the most deft pass of his career. He kept the Nuggets afloat until Murray and Joki discovered another gear.

Porter does not convert his blazing starts into big scoring nights. We’re all aware of it by now. This time, his scoring slowed again, but his effect was never diminished. He ended with four blocks, including two key denials of Klay Thompson’s 3-point attempt. He shared the DPOG award with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

A+ for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

First Team All-Defense has returned to the menu. KCP won the Christmas game with a strong two-way performance. He clung to the normally elusive Steph Curry like a dog suffering from separation anxiety. Curry shot 7 of 21 from the field. Pope, on the other hand, shot 4/9 from deep and had 5 assists with no turnovers. He outplayed Curry, Thompson, and Chris Paul all three times.

During the ESPN broadcast, Michael Malone mentioned Pope’s All-Defensive performance briefly. After the interview, JJ Redick continued the mantle, citing Pope’s NBA-best opponent field goal %. During the victory on national television, the campaign gained significant traction.

B+ for Aaron Gordon

Gordon had an efficient double-double with Porter and Joki. Against Golden State, the three of them looked tremendous. Of course, they’re a formidable three. It’s a frequently ignored aspect of Denver’s success. The majority of the contestants are tall. Centers have won the last three MVP awards. Being huge is making a strong comeback.

Given that their largest starter is their maestro and their 6’10” small forward is perimeter-oriented, the Nuggets are nearly tough to match up against. Then you take AG’s verticality and strength into account. The Wolves are most likely the only team designed to stop them. And it’s far easier said than done.