Seeing Nikola Jokić play basketball with motivation is truly unforgettable.

At his best, the Serbian superstar rarely jumps more than a few inches off the floor and maintains great control. Jokić’s ability to generate passing lanes, domination in the post, and underrated defensive skills set him apart as a top NBA talent. This version of Jokić makes the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets appear untouchable. Denver is unbeatable in a best-of-seven series if Jokić consistently performs at his peak. No one.

After the Phoenix Suns ended the Nuggets’ six-game winning streak after the All-Star break, it’s time to prioritize Jokić’s health and energy in the upcoming postseason above pursuing the Western Conference’s top seed. It is without a doubt the most pressing question about their chances of repeating as champions.

The Nuggets recognize the challenge of maintaining a delicate balance with Jokić and his colleagues in the upcoming weeks. Denver’s head coach, Mike Malone, has previously stated that the Nuggets will not take out all the stops to have home-court advantage throughout the West playoffs if it meant wearing down their players.

At some point, having a reinvigorated postseason rotation trumps maybe having one additional home game in each series in the spring.

Denver’s starting five, including Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, are considered among the best in the NBA. This bunch will most likely play 40 minutes per night in the postseason, like it did during last year’s championship run, allaying some of the concerns about Denver’s weak bench once more.

When all five players were available this year, the Nuggets went 30-9. That is the equivalent of a 63-win pace over an 82-game regular season. It would be in line with the league-leading Boston Celtics, a deeper club that some regard as this year’s title favorite and might face Denver in the NBA finals.

Despite each member of Denver’s starting five playing a vital role on a night-to-night basis, none of their operations run nearly as well without their 6-foot-11, 284-pound Serbian motor – Jokić.

Cleaning the Glass reports that Denver scores 10.7 points more per 100 possessions with Jokić on the floor. According to StatMuse, when he plays, they have a 131.3 offensive rating and 109.1 defensive rating. This is not sustainable, but it’s worth emphasizing the numerical gap between Denver’s infamous “non-Jokić minutes” and when the world’s finest player is accomplishing things like this against all-worldly defenders.

Because if necessary, the Nuggets will most likely have to utilize a same method with their Serbian talisman. To ensure Jokić’s peak performance in the playoffs, they may need to give him more rest than he is accustomed to. Having that version of him is more vital than maintaining home court advantage. That is, if the Nuggets want to win consecutive titles.