Justin Holiday: The Key to Jokic' Success?

[SonicMcMahon]

I know this may seem like a reach, but hear me out.

I noticed a funny thing in round 2. Ever since Justin Holiday has got it going, the Nuggets have been winning. And I don't think it's a coincidence. He's a veteran whose been in the trenches - his brother has been All-NBA. And I think he just knows and feels the moment. He hits a few threes in game 3 and all of a sudden it's feel-good vibes for the Nuggets.

Jokic - don't get me wrong, great player in a vaccum - struggles to understand the game on a team level, and is Charmin(TM) soft. Really it was no surprise to any of us who understand basketball that the cowardly Jokic was crumbling through games 1 and 2 (let's be real here). But he was lucky (as usual) to have veteran teammates who know how to respond to adversity (I'd include Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Jordan here too), and was able to learn from them. Not real learning, mind you, imitation I'd say, but still.

Can Jokic ever learn to be a leader? Stats in big games don't tell the whole story - I do.

Thoughts?

[famicommander]

First he carried the Warriors to that ring, now this

[ejftw]

First he carried the Warriors to that ring, now this

Not only that but first Bruce Brown carries Joker and now the pride of the 818

[Sgt Major]

[Johnny Firpo]

Quality sarcastic thread, I don't have a problem with it, we'll see how the mods feel about it.

[Capn'O]

Stats in big games don't tell the whole story - I do.

That's a good line.

[Johnny Firpo]

Stats in big games don't tell the whole story - I do.

That's a good line.

I liked it too, OP has a feel for this, much like Joker around the basket (okay, maybe that's overrating OP).

[BelgradeNugget]

[LaLover11]

Braun is Jokic's Toni Kukoc

[Woodsanity]

This sarcastic post still makes more sense than an average Bumbiid fan post.

[Ritzo]

Watch on YouTube

[Roger Murdock]

High Quality thread.

[EmpireFalls]

You joke, but he’s a +40, with 10-17 from 3 in this series and was absolutely crucial in games 3/4. A nice adjustment Malone made was going to him so they could keep 3 shooters around Jokic and Gordon. Not a series for Peyton Watson because you can’t give them an easy sag off option.

Peyton Watson Games 1-4: -17 (DNP G5)
Justin Holiday Games 1-5: +40 !!!!

Seriously, we always underestimate what one good role player in some spot minutes can do for a team. It’s laughable to say Holiday shifted the series, but I’m being serious when I say they likely don’t win Games 3/4 without his shooting and gravity for spacing. That’s what really counts at these elite levels. And it’s kind of sad how we put it all on the star.

[Alatan]

We celebrate Holidays for a reason.

[hippesthippo]

You joke, but he’s a +40, with 10-17 from 3 in this series and was absolutely crucial in games 3/4. A nice adjustment Malone made was going to him so they could keep 3 shooters around Jokic and Gordon. Not a series for Peyton Watson because you can’t give them an easy sag off option.

Peyton Watson Games 1-4: -17 (DNP G5)
Justin Holiday Games 1-5: +40 !!!!

Seriously, we always underestimate what one good role player in some spot minutes can do for a team. It’s laughable to say Holiday shifted the series, but I’m being serious when I say they likely don’t win Games 3/4 without his shooting and gravity for spacing. That’s what really counts at these elite levels. And it’s kind of sad how we put it all on the star.

True. I'm surprised Malone actually made the adjustment in Game 3. Usually he likes to wait until they're down 3-1, or just... not at all.

[BelgradeNugget]

You joke, but he’s a +40, with 10-17 from 3 in this series and was absolutely crucial in games 3/4. A nice adjustment Malone made was going to him so they could keep 3 shooters around Jokic and Gordon. Not a series for Peyton Watson because you can’t give them an easy sag off option.

Peyton Watson Games 1-4: -17 (DNP G5)
Justin Holiday Games 1-5: +40 !!!!

Seriously, we always underestimate what one good role player in some spot minutes can do for a team. It’s laughable to say Holiday shifted the series, but I’m being serious when I say they likely don’t win Games 3/4 without his shooting and gravity for spacing. That’s what really counts at these elite levels. And it’s kind of sad how we put it all on the star.

True. I'm surprised Malone actually made the adjustment in Game 3. Usually he likes to wait until they're down 3-1, or just... not at all.

A lot of people don't know this, but here is a net rating for Nuggets bench players in regular season

Justin Holiday 3.7
Reggie Jackson 1.4
Christian Braun 0.7
Peyton Watson -0.7
DeAndre Jordan -10.7
Zeke Nnaji -11.9

Last season

Bruce Brown 0.8
Vlatko Cancar -3.9
Christian Braun -4.3
Zeke Nnaji -5.9
Jeff Green -8.0
Bones Hyland -8.4
DeAndre Jordan-8.4

And don't even look for this playoffs.

Justin Holiday 12.9
Reggie Jackson 11.6
Christian Braun 8.9
Nikola Jokic 6.1
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 5.0
Michael Porter Jr. 3.6
Jamal Murray 1.4
Aaron Gordon 0.5
Peyton Watson -10.3

So, biggets adjustment Malone made in this playoffs is when he realised how to use Jokic as Pippen to Justin Holiday being Jordan

[antonac]

Agreed, I'd say Justin holiday is nearly as important as the lucky penny Jordan was said to have found as a boy.

[Bornstellar]

He's been solid for sure. But the KEY to Jokic's success? OP can't be serious

[Ice Trae]

You could also make a case that he might win FMVP ahead of Jokic as well. Denver is just a stacked team

[AleksandarN]