Between 2015 and 2017, Denver tried the combination Nikola Jokic + Jusuf Nurkic, without success. In 2015-16, the offensive rating of the two pivots (for a total of 7 games and 92 minutes together on the pitch) was 94.7, and their defensive rating of 103.8, a clear rating of -9.1. The following season (12 games and 108 minutes together), their net rating dropped to -13.8. It was time for a change, and Jokic let his coach know Michael Malone, in place since 2015.
“What stood out was that he was basically frustrated. He did not find that his association with Nurkic was working, but more importantly he found that she was not helping the team. And that’s what we love about Nikola, it’s always for the good of the team, not for him. At that point, he was on his way up to being an MVP caliber player, and he was ready to say ‘Get me out, get somebody else started, let me off the bench, let me play my game ‘. Shortly after, we decided to make him our starting hub and we haven’t looked back since. It shows what a selfless superstar he is. »Michael Malone
Jokic played a few games off the bench until Nurkic was transferred. Since then, the Nuggets have only gone up.
“We are the only team in the West to go third year with home advantage in the West, and we went through the first round twice in a row, something that had not happened for a long time in Denver. . Here is the result. »Michael Malone
via Yahoo!Sports
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