Denver’s offensive actions that include Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are masterful
Of course, the pick-and-roll is the main action that these two can run to employ these two together. Murray is one of the league’s best pick-and-roll players for the reasons explained prior. In this postseason, Murray is running 8.6 pick-and-rolls per game and scoring an absurdly efficient 1.25 points per possession, which leads the postseason for players who advanced past the first round.
Jokic is similarly scary as a pick-and-roll player. He’s deadly as a popper and a roller because the guy can really just do anything to pick a defense apart. He is scoring 1.25 points per possession as a roller in the postseason, which also leads the postseason for players who advanced past the first round.
It’s no surprise that these two are the best pick-and-roll duo in the league. As previously mentioned, it’s so hard to guard their pick-and-roll. Going to drop is difficult since Murray’s pull-up can demolish a defense and end a game. Switching can’t happen because Jokic will punish the defense, and Murray can also isolate a bigger defender.
Showing and recovering is difficult because if Jokic gets the ball in a 4-3, it may just be wraps for the defense. There’s been no solution to this duo this postseason, and Miami likely won’t find a great answer in this series.
Miami’s miscommunication in the first clip is evident. Haywood Highsmith expects a switch with Adebayo, but Adebayo thinks they’re in drop, allowing a wide-open Murray pull-up. A minute later, the Heat switches it correctly, but Jokic is able to get to the line after spinning off of the smaller Highsmith.
Haywood Highsmith is a very good, versatile, strong defender, yes, but he is no Jokic stopper. The Heat may have found something toward the end of Game 1, as he was rather successful in guarding Jamal Murray (certainly more successful than Vincent or Caleb Martin). Ultimately though, his 6-foot-5, 220 lb frame just isn’t enough to stop the two-time MVP Jokic.
There’s no solution to guarding these two. They can perfectly counter everything that defenses want to try to slow them down. This was very evident with Miami’s scheme to front Jokic in the post, which Adebayo did twice early out of the gates. Jokic quickly turned these possessions into pick & rolls.
Vincent is slow to navigate the screens, and these are two Murray buckets. In the first clip, Jokic uses Adebayo’s positioning to make it so that nobody is in a drop, and Murray has a straight-line drive to the basket. In the second, Adebayo yet again can’t help too much toward Murray because it will allow a Jokic floater.
In addition to the many pick-and-rolls, handoffs are a very frequent component of the Denver offense, as they use Jokic as a hub. These act similar to the pick-and-rolls, as they allow Murray to get downhill, while Jokic can roll or pop. Murray has led the postseason with 4.1 handoff possessions per game.
The movement and cutting aspect of the Denver offense is, simply put, beautiful to watch. The best part is that both of these two, Murray or Jokic, are very capable and comfortable without the ball in their hands. Both can move and impact the offense without touching the ball.
Using Jokic as a hub at the top of the key and having cutters across the floor is a large part of what Denver does.
When someone is overplaying Murray as Vincent does in the first clip, it’s a layup. And that’s just such an easy, pedestrian pass from Jokic for a layup. In the second, Vincent gets caught on a screen (and tries to sell an Aaron Gordon foul), and this time, it’s a dunk for Murray with an assist from Jokic.
The offensive movement is just pure beauty with this Nuggets team. The Nuggets also use Murray as a movement shooter.
This is offensive beauty. When Jimmy Butler and Adebayo switch the Murray and Jokic screen, the Nuggets kick it in to Jokic. Like Highsmith, Butler is a strong defender despite his smaller size, but he still won’t be able to withstand Jokic. Because of this fear of Jokic, Adebayo is ball-watching. Michael Porter Jr. sets a beautiful screen on Adebayo, so Murray moves into the wide open space. It’s a great find from Jokic, and the wide-open, uncontested shot is through the net. This is Denver Nuggets basketball.
The actions with these two don’t just create opportunities for themselves, either.