After getting ejected for the third time this season, it’s starting to look like Nikola Jokic is getting a bad reputation among league refs. Is this something the Nuggets should be worried about? What, if anything, have the Nuggets done to confront the problem? Is there anything that can be done?
— Matt, Denver
Both of Jokic’s last two ejections have come in the fourth quarters of close games. Even worse, his techs have come in rapid succession, like a middle school temper tantrum. This is potentially a huge problem for the Nuggets, who not only can’t afford to lose their best player but they can’t afford for him to develop a reputation as a hothead. Wizards forward Bobby Portis said after the Washington game that they knew they could get under his skin by being physical with him.
Newsflash: The playoffs are testy and emotional. Malone has talked with him and pointedly told him itap not acceptable. Jokic said earlier this week he understands those outbursts can’t happen, but that he’s not going to stop talking to officials if they miss obvious calls – like the one that led to his Washington ejection.
Mason Plumlee has been awesome this year. It made me look back on the trade with Portland. While I don’t think the Nuggets got fair value back, as I feel Jusef Nurkic added more to Portland than Plumlee did to Denver, I do think that it was a trade that made Denver significantly better. Itap clear that Mason is a great compliment to this team and gives a functionality to Denver’s second unit when Jokic is out. In summary, it was a great trade, but Denver should have likely received a bit more back. Whatap your take?
— Joe, Brush
In reality, Mason Plumlee is talented enough to be a starting center in the NBA. He just happens to be caught behind perhaps the best one in the NBA – and is completely cool with it. Not once has Plumlee voiced displeasure with his role, and he’s been instrumental in coaxing offense out of the Nuggets’ second unit. The alley-oop chemistry he has with Monte Morris is real, and Denver recognizes how much of a luxury it has to have two superior passing centers. As Denver’s consistency has fluctuated over the last couple weeks, one of the primary constants has been Plumlee’s tireless motor.
Whatap more, Nurkic wasn’t happy with his role after he was relegated to a reserve once it became obvious that Nikola Jokic was their future. It was an untenable situation, and the Nuggets made the best of it.
Will Michael Malone have enough guts to play a small rotation during the playoffs and stick with it for the duration? A feast or famine style of ball?
— Joe, North Denver
I think Malone may tinker with a small rotation (i.e. Murray, Harris and either Beasley/Morris) for times during the playoffs, but if you’re asking whether Will Barton will be out of the rotation, thatap not on the table. In the small ball scenario, Harris slots up to the 3 on defense, which is taxing for him on both ends and Barton is one of only a handful of Nuggets players with playoff experience. He’s also probably their best isolation player and can score if the rest of the offense bogs down.
Malone’s other chess piece that he’s said he’ll use for advantageous matchups is Torrey Craig. As one of their best on-ball defenders, a small-ball lineup might see Craig guard anyone from opposing shooting guards to power forwards. I think you could see that if Millsap or Barton gets into foul trouble in a given game.
Is there any chance we can see Isaiah Thomas in the playoffs, or has that ship already sailed?
— Dan, Westminster
Unfortunately, I think the ship has sailed. The only scenario in which I can see Thomas playing meaningful minutes in the postseason is if Monte Morris or Jamal Murray gets hurt. He’d be sort of an emergency safety net with valuable playoff experience.
Thomas’ timeline just never matched up well with the rest of the team. Had he returned from hip surgery earlier than February, maybe the Nuggets would’ve had more time to introduce him to the offense and maybe he’d have had a longer runway to find his rhythm again. But with the Nuggets trimming their rotations and Thomas struggling on offense, it just wasn’t a viable fit.
