How Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook Are Making It Work

[@TheGoogergieger]

One reason I think Jokic wanted Westbrook is that Russ is also a fearless passer like Jokic. There’s a lot of passes Westbrook makes to Jokic that others would be too scared to make cause it’s a turnover waiting to happen. Jokic makes those passes all the time cause the defense never thinks anyone would have the audacity to make them.

[@vernvartdal6479]

@@TheGoogergieger Russ has greatly diminished skills.

[@RamonChiNangWong078]

Neah, I think Jokic wanted someone who is his equal in Basketball IQ (Which I think is a dumb term) , Court Vision or spatial awareness. And Westbrook is just that

[@AVAXII]

he needed someone that would not fold like his teammates folded in G7 last year. Russ would never stop trying. Btw, since they lost shooting, and they were not able to bring in shooter cause they gave max money to a TOP 30 guard in the League (he is 30th), Jokic decided he will shoot better, and they can bring a cutter. Cause the guy supposed to hit shots is a bum on max contract. He didn't work on his shot. Why? cause he is a bum.

[@vernvartdal6479]

@ Westbrook has tremendously diminished skills from those days. He's no longer that.

[@GrumpyCat-mw5xl]

@@vernvartdal6479he’s diminished physically but skills are the same basketball IQ is the same. He still has pretty good athletic abilities tipping in those rebounds and making those lay ups on cuts and running fast breaks. He’s not doing slam dunks from the free throw line but you don’t need that. What they need is to outsmart the other team and play defense.

[@Daylight-nu3rt]

People forget Russ has a high basketball IQ. He's not regular player, this man is Mr. Triple Double. Russ is no casual. He's been doing this.

[@yunan9610]

If he's calm yes.

[@CarlosGarcia-pt7do]

great breakdown! the westbrook praise better be as loud as the disrespect!

[@csincos989]

Agreed

[@Amaling]

It is extremely impressive what Russ is pulling off 8 years past his MVP season

[@syad911]

Russ is older but much happier than he was in Lakers, being happy is important for your efforts, as u can see he's going all in in every play because he knows it will results in buckets and wins, in Lakers everyone just stand around waiting for someone else to make a play, but not in Denver, that place fit perfectly for him, just gotta add more solid role players in trade and Denver will be back in title contentions.

[@MrSoulja87]

I love that Westbrook is getting his game going. Leflop and Lakers used him as a scapegoat

[@cafelatte1124]

That’s LeBum’s whole career. Take all the credit for good things. Blame everyone else for bad things. Use his media shills to reinforce his narratives. And then his fanboys regurgitate the message online.

[@conorpesicka47]

I liked you mentioning the three ball with respect to Russ. Jokic campaigned for his trade and with that plus his jump shot failing him in the playoffs, jokic almost certainly made his jump shooting his focus in the offseason. Wild that he can just come back and add a new wrench to throw into every defensive scheme against him.

[@yunan9610]

That man always try to improve every single year. That's why he's been able to go from 2nd round draft to multiple mvps, he's never complacent even if he looks so laid back off the court. Also another thing is that Jokic never, even a single time, thrown his teammate under the bus, at least in public. Or the management. He takes all the accountability upon himself

[@bil_prag]

so Jokic finally found someone who makes him better?

[@jhung2479]

Ah, this one is good

[@yunan9610]

That's actually a very good statement. He's played with a lot of replacable players which set of skills aren't particularly unique. Yes they make his job easier but not particularly better. No guards actually have Russ's skillset with that speed, rebounding ability and those daring passes. I think the only player that could've done something similar is Lebron but I think Russ is a better rebounder no doubt.

[@fromtheworldwithlove1797]

Love this breakdown Adam! 👏🏽

[@astriddececco3005]

It's interesting that a true point guard has already developed a two-man game with Jokic. I've often heard from Nuggets fan and local media that no other player can replicate the same type of two-man game that Jokic and Murray have, which is somewhat true. However, this also demonstrates that if the Nuggets had invested their money in a top-tier point guard instead of paying MPJ and Murray so much, the results could have been the same or even better.

[@AVAXII]

MPJ is a 6'10 shooter. He is worth that money, and they can trade him. Murray is a bum Nuggets are stuck with for the next 4 years.

[@yunan9610]

The MVP effect, no disrespect to Murray, MPJ and any other Nuggets players but it's clear that Jokic's excellence have brought them up a tier. Getting them higher paycheck than the actual market value

[@blankeon6613]

Murray is great when he is ready to play, but he needs someone who can replace him when he gets injured.

[@zzlatkovicm]

It's always true delight to hear Adam podcast.

[@lovebertierose]

Perfect prelude to tonight's game. Thanks Adam.

[@petrektek1385]

I'm so so glad Russ finally found a system to fit in. He's still a great player and has some fuel left, he only needed to find a team to clear his psychological struggle. BTW think about this: nuggets are paying him 3.5 MLN, Michael Potter Jr is taking home 10 times more.

[@ivandj707]

The Russ is still fast and can dunk whenever he wants, so he always draws guards, which opens up space for passes and easy points. He has been very underrated the last few years, but he can still give a lot, especially on a team that plays unselfish basketball, because he always looks first to see if he has someone to pass the ball. Plus he's great defend player.

[@expertplanet9879]

Really liking some of the entry passes

[@AVAXII]

What I also love about their 2 man game is that it indirectly tells someone : YOU ARE A BUM!

[@RomnysGonzalez]

Probably the best teammate Nikola Jokic ever got who can do a entry pass I just want one thing from Westbrook. HOLD TO THE BALL WENT HE'S DRIVING IN SPACE. He tends to attack the rim and while trying to shot the ball he just end up losing it to himself and the ball just go flying

[@waff6ix]

PLZ DO MORE LIKE THIS 🔥🔥 LOVE THIS STYLE VIDEO

[@blankeon6613]

Jokic and Westbrook looks like a better fit for a 2-man game than Jokic and Murray for sure. Westbrook is one of the best at cutting and Murray can be amazing when he is allowed to freestyle under pressure.

[@yunan9610]

7:06 this play is truly a Jokic classic, you're likely seen this play with all guards Jokic have played with

[@Januszekm56]

Westbrook is great. Always been a big fan !!

[@drzed6647]

Excellente analyse. Merci.

[@Liz_A.5280]

Love the breakdowns!

[@corysimmons455]

Russell westbrook should be the starting point guard move Murray to the shooting guard

[@tired783]

Westbrook is like a Jamies Winston is in football when it comes to play style. High risk high reward not scared of the turnovers making tough passes.

[@daybraeburn6172]

Good introspection.

[@happyhapley]

Two stars who are willing to pass the ball. Russ has come a far way from his KD era.

[@predrag1]

Jokic wanted Russ so he could sit and have a damn brake every once in a while

[@redi4showBIZ]

They need a piece to to make it happen. A wing and D or Murray to play 2nd unit till he gets back his game. Clippers have ruined one more year with that Harden trade. Russ needs full trust and Lue didn’t give it to him. We can see it’s different under Malone, both Westbrook abilities are used as well as coach’s game plan is being played. I would recommend them bringing in Norman Powell. Dude is so consistent and should be affordable. Go Russ, go Nuggets! Thanks for this breakdown 🔥🤌👌

[@boblully5053]

Start russ over murray

[@pfpchad2747]

Murray is washed. Nuggets made a mistake giving him that last contract.

[@boblully5053]

@ we’ve been saying this

[@je5406]

​@@pfpchad2747 smh

[@jasonhoppe781]

Or just put Murray at the 2! He’ll get wide open shots and might actually play better.

[@AVAXII]

@@jasonhoppe781 and stop CB from developing? they are stuck with Murray. You can't bench him, cause he is a max player, but you can't play him cause he is a bum

[@yunan9610]

Jokic is basically a super upgraded version of the big men Russ have played with. The only thing Jokic doesn't do is catching lobs for alley oop dunks

[@Earl_E_Burd]

These are awesome, Adam

[@pfpchad2747]

Russ is doing more on that $4 million contract than Murray on that $200 million contract. Nuggets have to find a way to get off Murray. But there's no team that will agree to take that contrct off their hands.

[@gnielsen07]

They gotta trade him I agree. Give up picks even. They could clear out so much money and try to get Giannis

[@lucasanfilippo5370]

Russ was Already good with Anthony Davis.. but the Lakers Nation can be ugly and people like Trevor lane demolished him on a Daily basis.. and Bron was the Elephant in the room. He since 2021 alluded to the possibilty to play off the ball, but he never did until now.. even AD had no touches in the 4th before JJ came to Town.. Russ found himself in the worst position possible: the coach didnt want him, made playing off ball, and put DeAndre Jordan in the middle to suck any space; LeBron flushed him soon; the second season with the Lakers he was good from the bench, but LA media were totally unfair..

[@jasonhoppe781]

Russ had a ten assist game to AD. I still don’t think Lebron has done that once. I thought the best place for Russ would have been the suns.

[@fallenangel_1941]

Guys disrespecting Russ by not guarding him is funny cause that the reason he passing the bball well with zero pressure🤣 5:08

[@tihomirtika4686]

Put Russ as a starting PG! He is a willing passer, which Murray is not, so Jokic will get a lot of points of the start and that would fix Denver's slow start of the game. Second unit becomes better because Murray can create his own shots, which Russ is not very good at at this stage of his career, and Murray will be well rested to battle with the second unit of the opposing team.

[@AVAXII]

Do you know how much Murray makes?

[@blankeon6613]

100%

[@davydignatenko8651]

5:02 is genius. How Jokic read every play...

[@Lolzibarzor]

If you cant make chemistry with Jokic you cant make chemistry with anyone.

[@T1Oracle]

Jokic saw the team needed a ball handler so that Murray could get a rest, so when he saw Westbook was free he asked for him.

[@such-ej]

happy for Russ 🙂

[@dialSforFresh]

Westbrook should start. He’s still a high caliber player whose been in bad situations over the past few years.

[@pfpchad2747]

Playing with Jokic is revitalizing Russ' careeer. Great to see it.

[@TheOrangePatriot]

i hate the wasted dribble in todays game. if you ever watched Jordan there was barely any dribble dribble. thinking out loud

[@vernvartdal6479]

Have they lost 4 of 7? Do they play Cleveland and Phoenix twice this month? Did they lose some of the games in the highlights?

[@metalhead2536]

They're one Jokic child away from being 12-5

[@vernvartdal6479]

@@metalhead2536 so it's gonna be 18 years?

[@housearrest857]

👍

[@vladimirperovic1703]

Murray is just overpaid and it's time for him to go 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Liftercode]

Murray is jealous

[@playerone3885]

I don’t care how good it looks in highlights, I’m always going to hate pg’s diving in to try to get offensive boards.