Tim Legler on Concern Level For Jokic, ENOUGH TIME For Nuggets to get Healthy, Jamal Murray, & More
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
I've got the privilege of talking a little Nuggets basketball with Tim Legler. Tim, appreciate you making the time. The Nuggets are in an interesting spot in their season. Nikola Jokic has been in some headlines about how he reacts to the whistle, not necessarily playing his best basketball. What have you seen from Jokic? And I can't believe I'm asking this, Tim, but are you concerned at all with his level of play? I'm not.
I'm not. Look, here's the thing.
What is the current concern level for Nikola Jokić's performance?
I'm located outside Denver, so I understand. My perspective might be a little bit different. I think people in Denver, they love this team. They want to win another championship, and I think sometimes they overreact a little bit to some of these things. I'm not worried about Jokic at all. Now, the whistle stuff a little bit, and I think – I think in general it's more or less about complaining about the whistle as much as it is sometimes some of these theatrics he gets involved in with other players, like where he's trying to just overtly, so over the top, draw attention to trying to get a call. Right. Where it's almost distracting. For his game, he's too talented. He doesn't need that stuff. And I saw it two years ago where it, to me, was just reached a level where I would watch film and I'd be like, what is he doing?
Why is he so wrapped up in this situation with this player? And it's a win for the other team because he's so good if he just plays basketball and beats you with his fundamentals. And that's most of the time. Now, he was better last year, I felt like, but he's back at it a little bit more here lately, and I think that's why it's starting to draw some attention. That's a little bit more concerning than anything. I'm not as concerned about his game, and I don't think that his incessant talking to the officials is anywhere on the level of some other guys around this league that, for me, it's a major problem. I don't consider it that with Jokic. So I'm not as worried. right now about him or the state of the team, I think is maybe some people are a little bit in Denver.
I just believe when you look at their team and you look at them whole and healthy and everybody slotted in to their role and their impact, To me, which they haven't really had, that to me is the team that I would look at and say that's the team I think that's the best chance to take it on Thunder. Now, Spurs have changed that narrative for sure. They've arrived sooner than we thought, so I think you'd have to include them in that mix as well.
Why might fans be overreacting to Jokić's recent play?
Then you've got to have teams like Houston and Minnesota and the Lakers like that next group of teams. They don't give a night. You go, yes. Other nights you watch them and you go, nope, it's not going to happen. They're not ready for it this year. So those three teams are kind of up and down in terms of how I believe it. Actually, of the three, I'd say Minnesota is the most viable, legitimate, consistent threat now, which is how well they've played. But I still look at Denver, whole, with everybody out there so that guys can then, if they're doing more than they're capable of right now, they can slide into that role they're more comfortable with, get Aaron Gordon back out there, who's so important to their winning,
I still have a lot of faith in this team. I know it's been a little bit of a struggle here, but I still have faith if they can find that and there's enough time before the playoffs to establish that rhythm. I still have a lot of confidence in this team.
I was just going to ask if you think there's enough time is not much, but you know, last season, the nuggets were in a rough spot heading into the post season. Obviously they made some leadership changes and they were able to turn it on just like that. So when you have a core that's played together as much as they have, you know, perhaps there is more than enough time here. Covering the game last night, the Nuggets have been talking about they think their defense is much improved coming out of the All-Star break, namely the physicality they're bringing to the table.
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