3 Opponents who could decimate Golden State Warriors’ frontcourt
By Tony Pesta
Nikola Jokic would be a first round nightmare
It’s hard to think of a more difficult first round matchup for the Golden State Warriors than their current setup against the Denver Nuggets. Tackling the reigning MVP is nothing to laugh at.
Jokic is on pace for his second MVP award as he has lifted the Nuggets into playoff position with relatively little help. He’s a masterful all-around player who checks every single box.
Jokic leads in most advanced analytics — but do not worry — the eye test will tell you the same thing, this guy can ball.
He’s arguably already the most skilled passer to ever play the center position, averaging 8.0 assists this season and showing a sixth sense for creating open shots for teammates.
In the scoring department, Jokic is torching opponents for 26.1 points on 57% shooting on a nightly basis.
The lumbering big man is limited defensively but has made huge leaps in this area by simply being smarter than everyone else.
The only saving grace here is Jokic’s lack of help. Jamal Murray is reportedly “not close” to returning and the Nuggets’ second-leading scorer is… Will Barton. It shouldn’t be too hard for the Warriors to neutralize Jokic in a seven-game series when his team is lacking firepower.