Problem is Jokic will bring AD out into perimeter and negate his defensive abilities. It’s a tale old as time. One of the main reasons we’ve lost 9 in a row against this team. We need a real Center on Jokic and AD on someone else so he can provide his usual defensive presence in the paint.
kasaan110
If you watch the match up where ad guards him the entire game it doesn’t go as well as you think. Ad can’t guard him. Too big too strong. These numbers are misleading
negativelynegative
And who’s defending the paint with the high pick and roll / pop drawing him out? There will be a layup line waiting if AD defends Jokic the whole game.
Odd-Direction9452
Rui on Jokic is fine for stretches you just have to switch up coverages throughout the game and lean into size on the floor at all times.
Putting AD on Jokic puts more pressure on the other 4 guys to stay solid. He can’t be the primary Jokic defender and also be the only backline help when guys get beat or die on screens. It becomes a layup line like we saw last night.
I suggest going with more AD/Hayes minutes when Rui sits so AD has help on the backline if he’s on Jokic.
LudwigNasche
Then we have no rim protector and the other players will just pass by our perimeter defenders and score at will. Jokic will move Davis away from the basket and play point C.
Coach Malone has already figured it out last playoffs. This time we started sending hard help against Jokic and Murray (like Cranjis has suggested) and after 1 quarter Malone put Murray and Jokic to play a two man game forcing us to leave one to double the other. When we started to send help from somewhere else guys like KCP started to get open.
We have to execute and hit our shots. LeBron gave Denver 8 points out of his turnovers and Dlo just from distance could have scored 6-9 more points if he was average. Those 14 to 17 points we left there could have been a win.
I expect Ham to be out coached through this series, but with average execution the history could have been other.
We also have to make better use of Reaves and Rui because our main guys were clearly gassed in the 4th missing back to back easy shots at the rim.
foozbinjex
The reason you can’t do that all game is because of the Murray/Jokic 2 man game (or any Jokic 2 man game). This forces AD to leave Jokic, and rely on our poor backside rotations and/or the Gordon lob.
An argument can also be made that AD did so well because he saved energy not defending Jokic all game.
Only way you’re safe to run AD on Jokic most of the game is if you have someone that can defend Murray 1v1 and can get thru screens so that AD doesn’t have to help so much. Even then, Nuggets can run actions where Jokic stays on the perimeter and AD has to give Jokic the open 3 or risk being pulled away from protecting the rim.
Ham has to live/die with a big lineup. I understand Hayes looked bad in his minutes, but you need to stick with it for the game and make adjustments with scheme, not abandoning the big lineups altogether.
I’d try to explore a triangle+2 scheme. Put Rui on Jokic, Reaves on Jamal. Then set up the triangle with Bron at the nail, Hayes strong side, and AD weakside.
GoalPublic3579
Issue with this is yeah you could say take him one on one but then you’d need to accept you are probably only getting 10 points from him on offence and the issue with that is none of our other ‘depth’ guys can be trusted to be the 2nd and third options on scoring to let AD focus on defence.
If Reaves and D’Lo could give us 20 each, along with Bron’s 25 then yeah we probably could just accept AD giving us 10 points and only have 6 or 7 shots
Flabbypuff
Basketball isn’t a one on one sport. AD on Jokic means AD will have to follow Jokic up to the 3pt line and let cutters and Jamal carve up the paint, or risk letting Jokic just have his shot going.
Sven1542
So almost every other possession Jokic has the ball, while defended by AD, he scores?
Ia_in_4
U can’t do it early against joker.
Ash_713S
You cant do it because the Joker will get AD in foul trouble early. Jokic is unguardable and will absolutely negate AD defensively and likely get AD in foul trouble early which is worse for the Lakers.
Jokic will light up the Lakers with a lot of Gordon dunks, and end the game by the start of the 4th if you put AD on Jokic all game.
StoneColdAM
AD can handle Jokic if he focuses on him. When AD has to scramble to help others on defense, then Jokic can score. It’s not accurate to say AD can’t handle Jokic. He can’t prevent him from scoring at all, but he can defend well.
denimjeg
Wood needs to start next to ad & guard jokic
deepfakefuccboi
We need our role players to hit shots. We had 3 guys go completely scoreless. Doesn’t help that Ham cannot run any sort of consistent plays and adapt much at all.
LeFatigue
The “real center on Jokic” copium is hilarious coming from the fan base who cried about spacing for 3 years. Nothing but old tired answers.
The lakers starters simply HAVE to produce. If AR, Dlo, and Rui are going to combine for the same points as AD then it’s cooked no matter
Hot_Pie1464
Atp let’s have AR guard Jokic. Let joker feast one on one all game long so the rest of his teammates dont get into rhythm lmao
Election_Majestic
Does no one remember Tristan Thompson actually doing well for the minimal minutes he did against jokic . Put casselton in to just foul him or slow him down seriously .
Pikminious_Thrious
Lebron gets turned into BBQ chicken under the rim from PnR because DLO Reaves and Rui can’t stay in front of their man to save their lives.
Rjbaca
You gotta make the guy work hard on defense. That’s the only hope.
AceO235
Ad on Jokic, Rui on Gordon, if only lebron had enough gas to keep up defensively with their guards but it’ll still give him an offensive one
TorontoRaptors34
Jaxson Hayes had some success the 2nd game vs Denver reg season with his hustle. I think if this team can by the grace of God steal game 2 Wood comes back it will be in good shape. Game 2 is def game 7 imo if u want any hope of winning. Then u can throw an ample of size with the 3 center line ups. It makes up for lack of a true center. Cuz u can play them all together. I’d try anything tbh especially involving size.
ValuableAssociate8
Everyone says he will pull AD to the perimeter. So what! He’s killing Rui in the paint. The fact that ppl actually think Rui on Jokic is better than AD on Jokic is mind blowing to me.
AD was getting layed up on all last night by the others anyways. Jokic is the head of the snake. Control the head, the body will be will be immobilized.
Firm_Contribution_44
Probably not as bad as Rui’s offensive dip guarding Jokic but with AD it’ll be both offense and defense since he’ll be moved away from the basket. I honestly think leaving a guy like Hayes to body up Jokic is better than wasting Rui on him With Rui’s efficient offense, I’d rather him come off the bench for the scoring punch.
RyanAlemeda
I say let AD guard him the entire 4th. Otherwise he may get in foul trouble
redundantPOINT
If he can keep up this type of defense (I don’t think so. He might give jokic some trouble but jokic probably still figures it out), I think we’d be happy with him as a 15/10 guy on offense.
If we negate jokic on offense for AD on offense, the lakers benefit greatly. Bron, dlo, Reaves, Rui have so much more offense without AD than Murray, porter, Gordon, kcp without jokic.
Add to that the lakers have dinwiddie and Vincent who can slow down Murray compared to whoever the nuggets have to slow down our weapons.
Jokic is such a big part of their offense if we trade AD’s offense to limit jokic, I think the lakers come out on top.
Miserable-Lawyer-233
There is a detail about these stats that are very important for context.
In the 4:28 that AD defended Jokic, in which Jokic was held to 2-7 shooting and 5 points, the Nuggets offense still scored 20 points.
Does it really help the defense if AD is always on Jokic, even when Jokic is on the perimeter? That’s a rhetorical question – the answer is no. That’s why the Lakers put Rui on Jokic when Jokic is away from the basket, so AD can still defend the rim.
So a comprehensive approach is going to require a balance.
sbenfsonwFFiF
Or the more important question is how scalable is this over a full game + how does it negatively impact the team defense when AD isn’t there as help side
EverybodiesMaster5
No. Problem is, its AD vs 5 players defensively. If AD sticks to jokic, there will be 4 other offensive players that will easily drive up to the rim and score
theseustheminotaur
Have ad guard him more. Have ad d him up 1 on 1 and have the other guys take out the others
30 Comments
Problem is Jokic will bring AD out into perimeter and negate his defensive abilities. It’s a tale old as time. One of the main reasons we’ve lost 9 in a row against this team. We need a real Center on Jokic and AD on someone else so he can provide his usual defensive presence in the paint.
If you watch the match up where ad guards him the entire game it doesn’t go as well as you think. Ad can’t guard him. Too big too strong. These numbers are misleading
And who’s defending the paint with the high pick and roll / pop drawing him out? There will be a layup line waiting if AD defends Jokic the whole game.
Rui on Jokic is fine for stretches you just have to switch up coverages throughout the game and lean into size on the floor at all times.
Putting AD on Jokic puts more pressure on the other 4 guys to stay solid. He can’t be the primary Jokic defender and also be the only backline help when guys get beat or die on screens. It becomes a layup line like we saw last night.
I suggest going with more AD/Hayes minutes when Rui sits so AD has help on the backline if he’s on Jokic.
Then we have no rim protector and the other players will just pass by our perimeter defenders and score at will. Jokic will move Davis away from the basket and play point C.
Coach Malone has already figured it out last playoffs. This time we started sending hard help against Jokic and Murray (like Cranjis has suggested) and after 1 quarter Malone put Murray and Jokic to play a two man game forcing us to leave one to double the other. When we started to send help from somewhere else guys like KCP started to get open.
We have to execute and hit our shots. LeBron gave Denver 8 points out of his turnovers and Dlo just from distance could have scored 6-9 more points if he was average. Those 14 to 17 points we left there could have been a win.
I expect Ham to be out coached through this series, but with average execution the history could have been other.
We also have to make better use of Reaves and Rui because our main guys were clearly gassed in the 4th missing back to back easy shots at the rim.
The reason you can’t do that all game is because of the Murray/Jokic 2 man game (or any Jokic 2 man game). This forces AD to leave Jokic, and rely on our poor backside rotations and/or the Gordon lob.
An argument can also be made that AD did so well because he saved energy not defending Jokic all game.
Only way you’re safe to run AD on Jokic most of the game is if you have someone that can defend Murray 1v1 and can get thru screens so that AD doesn’t have to help so much. Even then, Nuggets can run actions where Jokic stays on the perimeter and AD has to give Jokic the open 3 or risk being pulled away from protecting the rim.
Ham has to live/die with a big lineup. I understand Hayes looked bad in his minutes, but you need to stick with it for the game and make adjustments with scheme, not abandoning the big lineups altogether.
I’d try to explore a triangle+2 scheme. Put Rui on Jokic, Reaves on Jamal. Then set up the triangle with Bron at the nail, Hayes strong side, and AD weakside.
Issue with this is yeah you could say take him one on one but then you’d need to accept you are probably only getting 10 points from him on offence and the issue with that is none of our other ‘depth’ guys can be trusted to be the 2nd and third options on scoring to let AD focus on defence.
If Reaves and D’Lo could give us 20 each, along with Bron’s 25 then yeah we probably could just accept AD giving us 10 points and only have 6 or 7 shots
Basketball isn’t a one on one sport. AD on Jokic means AD will have to follow Jokic up to the 3pt line and let cutters and Jamal carve up the paint, or risk letting Jokic just have his shot going.
So almost every other possession Jokic has the ball, while defended by AD, he scores?
U can’t do it early against joker.
You cant do it because the Joker will get AD in foul trouble early. Jokic is unguardable and will absolutely negate AD defensively and likely get AD in foul trouble early which is worse for the Lakers.
Jokic will light up the Lakers with a lot of Gordon dunks, and end the game by the start of the 4th if you put AD on Jokic all game.
AD can handle Jokic if he focuses on him. When AD has to scramble to help others on defense, then Jokic can score. It’s not accurate to say AD can’t handle Jokic. He can’t prevent him from scoring at all, but he can defend well.
Wood needs to start next to ad & guard jokic
We need our role players to hit shots. We had 3 guys go completely scoreless. Doesn’t help that Ham cannot run any sort of consistent plays and adapt much at all.
The “real center on Jokic” copium is hilarious coming from the fan base who cried about spacing for 3 years. Nothing but old tired answers.
The lakers starters simply HAVE to produce. If AR, Dlo, and Rui are going to combine for the same points as AD then it’s cooked no matter
Atp let’s have AR guard Jokic. Let joker feast one on one all game long so the rest of his teammates dont get into rhythm lmao
Does no one remember Tristan Thompson actually doing well for the minimal minutes he did against jokic . Put casselton in to just foul him or slow him down seriously .
Lebron gets turned into BBQ chicken under the rim from PnR because DLO Reaves and Rui can’t stay in front of their man to save their lives.
You gotta make the guy work hard on defense. That’s the only hope.
Ad on Jokic, Rui on Gordon, if only lebron had enough gas to keep up defensively with their guards but it’ll still give him an offensive one
Jaxson Hayes had some success the 2nd game vs Denver reg season with his hustle.
I think if this team can by the grace of God steal game 2 Wood comes back it will be in good shape. Game 2 is def game 7 imo if u want any hope of winning. Then u can throw an ample of size with the 3 center line ups. It makes up for lack of a true center. Cuz u can play them all together. I’d try anything tbh especially involving size.
Everyone says he will pull AD to the perimeter. So what! He’s killing Rui in the paint. The fact that ppl actually think Rui on Jokic is better than AD on Jokic is mind blowing to me.
AD was getting layed up on all last night by the others anyways. Jokic is the head of the snake. Control the head, the body will be will be immobilized.
Probably not as bad as Rui’s offensive dip guarding Jokic but with AD it’ll be both offense and defense since he’ll be moved away from the basket.
I honestly think leaving a guy like Hayes to body up Jokic is better than wasting Rui on him
With Rui’s efficient offense, I’d rather him come off the bench for the scoring punch.
I say let AD guard him the entire 4th. Otherwise he may get in foul trouble
If he can keep up this type of defense (I don’t think so. He might give jokic some trouble but jokic probably still figures it out), I think we’d be happy with him as a 15/10 guy on offense.
If we negate jokic on offense for AD on offense, the lakers benefit greatly. Bron, dlo, Reaves, Rui have so much more offense without AD than Murray, porter, Gordon, kcp without jokic.
Add to that the lakers have dinwiddie and Vincent who can slow down Murray compared to whoever the nuggets have to slow down our weapons.
Jokic is such a big part of their offense if we trade AD’s offense to limit jokic, I think the lakers come out on top.
There is a detail about these stats that are very important for context.
In the 4:28 that AD defended Jokic, in which Jokic was held to 2-7 shooting and 5 points, the Nuggets offense still scored 20 points.
Does it really help the defense if AD is always on Jokic, even when Jokic is on the perimeter? That’s a rhetorical question – the answer is no. That’s why the Lakers put Rui on Jokic when Jokic is away from the basket, so AD can still defend the rim.
So a comprehensive approach is going to require a balance.
Or the more important question is how scalable is this over a full game + how does it negatively impact the team defense when AD isn’t there as help side
No. Problem is, its AD vs 5 players defensively. If AD sticks to jokic, there will be 4 other offensive players that will easily drive up to the rim and score
Have ad guard him more. Have ad d him up 1 on 1 and have the other guys take out the others
AG would score heaps with no defense down there