The idea of the Minnesota Timberwolves flat out stopping Nikola Jokiu0107 is a fool’s errand. He’s the back-to-back, and potential three-peat, winner of the NBA MVP for a reason.
Everything the Denver Nuggets do on offense runs directly through him. If the Timberwolves are going to have a chance in this series, they must at least slow down NBA’s fifth most efficient offense.
The problem with defending Jokiu0107 is that he no longer has any real holes in his game. According to Cleaning the Glass, Jokiu0107 ranks in the 95th percentile in points per shot attempt, the 75th percentile in at-rim field goal percentage, the 97th percentile in mid-range field goal percentage, the 82nd percentile in 3-point percentage, the 100th percentile in assist percentage, the 98th percentile in on the floor fouled percentage, the 76th percentile in shoot foul percentage, and the 85th percentile in and-one percentage.