Once again, Nikola Jokic lost his cool. In today's Nuggets home game against the Wizards, 6 minutes and 09 seconds before the final, the league MVP was directly expelled from the game because he was dissatisfied with the verdict and suffered two technical fouls.
Jokic had a reason for thinking it was worth the attack: in the previous round, he had been raised by his opponent's knee to the key point in defense, and the referee ignored it. Back on the offensive end, he physically tangled with Dinwiddie, who had just "hurt" him, while setting up cover for his teammates, and the referee remained unresponsive.
So Jokic was furious, and after hitting a shot from his teammates, he didn't immediately back off the defensive, but rushed directly to the sideline vice referee Eric Darren, roaring to express his dissatisfaction.
Of course, this move immediately caused him a technical foul, but Jokic still did not spare, after being stopped by the coach and teammates, he turned around, and then spoke up to another referee, Tony Blazes, so he was added another technical foul, thus ending today's performance early.
Jokic's impulsiveness led him to miss his 63rd career triple-double — before that, he had just played a near-perfect performance, shooting 9-of-14 from the field in 30 minutes and 36 seconds, scoring 28 points, 19 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and one block. Just when everyone thought he was going to get his fourth triple-double in the last five games, Jokic chose to "blow himself up".
This is Jokic's seventh NBA season at the age of 26, and he's just been named the regular season's Most Valuable Player of the Regular Season in the 2020-21 season. As a professional player, the big man from Serbia is gradually reaching his peak, but still does not seem to have learned the compulsory lesson that all star centers must face - how to control their temper and show their dominance without hurting the team.
Basketball is a sport full of fierce confrontations, especially for big men who need to fight hand-to-hand in the box. As one of the best center players in the league, Jokic is the absolute core of the Nuggets' offensive and defensive system, and he is often "attacked" intentionally or unintentionally by opponents. And almost every game, you can see him stretching out his arms, looking frustrated, complaining to the referee that he didn't get the whistle he deserved.
In fact, jokic has been through something that almost all of the strong interiors have experienced, and if you don't believe it, ask Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, or even Zion Williamson. If they are interpreted strictly according to the rules, they do suffer some unfair treatment, but for the sake of the balance of the game, it is difficult to avoid.
Jokic's complaint itself is understandable, as TNT's game commentator, Stan Van Gundy, who has coached Howard and Zion, put it: "I've coached a lot of good big players, but I really think the blow penalties this season are too loose." The referee let them be beaten half to death, so the big men had to decide, 'How much is enough?' ’”
But he had to master a scale and not let himself get out of control.
Jokic had a serious emotional runaway from the Nuggets' home game against the Heat on Nov. 9, caused by a ferocious foul by opposing forward Markieff Morris. Even so, Jokic's reaction was clearly overreacting—he knocked Morris straight from behind, nearly causing the other side to leave the field on a stretcher. To this day, Morris remains on the injury list.
In the first moments after the incident, Jokic already felt regret. In a post-match interview at the time, he said: "I felt bad, really bad, I just wanted to protect myself, but on the other hand, I shouldn't have reacted like that and been kicked out of the game. ”
Jokic's impulse, which later led to his two older brothers and Morris's twin brother Marcus, exchanging harsh words on social media, continued until three weeks later in the second game with the Heat, who himself was suspended for one game.
Jokic earns $30.51 million a year, so the impulse directly cost him $210,000. What's worse is that in the moment when the Nuggets suffered consecutive injury blows and needed him the most, he could only dress up and watch from the sidelines.
In fact, Jokic should have learned his lesson long ago, he just couldn't control himself.
In the second round of last year's playoffs, 3 minutes and 52 seconds before the fourth game of the Series against the Suns and the end of the third quarter, Jokic fouled Cameron Payne in defense, hitting the opponent directly in the face. Devin Booker took the lead for his teammates and confronted Jokic fiercely, and although the two were pulled apart in time without triggering further clashes, Jokic was still directly expelled for a second-degree malicious foul.
Before Jokic's malicious foul, the Nuggets were 0-3 behind on aggregate, and the game was 75-83 behind eight points, which was quite unfavorable, which may be the reason for his venting. But with nearly 16 minutes left in the game and a single-digit point difference on the court, the Nuggets still have hope of reversing, but Jokic's impulse makes this hope instantly evaporate.
From a personal point of view, Jokic defends himself and fights, it seems that there is nothing wrong with it, who has not yet lost his temper? But on the other hand, he has to realise how important it is for his team to be able to stay on the pitch.
Jokic is playing at MVP level again, and counting today's game, he averaged 26.5 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game this season, shooting more than 58 percent from the field. Although he missed a triple-double with an assist today, Jokic has completed five triple-doubles this season, ranking first in the league, with a total of 62 career appearances, tied for seventh in history with Harden. His PER efficiency, true plus-minus on the floor, irreplaceable value, and contribution to wins per 48 minutes are all ahead of the league.
However, in the latest MVP odds, Jokic is only fifth, behind Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The only reason for this is that the Nuggets are injured and currently rank eighth in the West with 14 wins and 13 losses, and the record is lagging behind.
Jamal Murray is still slowly recovering his anterior cruciate ligament that he tore in April, and it is not clear when he will return. Michael Porter Jr., who has just been renewed with a maximum salary, has a recurrence of an old lumbar spine injury and is expected to be reimbursed for the season. In addition, PJ Dozier, an important member on the bench, has also suffered the same injuries as Murray, and it is likely that he will not return this season.
In such a difficult situation, Jokic's importance to the Nuggets is self-evident. According to statistics, when Jokic was on the floor this season, the Nuggets could score 116.6 points per 100 rounds, conceding 103.7 points, and 12.9 points per 100 rounds. And when Jokic wasn't around, the Nuggets could only score 102.8 points per 100 rounds, but they had to concede 118.6 points, and the net loss per 100 rounds was 15.8 points!
In today's game, before Jokic was expelled, the Nuggets led the Wizards by 18 points, but in the half-quarter after he was sent off, the Nuggets were hit by opponents with a wave of 22-10, if not too much advantage and too little time, the victory or defeat is still unknown.
NBA star Dominic Wilkins had a high opinion of Jokic during his away commentary, saying that he was: "A great center who can change the game, not only can score, but also grab rebounds, pass the ball for teammates, and such centers are rare in today's game." ”
From a technical point of view, Jokic can indeed be said to be invulnerable. But he has to stay on the pitch to play the value of the MVP.