Inside The Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves Player Reveals Strategy Against Nikola Jokic

The Minnesota Timberwolves had an interesting strategy against Jokic
Joey Linn|
May 12, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) works around Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) in the third quarter of game four of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) works around Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) in the third quarter of game four of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports | Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

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Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves

There are certain NBA stars who simply cannot be effectively schemed against. This group of players is small, but Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is certainly in it. Able to bend the defense no matter how they defend him, Jokic is truly a one of one talent at the center position. 

During a recent episode of the Hip Hop Hoops podcast, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker spoke on Jokic, and said his team’s strategy was to take away the three-time MVP’s weapons, and force him to do all the scoring.

"He probably had 30 every game," Alexander-Walker said of Jokic. "... How do we make it your 30 points vs. our team... Now we gotta take Jamal [Murray] out of the series. We gotta take Michael Porter out of the series. Let's try to limit Aaron Gordon and what he does for them. Now it's like Jokic, you are going to have to score 100 points against us."

As Alexander-Walker noted, even this strategy is not perfect, but it was what the Timberwolves found to be most effective against the Nuggets. Minnesota was able to eliminate Denver in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, and while that was not due to a poor showing from Jokic, the Timberwolves did do an effective job limiting the players around him.

This was very interesting to hear broken down by Alexander-Walker, as he acknowledged how impossible Jokic is to stop, which is why the Timberwolves took a unique approach in their series against him. 

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.

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