发布日期：2025-03-27 21:58 点击次数：111
After securing a narrow road win over one of their direct competitors, the Houston Rockets上海股票配资, the Denver Nuggets received several positive outcomes.
First and foremost, the Nuggets managed to snap their two-game losing streak and ended the Rockets' nine-game winning run. This victory not only halted their slide but also allowed them to momentarily breathe easy while holding the third spot in the Western Conference standings.
Secondly, with Nikola Joki? sidelined, Jamal Murray stepped up in a big way, scoring an impressive 39 points. His scorching performance almost single-handedly dismantled Houston's defense. Meanwhile, DeAndre Jordan, rarely seen playing such heavy minutes, logged 38 minutes on the court, contributing 11 points and 15 rebounds. His solid play underscored his importance as a temporary stand-in for Joki?. Both the Nuggets coaching staff and Joki? himself would likely hope to see this “no-Joki?” system operating smoothly, especially as the playoffs approach, where flexibility and adaptability are key.
展开剩余83%Furthermore, this game marked the end of the Nuggets' challenging four-game road trip. Finishing with a 2-2 record, they’ve managed to give Joki? some much-needed rest, allowing the team to return home and approach the final ten games of the season with a more composed mindset.
Yet, despite the many positive developments, there's a bitter truth looming over the team—Joki?’s absence. Due to injury, he hasn't played a single game on this road trip, and reports suggest that even after returning home, he won’t be immediately back on the court. This means his absence will stretch even further. Nuggets' head coach Michael Malone had previously emphasized that Joki?'s downtime wasn’t part of a strategic load management plan but rather due to genuine injury.
Meanwhile, during this time, Joki?’s main MVP competitor, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has continued to lead his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, with relentless momentum. The Thunder, who secured another close win against the Clippers recently, are riding high on a six-game win streak.
As the regular season draws to a close, the MVP conversation has increasingly tilted in favor of SGA, with many calling for him to claim the top spot, pushing Joki? to second place in the MVP race.
When considering Joki?’s individual performance this season, however, it’s clear that he has been more impressive than in any of his previous MVP seasons. With career highs of 29.1 points and 10.3 assists per game, along with a 41.3% three-point shooting rate, Joki? is on track to finish the season with another triple-double average. If he achieves this, he would join Russell Westbrook as only the second player to accomplish this historic feat in the modern NBA era.
Beyond the numbers, Joki?’s advanced stats are just as exceptional. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) has surpassed 31 for the fifth consecutive year, and his Box Plus-Minus (BPM) of 13.2 leads the league for the fifth year in a row, setting a new career record in the process.
However, despite his personal brilliance, the Nuggets’ overall strength has diminished this season, largely due to the departure of key players from their championship-winning roster two years ago. Early in the season, Murray struggled to regain his form, and the addition of Westbrook created new challenges for the team’s rotation and chemistry.
In the face of these struggles, Joki? didn’t complain. When the established system faltered, he took it upon himself to create a new one, combining the roles of a top scorer, playmaker, and rebounding powerhouse. This has not only benefited his teammates but also helped turn around the team’s performance as the season has progressed. Murray has found his rhythm again, and other players have stepped up as well, regaining their confidence.
Yet, despite this remarkable leadership, Joki?'s MVP hopes seem to be slipping away. On the other hand, SGA has proven himself deserving of the award. Leading the league in scoring with 32.9 points per game, he also tops the league in field goal attempts and free throws made. Under his leadership, the Thunder have been dominant, staying atop the Western Conference standings and securing the top spot early in the season.
While last season’s Western Conference top spot for the Thunder was seen as a surprise, this year, they have become a legitimate title contender, and SGA is at the center of it all.
In addition, there has been a growing sense of fatigue within the NBA regarding Joki?’s dominance of the MVP award. There’s a perception that as a product of the European basketball system, Joki? doesn’t quite fit into the American basketball culture, and this has hindered his full recognition. Despite his undeniable excellence, he has yet to achieve the same level of cultural prominence as other superstars.
After Joki?’s third MVP last season, NBA figures like Shaquille O'Neal began questioning whether it was time for a change, suggesting that the award should go to SGA. As the Thunder continue to thrive and SGA’s case strengthens, this sentiment is gaining traction.
Given all this, Joki?, who had already lost some of his favor in the public eye, finds himself at an even greater disadvantage due to his recent injury. If SGA continues to play every game and secures the MVP, Joki? will likely have to accept that he’s been out of the race. While Joki? has focused on his recovery with patience, it seems clear that his attention has shifted away from individual accolades. Instead上海股票配资, his eyes are now set on the more challenging battles that await in the playoffs.
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