DENVER — Alam ng Miami Heat na kung gusto nilang mapanalunan ang 2023 NBA championship ay kailangan nilang pigilan si Nuggets’ star center Nikola Jokic.
Ipinoste ng Serbian big man ang kanyang ika-14 career playoff triple-double at ika-walo sa playoffs na sumira sa 1967 NBA record ni Wilt Chamberlain para sa triple-doubles sa single postseason.
Sa Game One ng NBA Finals ngayong umaga (Manila time) ay makikita kung kayang limitahan ng Heat ang 6-foot-11 na si Jokic.
“He’s very unique,” ani Miami Fil-Am coach Erik Spoelstra. “He doesn’t really have any noticeable weaknesses in terms of his size, his skill set. He’s one of one in the myriad of ways that he can impact the game and impact winning.”
Si Jokic, kasama si guard Jamal Murray, ang kumumpleto sa 4-0 sweep ng Denver kay LeBron James at sa Los Angeles Lakers sa Western Conference finals series.
Si Jimmy Butler naman ang isa sa mga naging susi sa 4-3 pagsibak ng Miami sa Boston Celtics sa kanilang Eastern Conference finals duel.
“Guarding him as a team with all five guys,” sabi ni Butler sa two-time NBA MVP na si Jokic. “He does everything so well, and we’re going to have to be in the gaps, we’re going to have to gang rebound.”
Sina Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love at Cody Zeller ang inaasahang magpapalit-palit sa pagdedepensa kay Jokic.
“We just need to be focused and solid in what we are doing because that’s why they are great, that’s why they are winning, that’s why they’re in the Finals,” ani Jokic.
Ito ang unang NBA Finals appearance ng Denver matapos ang 47 taon.
“With Nikola, it’s never about looking backward. It’s always about looking forward and challenging himself to become the best player that he can be,” ani coach Michael Malone
Hangad naman ng Miami ang ikaapat na korona matapos noong 2006, 2012 at 2013 sa panahon nina James, Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh at Ray Allen.