The Boston Celtics’ upcoming schedule just got a little bit easier. Boston’s upcoming Jan. 7 matchup against the Denver Nuggets won’t see the Cs having to try and slow down Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.
Jokic is expected to miss at least four weeks of play after hyperextending his knee on Monday night against the Miami Heat. Denver’s trip to TD Garden, of course, falls in that span.
The Serbian basketball machine is one of the world’s best players. His three MVPs alone would key you into that.
His high-IQ, dominant strength, and tremendous touch in the paint help him elevate his Nuggets teammates every night. Without the Joker, Denver is a far different team. It’s like taking the motor out of a car -- it simply won’t run the same.
Boston is catching a major break, as they continue to compete for one of the top spots in the Eastern Conference.
In recent years, the Celtics have struggled to stop Jokic anytime they faced off against him. Denver is 3-1 in their last four meetings with Boston, and The Joker is a huge reason why. He’s averaged 29.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 10.3 assists, while shooting 63.8% from the field and 66.7% from beyond the arc in this recent quartet of games.
Jokic would feast against Boston's weakened center rotation
This season, in particular, Jokic would’ve been an even bigger threat to the Celtics, who lost pretty much their entire center rotation over the summer. Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet are all playing their hoops elsewhere, leaving Boston with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza as their top two center options.
Queta has held down the starting spot quite well, exceeding the preseason expectations that many had set for him. Garza, when he actually sees the floor, is proving to be a true hustle guy who creates extra opportunities on the offensive glass.
With that being said, neither man is well-equipped to neutralize Jokic. Very few are.
It’s odd to see the Celtics so shorthanded in the frontcourt, with all of the talent they’ve had in recent seasons. Horford, in particular, was a huge loss because of the reliable defense he’d play on the league’s most talented inside scorers.
Without him, Porzingis, or Kornet, opposing centers have picked apart the Celtics at times this season. Just last game, Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan dominated inside with 18 points and 18 rebounds. Others have capitalized on Boston’s shallow frontcourt, too.
Celtics fans should be grateful that they won’t get to see how Jokic would take advantage -- at least not yet. Denver will see Boston again when the Cs travel to Denver on Feb. 25.