NBA playoffs: Dwight Howard doesn’t want to give Nikola Jokic space

From the moment Dwight Howard entered Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, it was clear that he was ready to be a nuisance. After not playing any significant minutes for the Lakers since the first game of the previous round of the NBA playoffs, Howard was rested and ready to rile the Denver Nuggets, with particular emphasis on their star, Nikola Jokic.

Howard got into groups that the Nuggets were having with umpires. He made sure he was rarely not making some kind of physical contact with Jokic. He hit and shoved him until Jokic committed two offensive fouls and had to sit for the rest of the first half, then proceeded to smash shots and make the rest of the Nuggets nervous with his physique. Overall, he made his mission as humanely annoying as possible, and he accomplished it with flying colors.

While speaking to reporters after the game, Howard said it’s all due to his respect for how dangerous Jokic can be.

“He is an incredible player and I was delighted to see his growth from coming to the league until now. For me, as soon as I step onto the court, I want to let him know that I’m there, ”Howard said, joking that his strategy could end up spreading off the court as well.

“Since we’re staying at the same hotel, I could meet him right outside his room and let him know that for the rest of the series, I’ll be there, locked in with you,” Howard continued, breaking a smile. “It’s nothing bad, it’s just a competitive spirit within me. I appreciate their hard work and dedication to the game, and this is a great opportunity for me, so I’ll take any time I have on the court and give my teammates and the Laker Nation 110%. “

Photo by Fernando Medina / NBAE via Getty Images

Howard is probably joking, but now there’s nothing I want more than pictures of him, not just picking up Jokic across the court, but protecting him at all times. From Howard waiting outside Jokic’s room until Jokic comes out and sighs and throws his hands up in the air when he sees Howard there. From Howard looking at Jokic as he walks through the line at the breakfast buffet. From Howard playing ball denial defense while Jokic tries to climb the stairs to the waterslide on a day off, or Howard following him in a golf cart and trying to block his impulses while Jokic just tries to get into a few few rounds of golf to relax.

Unfortunately, because 2020 just sucks in so many ways, those moments will likely be restricted to our imagination. At least we got some decent memes.

Still, Howard deserves a lot of credit for being prepared for his moment. After not playing meaningful basketball in two weeks, he could have looked rusty. Instead, he accepted that the last series didn’t fit him well, kept pushing himself, and was able to thrive as one of the Lakers’ most valuable players this round.

“I’ve been telling him for the past two weeks, he will be our X-factor in this series,” Lakers guard Rajon Rondo said. “I am very happy that he had the opportunity to go out and play and show his talent, and show how much we need him.

“I told him during the Houston series that things may not turn out his way sometimes, but for a championship you need all 15 guys,” Rondo continued. “It is a testimony of the administration, we can be flexible. Go small, go big and tonight Dwight Howard was especially good for us. “

Howard was electric just as he entered the game in the first half. His stats for the night (13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) are good, even if they won’t surprise anyone, but anyone watching the game could see how much energy Howard infused the Lakers from the moment Al coach Lakers boss Frank Vogel liked what he saw so much, in fact, he gave starter JaVale McGee a quick hook and opened Howard for the second half, something he already did in a previous game against the Nuggets this season. . He and the Lakers clearly value the work Howard does with Jokic.

“I just liked his energy. Dwight has a great physical presence and this will be a physical series. We didn’t have a plan to (take him out in the second half) before the night, but I really liked the way he played in the first half and I felt like he could have an impact starting the second half, ”Vogel said.

Photo by Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

Lakers star Anthony Davis, who was saved from having to play more minutes in center than he prefers due to Howard’s excellence, credited his veteran teammate for the victory.

“He played very well. It was physical with Jokic. He made his free throws, he was excellent at pick and roll play, he was talking defensively and no matter who he is as a person or as a player, not to play in our last series against Houston and go out there and be ready to play. in the Western Conference Finals, that’s really valuable, ”Davis said. “He came in and played great minutes for us tonight and helped us get the win.”

For Howard, to whom Vogel widely credited the weight he lost heading into the season and the work he put into his body while committing to his role, and who was so determined to prove himself that he was the one who asked the Lakers unsecured contract so he could show just how committed he was: It was the culmination of a season-long effort to do whatever it takes to win a ring. Howard admitted that he thinks about falling short against the Lakers the last time he was in the NBA Finals in 2009 every day, and whether he’s following Nikola Jokic around the Disney World campus or serving as the biggest cheerleader in NBA history, you’re ready to go. all you can to help the purple and gold raise banner n.

“As a professional, you have to always be prepared. In the last series, I knew it was a small ball and the coach had already told us (crosses) that it was going to be difficult for us to get minutes because of how Houston plays. So instead of getting mad or just pouting, I decided to prepare for this series against whoever we play next, ”Howard said.

“I was very grateful to have the opportunity to go out and play. I gave my colleagues everything I had ”.

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