Cavs Top 3: Nikola Jokic rumbles through the Cleveland Cavaliers defense

Nikola Jokic should realistically win the MVP after the way he handled the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense.

The Cleveland Cavaliers got manhandled in the second half of the Denver Nuggets game on Friday. The Nuggets, who out-shot the Cavs from three, also bodied them inside and out-shot them from the free-throw line. Just about all of that damage came from Nikola Jokic, who has been unstoppable as of late.

Jokic is right there in the conversation for not only the MVP award but for the league’s best player, right there with fellow Euro stars, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’s hard to sit here and be mad that Jokic did Jokic things to the Cavaliers’ defense. A defense that needs help.

The Cavs are likely going to make a trade sooner rather than later to shore up the perimeter defensively and if the team goes after Gordon Hayward or Bogan Bogdanovic, they’ll at least provide an offensive asset even if they aren’t the defensive minder that a guy like Isaac Okoro is.

As for the interior defense, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are going to have to learn to play against Jokic, and getting Dean Wade back, while making another trade for a defensive-minded backup center is in order as well. Especially if the MVP candidate takes the Nuggets to the NBA Finals.

The Cavs will want to prepare for Jokic the way the teams in the 90s and ’00s prepared for a prime Shaquille O’Neal, with lots of bodies. The Cavs gave up a triple-double to Jokic with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Cavs fell to the Nuggets 121-108.

Cleveland Cavaliers top 3 vs. the Denver Nuggets

1 Point – Raul Neto

20 minutes, 6 points, 5 assists, +2 BPM
.500/.500/.000

2 Points – Cedi Osman

28 minutes, 15 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, -7 BPM
.600/.500/.000

3 Points – Caris LeVert

33 minutes, 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, -12 BPM
.615/.750/.600

Cavs Top 3 Seasonal Standings

1. Donovan Mitchell –52 Points
2. Darius Garland – 37 Points
3. Evan Mobley & Cedi Osman – 28 Points
4. Jarrett Allen – 25 points
5. Kevin Love – 17 Points
6. Caris LeVert – 16 Points
7. Isaac Okoro – 9 Points
8. Dean Wade – 3 Points
9. Lamar Stevens & Raul Neto – 2 Points