It doesn t matter if the data is not good. Jokic performed poorly in the third game of the Thunder, and the coach still supports him

Although Nikola Jokic did not come out with his best season in Game 3, David Adelman is still proud of his contribution. Interim head coach David Adelman supported the star player in a post-match press conference where the Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-104 overtime, despite Jokic's shooting percentage being abnormal.

"Nicolas's 'bad night', I mean 20 wins, 16 losses and 6 draws, was a bad NBA night," Adelman joked. "The data sheet always tells something, but sometimes nothing says. This guy hits only 45% of the three-point shooting percentage. He is in poor form tonight."

David Adelman defends Jokic's "bad form."

Adelman's point of view is indeed very reasonable. The 20 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists are celebrating most NBA players. But for Jokic, the three-time MVP winner, the player who often easily scored triple-double, ended up having a disappointing night. However, by Jokic's standards, he made 8 of 25 shots and missed all 10 three-pointers, which was indeed in poor form. The biggest difference in Game 3 is that when Jokic is in trouble, the Nuggets’ substitute stepped forward. Jamal Murray scored a game-high 27 points and made a key shot under the tight defense of the defensive players. Aaron Gordon scored 22 points, including a key three-pointer to equalize the final minute of the regular season. Michael Porter Jr. contributed his best performance in the playoffs, scoring 21 points and making 5 of 6 three-pointers.

Nuggets coach continues to support Nikola Jokic

Even on a rare night when Jokic missed shots, Adelman still encouraged him to shoot. According to Adelman, Jokic's influence is not just about the ball he shot, but also constantly creates opportunities for his teammates on the court.

"The key is to keep shooting. No matter the result of the game, no matter the efficiency, the ball will be passed to him," Adelman said of Jokic.

"I'm sure he's frustrated. You're so efficient, you can be said to be one of the most efficient players in any sport, yes, I understand. I understand why he's frustrated. But Game 4 is coming, and he'll touch the ball countless times. Hopefully he can keep shooting. He'll create opportunities for others. His defensive rebounds are very influential. So, Nikola is Nikola."

As Game 4 approaches, Adelman's message remains clear: continue to feed the big player anyway, and believe that the most efficient player in the NBA will rebound strongly.