During the third quarter of the Nuggets’ April 10 win, it didn’t exactly feel like David Adelman was running the show. Denver held a 73-58 lead with just under 10 minutes left when Nikola Jokic was spotted on the sideline, clipboard in hand, breaking things down for his teammates. And this wasn’t just a quick chat or a heat-of-the-moment pep talk. Jokic looked all business, walking guys through sets and pointing out rotations like a coach who’d been doing this for years.

But now it’s Coach Adelman’s turn, because the stakes are higher now. With the playoffs looming, Adelman has taken charge now. Following Malone’s dismissal, interim head coach David Adelman is now trying to steer the 2023 champions through uncharted territory. But even he admits—there’s only so much he can control, especially when it comes to the 3x MVP.

In a telling moment, Adelman made a rare admission during a recent media session: “I don’t think it’s possible to win what we want to win with him just going one-on-three, one-on-four.” The Nuggets aren’t just asking Jokic to be a superstar—they’re asking him to trust, step back, and let others shine.

Adelman pointed to their recent game against Sacramento as a model. “By the end, the numbers were there. And that’s what you want—you want the game to gradually come to him.”

It’s clear the coaching staff is adjusting its strategy to protect their three-time MVP. “We had to do things the right way where he’s not always coming up in pick-and-rolls,” Adelman said. “Can we cross-match him? Can we send somebody else up?”

But that shift comes with its own challenges. Teams are throwing triple-teams at Jokic more often now, and Adelman acknowledges it’s forcing Denver’s role players to either rise or fold. “We’re extremely confident in the other guys to make open shots,” he said. “They have to shoot those shots, commit to them, and that makes things easier for Nikola.”

The tone wasn’t just strategic—it felt personal. Adelman referenced legendary championship teams to drive home his point. “You can talk about Kobe and Shaq all you want—it was Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Robert Horry. Those guys made shots. That’s what opened the game up.”

The Nuggets’ locker room—whether through play, pressure, or presence—is demanding a more balanced approach. And for a team with championship ambitions, that shift in dynamic might be the biggest change yet.

But in an honest and revealing moment, Adelman made a helpless confession that sums up the immense pressure he’s under as the interim head coach: “We can’t call timeout and powwow every time something doesn’t go our way.” The message here is clear—Adelman recognizes that in high-stakes situations, he can’t rely on constant timeouts to recalibrate the team. The real work has to be done on the floor, in the heat of the moment.

Adelman shared how crucial communication has become: “You have to get ahead of conversations like that. And if we can do that and be consistent with it, it obviously helps the process.” It’s a shift in mindset—one that acknowledges the immense stakes and the need for his players to take ownership.

For the Nuggets, the task is clear: Jokic’s brilliance is unmatched, but they need more than just him. The new coaching staff’s challenge is to balance those expectations while empowering the team to rise to the occasion. Whether they can successfully navigate these growing pains and defend their championship hopes will be determined in the coming weeks.

As Denver fine-tunes its strategy, the Los Angeles Clippers are gearing up for a serious challenge in Round 1: containing the Serbian.

Clippers are reportedly using Ben Simmons to practice containing Nikola Jokic

The Clippers are facing an uphill battle in trying to replicate Nikola Jokic’s game, but they’re getting creative. Instead of finding an exact replica, they’ve turned to Ben Simmons, who will play the role of Jokic on the scout team. Sounds a bit out there, right? But considering their roster, it’s probably the best shot they’ve got.

Simmons shares some similarities with Jokic. Both are long, strong, and excel at making the extra pass. Sure, Simmons might overdo it at times, but his court vision was always one of his standout traits.

Before his dramatic fall from grace, Simmons was a beast. He was a three-time All-Star, made the NBA’s First Team All-Defense twice, and averaged 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game. Now, he may not match Jokic’s numbers, but he was a solid all-around player—if you ignore the shooting.

What’s intriguing now is how the Clippers will utilize Simmons. Could he get minutes to bolster their defense? That’s something to watch for as the series progresses. With the playoff intensity at its peak, it could be the perfect moment for Simmons to shine or, at the very least, help the Clippers stay in the fight against Jokic. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how this unfolds.