Nikola Jokic may need to make a trip to the secret laboratory of Felonious Gru, the main protagonist of the Despicable Me movie franchise, before Game 2 of the Western conference semifinals.
Jokic's Nuggets lost Game 1 at the hands of the Timberwolves by a score of 106-99, during which the two-time MVP was coaxed into an inefficient shooting performance, thanks to Minnesota's rotation of three centers in Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid.
During his postgame press conference, Jokic was asked how he can be more effective against the Timberwolves' rotation of fresh big men. The Nuggets center paused for several seconds, then responded with a perfect joke, telling the reporter that he will have to clone himself.
"To have a duplicate clone of myself," Jokic joked. "And then I can—you know—I can be, uh, fresh, when they sub another guy, I don't need to be fresh."
It sounds like something that Gru, whom Jokic dressed up as as part of a promotion for the movie franchise's fourth film during the first round of the playoffs, could help the Nuggets star with.
In all seriousness, this is the challenge that Jokic is facing against Minnesota. The Timberwolves can throw a three-time Defensive Player of the Year in Gobert, another seven-footer in Towns, and the bulky, lengthy Reid, who weighs 264 pounds and has a 7'3' wingspan, at Jokic throughout the game.
Jokic will need to find some answers for the Timberwolves' defensive plan before Game 2 tips off on Monday night at 10 p.m. ET.
