I've been saying this for years - Jokic's "lazy" defense is actually brilliant game management. He's protecting himself from fouls and injuries while conserving energy for when it matters most. Watch him in clutch moments and you'll see a completely different defender.⁣ ⁣ The proof? Denver is 2nd in defensive rating this season at 109. You don't get those numbers with bad team defense. Jokic knows exactly when to turn it on, and his rebounding and positioning are elite all game long.⁣ ⁣ People see him not going all-out on every possession in the first three quarters and think it's effort. It's strategy. When you're that good offensively, you can pick your spots defensively and still dominate games.