Sorry, Lakers: Rui Hachimura is not the answer to stopping Nuggets star Nikola Jokic

The Lakers emerged from their Game 1 loss with reasons to feel semi-good about their circumstances. Because no, Rui Hachimura is not the Nikola Jokic stopper. It allowed Anthony Davis, who guarded Jokic for most of the previous possessions, to roam as an effective help defender.

The Lakers emerged from their Game 1 loss with reasons to feel semi-good about their circumstances.

But let’s not get crazy with the narrative that they’ve discovered the adjustment to upset the Nuggets. Because no, Rui Hachimura is not the Nikola Jokic stopper.

We’re fully confident Jokic will figure this out.

Here’s what led to this question: Jokic was a monster through three quarters of Denver’s 132-126 victory Tuesday night, then disappeared when Hachimura drew the assignment in the fourth. Hachimura, a 6-8 power forward, was strong enough to keep Jokic from backing down and imposing his will. It allowed Anthony Davis, who guarded Jokic for most of the previous possessions, to roam as an effective help defender.

“I think it was a good plan, and I think the second half, we did a pretty good job on him,” Hachimura said.

First, there’s a good chance Jokic was physically spent by the fourth quarter. He logged 42 minutes, tying a season-high for a regulation game, and was all over the court while accumulating 21 rebounds, 14 assists and 34 points.

Second, Hachimura is not exactly an elite defender. A physical presence, sure, but the 25-year-old has always struggled with defensive reads and navigating screens. Jokic will find a way to exploit him.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham pretended like he held back defensive schemes because he didn’t want to reveal the full playbook. Riiiiight. It’s only the conference finals.

“We didn’t want to go too deep into the in-game adjustments. It’s still that ultimate chess game,” Ham said. “So, we were comfortable with the results, gave us a chance to get back into the game and it’s one of the things that if we need to go back to it’s there — along with several other things that we didn’t unveil tonight.”

The real reason the Lakers should feel more confident is the Nuggets hit 15 3-pointers at a 47% clip. That’s tough to sustain, even if the shots are wide open because the defenders are collapsing on Jokic.

Also, the altitude in Denver gets easier to navigate for the visitors after a few days in the Mile High. Game 2 is Thursday.

FULL PICTURE OF NBA IN ONE NIGHT

After ESPN tried fiercely – and I mean fiercely – to prop up Victor Wembanyama as the superhero to save human athletics, the entire evening and broadcast became a snapshot of the state of the NBA.

There was the future, Wembanyama, who was hailed on the broadcast as the “greatest prospect in the history of team sports.” He’s headed to the Spurs and Gregg Popovich’s life expectancy just extended another 15 years.

There was the fool, Ja Morant, who was in the mix to become the next face of the league until he conflated rap videos with real life. Interviewed by ESPN, commissioner Adam Silver feigned “shock” that Morant again brandished a gun on video. (You mean a few days at a rehab center didn’t actually do anything? Shocking).

There was the past, LeBron James, who is simultaneously holding on to greatness and watching it slip through his fingers.

Then there was the present, Jokic, who the system has been reluctant to embrace but now can’t ignore.

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