The Denver Nuggets expected a lot of interim head coach David Adelman this season. After the shocking firing of Michael Malone, Adelman had just three regular-season games to prepare the Nuggets for the playoffs.

Jokić's failsafe, Aaron Gordon, the hero of Game 1, is tired of seeing this defensive strategy get rewarded during this postseason (and otherwise) while his superstar teammate gradually grows incensed at all the non-calls:

They weren't that thin for the Denver Nuggets. They were as thick as Nikola Jokić. The best player in the world had the 68-win Thunder on the ropes multiple times. Jokić outplayed presumptive MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a second-round series that went seven games but ended in an OKC blowout.

Stephen Curry missed four consecutive games in the second round due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain, contributing to the Warriors' elimination by the Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury during the Celtics' series against the Knicks, sidelining him for Game 5 and 6.

For the second straight season, Nikola Jokić's eternally resilient Denver Nuggets took a Western Conference heavyweight to seven games in the second round. And for the second straight season, Jokić's Nuggets ultimately fell short for the same reason.

Aaron Gordon might be the gold standard of the "struggling leading man to role player" transformation right now. After never finding his place in Orlando, he has become Mr. Nugget in Denver by giving up the on-ball portion of his offensive game,