Kendrick Perkins rips alleged double standards against LeBron James as fans demand 'help' for Nikola Jokic - "Stop moving goal post"
Kendrick Perkins came to LeBron James' defense after the Denver Nuggets' Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. Jokic scored 44 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and two steals, shooting 68.0%, including 5 of 7 from 3.
However, the Nuggets lost the battle in the clutch and fell 112-105 despite holding a 12-point lead in the third quarter. No one stepped up for the Nuggets in the final frame as they failed to make a shot for seven minutes before Jokic broke the drought.
Jokic played the entire quarter, but lacked any support, prompting fans on social media to call for him to get more help. Perkins, however, pointed out how different the reactions were around 40-year-old James when Lakers coach JJ Redick asked him to play 24 minutes in the second half of LA's Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves.
"Bron gets tired at 40 years old and people question his greatness… but Jokic gets tired and it's he needs more help. We gotta stop moving goal post," Perkins wrote.
James has faced criticism over the past few years from fans who believe he has been unable to carry the Lakers in crunch situations. However, Perkins pointed out that the narrative when Denver loses has been around the lack of support for Jokic.
David Adelman on playing Nikola Jokic for the full 4th quarter
Nikola Jokic didn't put much blame on the starters playing the entire fourth quarter in Tuesday's loss. It was a debatable move as Denver's players looked fatigued compared to the young Thunder team. However, Jokic's reaction suggested it wasn't a problem. Jokic said David Adelman told him he could stay in if he wished.
"Did that change anything? I don’t know. We had good looks. We just didn’t make them."
Meanwhile, David Adelman said the group on the floor had good rhythm entering the fourth quarter. With the Nuggets itching to win Game 5 and earn a chance to play a closeout Game 6 at home, he stuck with his decision to play the same five-man lineup in the last quarter.
He conceded that fatigue may have played a role, but also suggested that the shot quality and late-game pressure got to Denver.
"You can say it's fatigue," Adelman said. "You can say it's shot quality too. I thought early in the quarter we did get really good shots it didn't fall. And their late, their pressure got to us, we were up against the clock a lot."
Adelman also took accountability for players' fatigue, saying it was ultimately his decision to keep them in.