BLAME ON GOBERT? 🤔 Nikola Jokic was on FIRE but can we get SOMETHING!? - Stephen A. | First Take 

Gobert has become an easy scapegoat for everything since 2020.

The blame goes to the Joker for being that great simple.

NO ONE is stopping Jokic.

LMAO SAS doing anything he absolutely can to make sure Jokic doesn't get all of the credit. Jokic could drop 70, 30, 20 being triple teamed the entire game and SAS would say "bad defense"

If Jordan had this performance, they would say “he’s Michael Jordan. No one can stop him”

No disrespect but if KD dropped 40 on Gobert. Stephen A wouldn’t even be talking like this.

Ngl..Gobert played great defensively. Look at the shots Jokic made and tell me what more Gobert could do, the man is simply on a different level.

In the 2001 NBA Finals Shaq averaged 33 15 and 5. Did we hold 4x DPOY Dikembe Mutombo accountable? I think not.

Gobert played good defense, Jokic just played better offense. MVP>DPOY, END OF DEBATE.

If Joker was American white or black, he would be getting much more props than he does. The guy is phenomenal

If Jokic was black, SAS would just say he's unguardable

SAS is just pathetic at this point lol. You mentioned Rudy is 4x DPOY but did you mention Joker is 3x MVP?! They try their best to discredit him, but he proves them wrong every single year. And NO YOU DONT KNOW HOW GREAT JOKER IS, because all you do is slander him

Blaming Gobert for not stopping Jokic is like blaming someone for not stopping Kobe or Jordan, or Lebron. Makes no sense.

“It’s Gobert fault” as if Jokic hasn’t put up huge games against Wemby, Bam, and AD, the other 3 best interior defenders in the league smh. Not to mention Jokic would’ve had about 20 assists instead of 13 if it wasn’t for Gobert’s unbelievable help defense.

I wonder if SAS has this same energy about 4x DPOY Mutumbo getting worked by Shaq in the finals.

Mutumbo was the best defensive center in his prime. And he couldn’t stop Shaq, he was just unstoppable. This is may be similar with Gobert, Jokic is a beast.

IT IS NOT GOBERTS FAULT. JOKIC IS SIMPLY UNGUARDABLE

The usual suspects in the sports media (like Stephen A) would rather criticize Gobert for being "overrated" than just giving Jokic his flowers. Jokic cooks EVERYONE. Name an elite defensive player than Jokic HASN'T torched. In the playoffs alone he's given Adebayo, AD, and Gobert (and KAT, anyone else the Wolves have thrown at him) the business the past two seasons. But they do whatever they can to downplay Jokic's legacy by saying the defense on him sucks.

If a 4x DPOY got cooked like vs. someone else, yes, we would laugh, but u forgetting he got cooked by 3x MVP and NBA current champion.

Espn is full of clowns (stephen a, perkins). Respect your profession, it is not just talking for the sake of talking.

Jokic dropped 43 points 7 rebounds 13 assists no turnovers on 4x DPOY nobody can stop the joker he proved media wrong he should've been 4 straight MVPs Embiid robbed him

Remeber when SAS said the Timberwolves and OKC are a lock for the WCF? 😂

They don't want to give the joker his credit so bad 😂😂

As I am an old white man, I've long been aware of racism by whites towards people of color. What I have only recently learned is that there are similar racist views by some people of color directed towards whites. SAS and Gil Arenas just cannot directly admit how great of a player Jokic is.

Tim legler is 1 of the best analysts in sports with no real bias. Giving the DOPY award to a center when guarding the perimeter is the 1st line of defense. Especially when you have players that can do both Wemby, AD, Giannis, Jaren Jackson , Embiid might be a step slower but his defensive impact is much higher.

You guys gave Marcus Smart a pass when Curry was giving him buckets all finals. Like Drake said is Gobert/Jokic not black enough??

The most hilarious thing was listening to Draymond Green speak during the halftime/post game show on TNT. He was talking as if he would have done any better out there vs Jokic. It's like Richard Jefferson said in that JJ podcast, you could line up all 5 top DPOY candidates and Jokic would have cooked all of them. Especially that night. He was on fire in game 5.

Rudy played amazing defence on Jokic. It's just that Jokic is phenomenal. Have you ever heard "elite defence, better offence"

No one can stop Jokic. Stop acting like anyone stopped Jordan, LeBron, Kareem, Shaq or any other generational player. Jokic is no different

The media are making excuse for anthony edwards.. rudy gave a 18pts should edwards match jokic production

Sas just wants joker stopped

I agree with JJ, no matter how well you defend, there are some players you just can’t stop from scoring. Anyone who has been hooping long enough has seen someone like that in person or was that person themselves.

Just because you are DPOY means you can stop every single player in the league. Jokic is just that great.

When Jokić was torching AD in Lakers series nobody was talking that its ADs blame. ESPN found another Euro to blame.

I don't remember AD getting slander last year when Jokic was cooking him in the WCF 😂

not even a basketball fan but Gobert was trying his damnest and Jokic would just put the ball up and I went in like magic making I look easy. Its not all on Gobert, Jokic is just him.

Stephen A is forgetting to mention 3x MVP But he never fails to mention 4x DPOY

SAS's complaint about JJ is exactly what he does. Dude is the biggest hypocrite.

The same Rudy Gobert that claimed he would lock Shaq up 😂

Can y'all please give Joker his flowers

I agree nobody is stopping jokic but cmon guys you watch this game Rudy isn’t even really trying on defense, he’s letting jokic get comfortable, not pushing jokic off the block or trying to deny him. He goes up his not jumping or making it hard. Lastly jokic is being way more physical

When black mvps dominate a game-you just can't stop the MVP. When white mvps dominate a game-WHY DIDNT YOU STOP THIS SCRUB? Yall weren't just questioning why Gobert couldn't stop Jokic, yall were pinning all the blame on Gobert for Jokic having a great night instead of giving Jokic credit for achieving what he did. All the media does it take credit away from Jokic's greatness by blaming it on someone else not doing their job. Media discussion was 10% Jokic was great and 90% Gobert was bad. If a white MVP posts a historic game, it's not because of what he did, it's because of what someone else didn't do. If a black MVP posts a historic game, it's because he's unstoppable and thats what he always does.

Jokic is so good, he's even making Hall of Famers get mad publicly

If Shaq had a bad game, are giving props to the defender or saying Shaq was off his game? Give Jokic his props, this man is definitely on his way to be one of if not the best center in history

Steve A Smith almost died at 4:02 😂😂😂

Jokic showed one of the best performances of the history of the sport. The defense didn't matter. But Minnesota collectively tried their best.

I get JJ - the fact that he had 0 turnovers makes you really understanding of that fact that Joker was on a heater and nothing was stopping it.

SAS complaining that JJ gets sensitive when someone has an opposite opinion is beyond hypocritical.

@2:58 Rudy didn't no which way to go 😂

They just never want to give any credit to Jokic about who he beats. Last year he was 1 missed free throw away from sweeping these Wolves, but everyone was saying it was impossible for Gobert and KAT to work and that it was the worst trade in history. Next round, they were calling Ayton a Jokic stopper before the series began, A.D was called the best defender in the playoffs, and Bam was a DPOY candidate. But once Jokic embarrassed them, people were looking for excuses to change the narrative, saying those players weren't even good to begin with.

Should've gave that DPOY award to Wemby

Its not just on Gobert , AD is another top 3 defender in the league and has no answer for him . Jokic is great

It’s really concerning considering jokic had his worst game when Rudy didn’t play and his team got blew out

Just appreciate a 🔥 old school center match-up between the DPOY and MVP. Reminds me of the 1994 & 95 Shaq-Hakeem finals. But no, we need some random Gobert rant.

He’s MVP and has multiple for a reason. All time greats are hard to stop no matter what award you get so no one is to blame here.

The shots jokic was taking were over good defense

Gorbert is actually playing decent defense, it just doesn’t matter against jokic

If jokic was black the dude would currently be in GOAT C conversations across the board.

Boogie Cousins made the best argument on Bully Ball the other day about Gobert. He said that past DPOY, such as Ben Wallace and Hakeem the Dreams defense, was so impactful that it would change the outcome of games. Rudy defense just doesn't hit the same. Twolves had their best defensive game against Denver the game Rudy didn't play. Facts!

The difference of JJ's basketball knowledge vs Stephen A is astronomical

Come on now, Minnesota. PLEASE give us a great game 6, I need 7 games from this series.

SAS choking on his take about denver getting sweept

an all time playoff performance and no flowers given to the 3 time MVP, man what's up with ESPN

I mean the blame goes to the Joker for being so simple He’s literally a European Tim Duncan

"Can I get something from Gobert to stop Jokic". Yes you did. Still not enough. Thats the whole point. The mans just that dominant. It wont take a player to stop him, but a whole strategy. And even thats not enough, because hes smarter than that. I repeat, Rudy is simply not enough to beat him not because hes bad but because Jokic is just that good. Jokic will eat even better in the next potential round, trust me. Stop it now, and give him some credit instead of bashing Gobert

Stephen A is just another clown talking nonsenses , jokic is too good , that simple.

Its not Gobert fault, its Jokic's greatness. Those plays he made were unreal. Gobert deserves his dpoy, just that you need a generational defensive player to stop Jokic. Coming from a Raps fan.

He's literally in his face contesting every shot, what more can he do?

SAS SHOULD REPLACE GOBERT ! 😂

I wonder if wilt, kareem, hakeem, etc had this kind of hate and slander when they were dominating? Did people recognize theor greatness at the time or did they just scream "bad defense"? Legit question.

Love how J.J. Reddick pointed out that Jokic was 11/28 against Rudy prior to the game he went 8/9 against him and they ignored that 😂😂

Ridiculous, no defender in the league is gonna stop Jokic in this form. He was contesting every shot and Jokic just happened to be making every thing on the night. Jokic is that good so award the players greatness and don't try to belittle another player.

JJ Reddick does not keep it real. He gets sensitive like Stephen Jackson. Some NBA players will not give honest takes . They get sensitive because its they are former NBA players.

This the truth. There’s nothing you can do to stop Jokic! Our offense is the issue. That’s where we are struggling the most right now. Doubling ANT has completely made this series challenging.

It’s not suppose to be that easy. Gobert plays with no intensity, just lets em do what he wants. Plays with no force.

Its not the 40 points that are the issue, its the efficiency. Great players will get their stats, but 68% shooting with 0 turnovers, Gobert has to do better than that

For all of you guys saying No one is gonna stop Jokic … that’s fine … so what’s the point of having Rudy out there? Play Kat C and make Jokic work on the defensive end at least put more offense out there. they are letting Jokic off the hook defensively

Gober played very good defence on Joker , same like AD last year and this year , but just look those shots . Joker just turn GOD MODE .

We about to see a great basketball game tonight. 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

And gobert was saying he would lock up prime shaq 😂😂😂

Some of of the plays are good defense but way better offensive. Also other DPOY/close to DPOY candidates also struggle against Jokic and yall making Gobert think he the only one that struggles against Jokic

Blame Shaq for poking Jokic

Legs being Legs, always giving thoughtful answers.

Rudy got exposed in the playoffs when he played in Utah

This is ESPNs way of changing the narrative to not give Joker credit for playing MVP ball. Make it about how the DPOTY is playing "bad" defense instead.

Look at all the clips. That is good defense right there. Just unbelievable offense.

The Joker had Gobert as a steak dinner. Pass the BBQ sauce please.

lol they were playing better when Rudy wasn’t on the floor idk why they haven’t realized they need to take him off the floor these past 3 games

Big Ben killed Shaq in the finals. So tired of all these arguments defending Rudy. You can’t be a 4x DPOY and a straight up defensive liability every single time it matters. This isn’t something new, it happens every single year. Rudy is a good defender but the rest of the league is so bad that it’s the only reason he’s won the award more than once. Wemby’s here though, Rudy will never see another DPOY

Love the suit SAS, should I bring it up ‘Now or Later’ 🤣😂🤣

Rudy Gobert has made every team he's played for the number 1 defense in the NBA. How's that for impact?

SAS spot on here

He’s a really stupid defender. He makes multiple mistakes on defense almost every possession.

The arms of Jokic after games are full of bruises and scratches. They think Twolves is not defending Jokic😂

I wish they included the rest of JJ’s take. When he mentioned Ben Wallace and mutumbo getting owned by Shaq and David Robinson getting owned by Hakeem

Legless made the best point. Gobert hasn't faced a real big man in the post like that before so he doesn't know how to defend. And no Jokic would not have done that to Hakeem on his worst day. Dream on!

jokic is making crazy shots, gobert has been pretty good on the perimeter when he is out there too. jokic did this to AD too like comon now, this dudes finesse n touch is probably the best ever...

"You can't stop him. You can only HOPE to contain him."

Stephen A is spot on!!!

Joker was just cooking. Give him his props. He figured it out and started smoking the team.