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Watch the trickery that Jokic pulls off on the first possession of the game. Bam is fronting him trying to deny this pass. So Nikola at one point just stops asking for the ball and instead sets an impromptu screen. You see that while Murray can fly all the way to the rim, Vincent now must go around 2 big bodies and there’s no stopping this as Jamal lays it in.
The 2 man game for Denver was deadly in game 1, but as tough as that was to stop for Miami, they have another huge issue that doesn’t seem like they’ll be able to solve. Let me explain.
First let me show you the pick and roll clinic that they ran. Jokic sets a great screen up top and Jamal has a lot of room here. You see that Bam is trying to split the difference between the 2, of course watching for the roll by the big man. He can’t commit to a full switch and leave Vincent with Nikola. So Murray realizes that he can just raise up for the shot and knocks it down.
This one was even easier as Adebayo is in a full drop right here. So you see all the space that Jamal has and this is easy money for a great mid range scorer like him.
This time it’s finally Nikola’s time in the pick and roll as he gets the pass down low and look at the beautiful spin into a hook shot- this is unstoppable.
Jokic is just too big for either Adebayo or Zeller and we saw that when he’s able to get it inside it’s either a bucket or a foul, as Nikola ended up shooting 12 free throws which is double than what he usually does.
This is how we get to Miami’s biggest issue that is matchups.
Watch Aaron Gordon looking like Lebron against the smaller guys that the Heat had on him. He bulldozed through Gabe Vincent and Max Struss on multiple possessions.
Then with Caleb Martin on him you see that Denver clears out the left side for him and with shooters all around- and yeah that includes Jokic who’s firing threes at 47.5% this postseason.
So Miami can’t help here and this is easy work again for AG.
Again, same thing just on the opposite side. I understand the fear of the open 3 for the Heat but this is a 100% type of shot so you gotta help out here.
Gordon finished the game with 16 points on 70% from the field and you can see why that percentage was so high.
So with 2 of the 5 positions being a real mismatch that’s a huge problem for Miami.
I expect Hayward Highsmith to get much more playing time in game 2 as a terrific defender who had some great moments as one of the key pieces in that fourth quarter run. And even with his limited offensive assignments he still dropped 18 points.
Speaking of the 4th quarter run- it was the zone that got Miami back from 21 points within single digits in just a few minutes in the fourth, but when Denver found Jokic in the middle, he broke them down either with a flip shot like in this situation, or some incredible interior passing finding guys right under the rim to put the nail in the coffin for this game 1.
If Miami even hopes to make this series interesting then Jimmy Butler must be much more active and it’s inexcusable to pass away good looks like this one right here, or end up with just 2 free throws as a team. 2 free throws they actually set an NBA record for fewest free throw attempts in a playoff game.
One thing that they can hope will go their way is shot making because, look at all of these open looks that Miami couldn’t convert. Max Struss went 0-9 from downtown and he better get back on track for the Heat to even have a chance in the finals.
A convincing win in the opening for Denver and they made it look like they are an unsolvable problem for their opponent. Let’s see if that will be the case moving forward.
Let me know what you think. That’s it for now, subscribe and talk to you in the next one. Peace out.
39 Comments
Portland beat the Denver off of fastbreak points on the 4th game of the regular season
Aside from the obvious impacts from Jokic and Murray, what will ultimately be Miami's undoing is the fact that MPJ and AG are able to switch on basically any Heat player on defense. Additionally, their length and athleticism will be too much for Miami's shooters to handle.
Goatkic 4-0
is 1:23 not a double dribble lol
I have to say it was a lot closer than I expected given how many fucking 3s Miami missed. So I would not count out either team right now.
Give Nuggets credit for their offense. Miami needs to sustain Denvers offense in the beginning, best scenario is making Denver work for every shot. Tiring them around the 3rd qtr. And be more physical.
Miami missed many open shots, and were not aggressive. I think their game plan is to see how Denver engages un Game 1 and make changes for game 2.
Miami in 7 😅
Anyone who says they have no chance without Jimmy going crazy is stupid.
Strus and Martin COMBINED for 3 points. The game wasn’t even a blowout at the end.
Jimmy needs to do better yeah but those other guys are definitely gonna do better.
A slow unathletic Jokic PROVES Wilt Chamberlin would have competely DOMINATED today's NBA…
Nuggets in four. 👌🏼
🧹🧹🧹🧹
Unfortunately for the Heat, Jokic was going half speed this game. Next game he will go all out, to contest the Heat as they get back into shape
Can we all just admit that Joel Embiid got a pity MVP – all because Kendrick Perkins cried racism and the spineless, gutless media, and NBA voting fan base decided that that was a strong enough narrative to run with.
Because damn, Jokić is obviously the MVP lol
Стефан брат… Браво. Индивидуален, но притоа и навистина објактивен увид и прекрасен приказ. Само напред бро. 👏 💪 🔥
No way they win
Imagine how ridiculous this game would’ve been in Jokić had actually tried
But the same was said about all the teams that Miami faced before nuggets. (The other teams also had bigger forwards)
The only way I see the heat beating Denver is out scoring them. Like playing against the 2016 warriors your just gonna have to out shoot them
I think Miamis best bet is to run the whole game they have to out pace them
tbh miami did lose by 11 points. if max n martin made two 3s each that woulda been 12 points more then they had
Make the vids longer😡 or make more😂🙏🏿
Please send this to Coach Spolstra!
Denver will sweep miami in a blowout, miami has absolutely no chance sinply for the fact that denver is INFINITELY superior to miami in EVERY aspect, denver will sweep miami with immense ease
why no Love? is he not healthy or what. they really need the size
I think both teams will be more aggressive for gm 2. And hopefully both shoot better. The Heat were playing at altitude after a hard fought 7 gm series, and will be more rested on Sunday. Go Nuggest!
If heat just the hit the easy open shots they usually make they would have won the game by 5+ points
Miami be lucky if they even win 1 game in this series
Jimmy need to score 45 to 50 points..
Miami would have won this if Struss/Robinson/Martin shot 30% from downtown and Jimmy took some more shots. Time for Miami to get serious.
boring ass finals
If Strus knocks down 4 of those 3s, the Heat win
Good thing nuggets suck at 3pts because oh booooy
And Jimmy WHO? He looked like a puppy at his HOUSE . I hope he wakes up and no get swept away
Miami were hot against the Knicks from 3. Anyway, it's not about the Knicks.
Go the Nuggets, but the Heat will definitely have better games from 3 than this one.
Its crazy how many people, INCLUDING THE "PROFESSIONALS"(!!), Have never watched the Nuggets play a single possession. We have quite possibly the best player in the league and held number one in the west for MONTHS and they still haven't watched a damn second of Nuggets basketball. Van blundy and Mark Jackson (we know what he did) were on the Lakers jock for four games and then last night they're out here talking like they've been fans for ages. The disrespect is a tool and we gonna 🔥🔥 burn the heat in 5.
If Heat can't guard Nuggets, they have to outscore the Nuggets
Heat had no chance this game even though they missed many open outside shots. They too small going up against Denver.
They will get killed inside all series long especially with the passing of Joker.
If the heat knock down their shots and himmy butler goes hard when he should. Totally different ball game
1:37 when has lebron ever dominated a game by sealing?? Are you just dumb or always riding the stars??
Mpj had a beautiful play where he single handedly torched the zone for that corner 3. His movement and timing for it was genius.
He needs more of that activity
Denver only scored 104 pts tho. Most in the 1st half. Heats offense scored 30 points in the 4th
Strus throwing up bricks, they might as well start Robinson, defense doesn't matter, Denver too big either way.