-
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Employees Author
DENVER – Michael Malone did not mince phrases about how he thought the Denver Nuggets performed in Sport 1.
After watching the movie, the Nuggets head coach noticed quite a lot of issues he didn’t like though Denver led by as a lot as 24 factors earlier than beating the Miami Heat, 104-93, in Sport 1.
“I do not assume we performed nicely in Sport 1,” Malone mentioned on Saturday. “I watched that tape, and so they had been 5 of 16 on wide-open 3’s. As I informed our gamers this morning, the truth that they obtained 16 wide-open 3’s is problematic. And should you assume that Max Strus goes to go 0 for 9 once more or Duncan Robinson goes to go 1 for five once more, you are mistaken.”
Malone cited that the Nuggets’ protection must play significantly better within the fourth quarter, when Denver surrendered 30 factors and 60% capturing to permit the Warmth to climb again inside 9 with 2:34 remaining on Thursday.
Malone’s message to the workforce was to not take heed to any exterior hype about how good Denver performed in constructing that 24-point lead and Nikola Jokic ending with a triple-double and Jamal Murray having a double-double of their Finals debut.
“I informed our gamers in the present day, do not learn the paper,” Malone mentioned. “Do not take heed to the parents on the radio and TV saying that this sequence is over and that we have finished one thing, as a result of we’ve not finished a rattling factor.”
The message was just like after the Nuggets’ Sport 1 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers within the Western Convention finals. The Nuggets constructed a 21-point lead solely to see the Lakers get inside three factors on three separate events within the ultimate 4 minutes.
Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who brings championship expertise from his time with the Lakers, wished to maintain his teammates centered.
“Keep motivated,” Caldwell-Pope mentioned of his message. “We’re right here; do not fumble the ball on the 1-yard line I might say. We have three video games left, let’s keep centered and let’s get this championship.”
The Nuggets know they merely can’t let their guard down towards a scrappy Warmth workforce.
“You simply cannot be complacent with this workforce,” Denver ahead Aaron Gordon mentioned. “You may’t be lackadaisical. You may’t sleep on this workforce. This workforce has no stop. They may proceed to battle via everything of the sport. You have to perceive that about this workforce.
“You may’t take your foot off the fuel with these guys.”
The Nuggets know they will shoot higher from the surface, the place they went simply 8 for 27 from behind the arc. Michael Porter Jr. missed 9 of 11 3-point pictures however favored the appears he obtained.
The Nuggets need to execute higher towards the Miami zone which was capable of decelerate the Denver offense a little bit bit within the fourth quarter.
“There positively was a interval in that sport the place we had been simply launching deep threes, contested pictures,” Porter mentioned. “I do not assume we have actually seen a zone the best way they do it, so it is arduous to make changes in the course of a sport when you do not actually know what is going on on.
“However that is what the playoffs is about. We watch movie, noticed what they’re doing with their zone. Hopefully assault a little bit bit higher and make a number of extra of these pictures.”
Malone mentioned he expects the Warmth to make their changes, principally in spirit and depth for the beginning of Sport 2.
“Realizing Spo the best way I do, it isn’t about changes,” Malone mentioned of Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra. “It is about vitality and energy. I do know I realized a very long time in the past after I first obtained within the league, earlier than you make an adjustment, it’s a must to ask your self two questions: Are we executing the sport plan appropriately, and are we doing it with vitality and drive?
“… I count on the Miami Warmth to return out with a a lot higher vitality and drive and assault mindset tomorrow night.”