NBA Finals Game 1 Notes Denver Vs Miami
Some quick thoughts on what I noticed during game 1 of the NBA Finals.
- Nuggets taking advantage of size by looking for Gordon.
- Nuggets are pushing the pace and forcing cross matches in transition. Jokic demands so much attention that everyone else is getting open looks. Miami basically is going to have to shoot out of their minds from midrange and 3 because Bam can’t pull Jokic out of paint and he’s helping on every drive
- Neither team can really guard the other. Denver has too much size and talent. Miami has too much space and speed. Both teams use ball and player movement but Denver doesn’t have to rely so much on that in the halfcourt because they can run a simple pick and roll or force a switch off the ball. With the pick and roll, they have to account for Jokic, who opens up passing lanes. When they force a switch, Miami’s small size means they can post up Gordon so he can be aggressive getting to the rim.
- Miami’s offense is a well oiled machine with a lot of ball and player movement, with shooters on the court that spread the floor and utilize the space. Bam has a speed advantage on Jokic which he can use to score but because he’s not a 3 point shooter, Jokic can help on drives which means Miami is getting open looks, but they’re jumpers while Denver produces open layups. But if Miami can get hot, they can definitely win a couple games in the series. Miami’s halfcourt offense is beautiful to watch. They’re forcing Denver into rotation and when Jokic is on the floor that means they can take advantage of his foot speed or lack thereof.
- Honestly, Murray is feeling it, but Jokic has all types of space available on the pick and roll when bam is playing drop coverage. Joikic can hit the 3 point line or the elbow.
- Jokic’s post up game is so beautiful and so patient, with such great footwork. He knows when to go fast, when to go slow. The multiple pump fakes, multiple pivots. A patient player is an unguardable player. No matter how slow or unathletic people think you are, if you force the defense to move and then take advantage of angles, anyone can create advantages, either to pass or score. If you play it correctly, you can move the defense diagonally from anywhere on the court to the rim, because the laws of legal defense mean they have to give ground or move laterally, and beating a capable ball handler to every spot is a tough ask for even the greatest defenders.
- Over the course of the game and series, Denver is able to produce easier looks. Their team is more talented and doesn’t have to work as hard. I mean Bruce Brown comes off the bench and is a solid ass point guard. A guard who is very capable of running an offense, especially when paired with Jokic. MPJ is a 6’10'’ sniper who can carry the team for stretches when he gets hot. Brown is also a capable defender as well. All Denver has to do is run a simple high pick and roll and they get a good look almost every time.
- Miami was able to take advantage of Jokic playing drop coverage and Lowry hit a couple 3’s. With Gordon off the court, Denver didn’t have a lot of size as backline defenders, so maybe Jokic didn’t want to leave the paint. He started to get even with the screen afterwards.
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