After securing a 104-93 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Denver Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone expressed his dissatisfaction with his team’s performance. Despite leading by as much as 24 points during the game, Malone felt that the Nuggets had not played up to their potential. According to him, the Miami Heat getting 16 wide-open 3-pointers was problematic, and he emphasized the need for the Nuggets’ defense to improve in the fourth quarter. Malone encouraged his team to ignore any external hype and focus on their game, as they had not achieved anything yet.
This advice echoed his message to the team after their Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets had built a 21-point lead only to see the Lakers come within three points on three separate occasions in the final four minutes. Malone’s message to the team then was to stay focused on the game and not become complacent, a sentiment that remains relevant today.
Nuggets Remain Cautious Against Resilient Miami Heat
The Nuggets are aware that they cannot let their guard down against the Miami Heat, who have proven to be a resilient and scrappy team. Denver forward Aaron Gordon advised his team not to be complacent, lackadaisical, or sleep on the Miami Heat. He emphasized that the Heat would continue to fight throughout the game and urged his team to keep their foot on the gas.
The Nuggets’ guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who brings championship experience from his time with the Lakers, also reminded his teammates to stay motivated and focused. He urged them not to fumble the ball on the one-yard line, a metaphorical reference to staying committed and focused until the end of the game.
The Nuggets know that they need to improve their shooting from the outside, where they went just 8-for-27 from behind the arc. Michael Porter Jr., who missed nine of 11 3-point shots, still liked the looks he got and hoped to execute better against the Miami zone. He acknowledged that the Miami Heat’s zone was different, and it was challenging to make adjustments in the middle of the game. However, he remained optimistic and hoped to attack better and make more shots in Game 2.
Malone expects the Miami Heat to come out with greater energy and force in the next game. He believes that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will focus on improving his team’s intensity and spirit, rather than making significant adjustments to their strategy. Malone emphasized that before making any adjustments, one must ask themselves two crucial questions: if they are executing the game plan correctly and if they are doing it with energy and force.
The Denver Nuggets are aware that they need to improve their game against the Miami Heat. Despite winning Game 1, they understand that they cannot become complacent and must remain focused and resilient. The Nuggets are analyzing their performance and making the necessary adjustments to ensure that they remain competitive in the NBA Finals.
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