Heat against. Nuggets: Miami struggles in the NBA Finals series opener, but there are still reasons for optimism
Denver may have played a full game, but Miami struggled in some crucial areas.
Rarely did the Denver Nuggets’ 104-93 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals feel that close. Aside from the Miami Heat’s late push, it was a lacklustre collection of performances. Denver is dominating. For the Heat, ugly.
Nikola Jokic, who only attempted 12 shots, controlled the tempo and tone of the game. His performance of 27-14-10 on one night hardly touched the surface of how he appeared to command the game with ease.
With 26 points, Jamal Murray served as Denver’s offensive engine and frequently assisted the Nuggets in attacks on the rim, free throw attempts, and easy baskets.
Speaking of which, Miami only attempted two free throws whole night, a sign of timidity more than any problems with the referees.
Max Strus and Caleb Martin, who were crucial to Miami’s ability to scrape together enough offence to contend in this series, combined to shoot just 1 of 17 from the field. They combined for three points, with Martin making the lone three-point attempt.
Comparatively, the offensive failure almost made Jimmy Butler’s 13 points on 6-of-14 shooting seem downright excellent.
This game was nasty for Miami and beautiful for Denver, and it served as a harsh reminder of what we already knew going into the game: the Denver Nuggets are a much bigger mountain for the Miami Heat to climb than the previous challenges that got them here.
Even so.
Although few, there were hints that this series was still ongoing in the back of our minds.
The challenge here is enormous, Spoelstra declared. “More work will be required. We’ll start working and see what we can accomplish more effectively, more forcefully, more diligently, and with greater emphasis.
Consider Miami’s start to the fourth quarter, when they reduced a 21-point lead to 10 points with nine minutes remaining and flirted with that range for the majority of the period. Time and fuel soon ran out for them, as well as the rails.
Even though Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was prepared to play this game on Mt. Everest on Wednesday night and scoffed at the notion that it would have an effect, the game was played at altitude. The Heat entered these NBA Finals having advanced far in the conference finals; they needed a victory in Boston on Monday night and had to travel to Colorado ahead of Game 1 on Thursday.
They presumably always expected to lose to a Nuggets team that had nine days to recover after sweeping the Lakers in the previous round and was well rested.
Miami will probably eventually find its groove, though. Butler is unlikely to continue to play that poorly. When it comes to confronting and then making adjustments for the free-throw drought and a general funk, Spoelstra is as skilled as any NBA coach.
Strus, Martin, or both of them will make shots.
Bam Adebayo had a great game, scoring 26 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and displaying the self-awareness Miami needs to have going ahead.
And Miami just might, if we’ve learnt anything. They must not be written off.
Yes, this is the first game Miami has lost this postseason to start a playoff series. They did it against Boston, New York, and Milwaukee, which led to their unexpected victories. Doing it again here in Denver undoubtedly would have been beneficial.
However, after dropping Games 2 in the first and second rounds, they also began each of the first two series at a deadlock. In other words, if they win on Sunday in Denver, they’ll be in the same situation they were against the Bucks and the Knicks.
“I think they definitely came out with a lot of physicality, and we have to be able to match that,”
Butler mentioned Denver. You must admit that they completed their task on their own floor, but we shall be prepared anyway. We will make the necessary adjustments, perform some tasks very differently, and arrive prepared to contribute more in Game 2.
Of course, the challenge level is different with this Denver club. However, the Heat have made overcoming those obstacles a defining characteristic of their incredible postseason run.
I agree with the majority of people who think Denver will win this series. Perhaps the Nuggets will succeed in a resounding way after all. Perhaps Thursday night served as a portent of things to come.
Miami has demonstrated their ability to bounce back, and while Game 1 was a monument to Denver’s skill, it also provided plenty of indicators that a more proficient and dangerous Miami Heat squad would be waiting in Game 2.
The NBA Finals are now underway. The series, however, is far from over.
