Heat ready for another shot against the Nuggets
Despite rout last week, Miami confident they can defeat Denver in NBA Finals’ Game 2
Miami are confident they can turn things around against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
The Nuggets dominated in a 104-93 Game 1 triumph in the best-of-seven series last week, when Miami’s chances were doomed by their inability to connect on shots – including a 33.3 per cent success rate from three-point range.
Max Strus was 0-for-10 from the field, Caleb Martin 1-of-7 and Duncan Robinson 1-of-6.
But Heat talisman Jimmy Butler – himself held to 13 points – said he had a simple message for those teammates who have played a key role in making Miami only the second eighth-seeded team ever to reach an NBA Finals.
“Stay aggressive, because you’ve been the reason that we have won so many games before,” Butler said as the team practised in Denver in preparation for Game 2 overnight.
“You are going to be the reason that we win games now. and that’s never going to change.”
The Heat collectively agreed – in the immediate aftermath of Thursday’s defeat and after studying game video – that they had plenty of good opportunities in Game 1.
“We did see some things that we liked and we got some great looks, myself included,” Strus said. “We’ve got to knock those down, and we’ve got great shooters on our team, and we will knock those down.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it would not take much to open the floodgates.
“In terms of the shooters, that’s pretty simple,” Spoelstra said. “Let it fly. Ignite.
“Once they see two go down, it could be three, it could turn into six just like that,” he added with a snap of his fingers.
Butler said there were other adjustments to be made after a game in which the Heat got to the free-throw line just twice – a record low for an NBA playoff.
“I think I’ve got to be more aggressive putting pressure on the rim,” he said. “I think that makes everybody’s job a lot easier.”
And Butler said there was no sense of panic in a Heat team who saw a 3-0 lead against Boston evaporate before Miami finished off the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.