As we know, the closer we get to the finish line, the more victories are decided on details. And it’s Miami’s great strength to often be the most precise and disciplined team.
In Game 2 of these 2023 Finals, Denver nevertheless attacks the fourth quarter with an 8-point lead (83-75). Nikola Jokic rests for a few minutes, as does Jimmy Butler. And it’s a player who hasn’t scored in the first three quarters, and who hadn’t even shot until then, who will rock the game…
Jamal Murray discovers himself too much
Duncan Robinson thus inherits the ball after the pick-and-roll between Gabe Vincent and Bam Adebayo. The “drive & kick” (attack from the circle to attract help and bring out the ball) of the Nigerian first finds Kyle Lowry, who transmits to his shooter. The defense is however in place, with a Jamal Murray who can challenge Duncan Robinson’s shot, but the point guard bites on the feint, and his opponent gets a good 3-pointer. 83-78.
The following possession illustrates the progress of Duncan Robinson, who can no longer afford to be a mere “catch & shooter”, as well as the shadow work, and who flirts with the rules, of Bam Adebayo.
Because after a “switch” on the “pick-and-roll”, the Florida pivot finds himself facing Christian Braun, whom he is trying to post. But a second time, Duncan Robinson uses Jamal Murray’s failed closeout. The Canadian discovers himself too much and is passed on the dribble, baseline. Seeing this, Bam Adebayo made a “Gortat” by pushing Christian Braun to the baseline, Aaron Gordon could not intervene either. 85-80.
Duncan Robinson missed his bonus free throw but the winger has a hot hand. The next action is a pure “heat check”, a temperature test where he draws against Jeff Green. 85-83.
Mike Malone asks for a time-out when his team has just lost 6 of its 8-point lead. Nikola Jokic returns but the Heat insist on Duncan Robinson. A simple “curl” with Bam Adebayo in the pass and Gabe Vincent putting the screen on Christian Braun causes a communication error between the rookie and Bruce Brown.
Two communication errors on the same action
The two Nuggets thus follow Duncan Robinson, the boiling man of the last minutes. Gabe Vincent is all alone at 3-point and can be served by Bam Adebayo in an armchair. 85-86.
Last basket of the Robinson sequence with a new “curl”. Same configuration, and new communication error between Bruce Brown and Christian Braun. This time, neither of them follows him and Duncan Robinson can therefore finish in the layup despite the help of Jeff Green. 85-88. And another time-out for Mike Malone.
Duncan Robinson has just scored all of his 10 points in 2 minutes and 16 seconds of effective playing time, while causing the error that brings Gabe Vincent’s 3-point over the period. The shooter is therefore directly responsible for the 13-2 which allowed the Heat to regain control of the match in the fourth quarter.
Far from being a detail at this stage of the competition…
| Duncan Robinson | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 15 | 11 | 39.1 | 28.6 | 66.7 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 73 | 30 | 47.0 | 44.6 | 93.1 | 0.1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 13.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 72 | 31 | 43.9 | 40.8 | 82.7 | 0.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 13.1 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 79 | 26 | 39.9 | 37.2 | 83.6 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 10.9 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 42 | 17 | 37.1 | 32.8 | 90.6 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 6.4 |
| Total | 281 | 26 | 42.9 | 39.9 | 86.6 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 11.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
