It was not until Game 3 of the Finals that the Heat zone showed signs of weakness, and above all that it was ineffective. Blame it on the positioning of Nikola Jokic and the movements of his teammates, but also on Denver’s fast play which prevents Jimmy Butler’s teammates from getting in place.
There is also a number that does not lie: the Nuggets took only 18 shots from 3-pointers (against 27 and 28 in the first two games). They only scored five, and yet they win by 15 points.
“They just slaughtered us in the racket. They didn’t really need to take 3-point shots.” Erik Spoelstra analysis. “They put up something like 60 points in the racket. They probably shot over 65% in the paint. They didn’t need to dismiss the game. We didn’t show much resistance. A lot of their baskets were on transition play, and that allowed them to stand out. A few cuts, a few well-timed cuts and then well-timed offensive rebounds gave those baskets or free throws. »
For the Miami coach, Denver’s fast play broke the Heat’s rhythm. And it all starts with the rebound. With 58 takes against 33, the Nuggets effectively “massacred” the Heat under the panels. A defensive rebound, and especially if taken by Nikola Jokic, is immediately an opportunity for quick play.
‘Jokic can manipulate your defense in so many different ways’
“It has to be a sprint” recalled Erik Spoelstra before the meeting, about the defensive filling. “Jokic is such a good defensive rebounder that if he takes 12, 15 or 18 rebounds, 10 of them will be forward raises. So it’s a bit different from what we’ve had in previous series.”
Last night, Nikola Jokic did not take “12, 15 or 18 rebounds”, but 21!!!
“It’s complex. It gives headaches” recognized this same Erik Spoelstra before the match. “They can dominate you on a pass, on a dribble, on a 3-pointer, on the transition game… It’s a challenge, and that’s why it goes beyond all the patterns. (…) When you are dealing with series in seven matches and each round becomes a little more difficult, it is the ultimate challenge. It’s a great team. They have very good habits. Jokic can manipulate your defense in so many different ways that I can’t even talk about it. You just have to accept this competition and find a way to overcome it, no matter how difficult. »
