DeAndre Jordan, Jeff Green and Ish Smith on the Nuggets side. Udonis Haslem, Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry on the Miami side. Four of them didn’t come on in Game 1 and Jeff Green only played 10 minutes, yet the impact of these players on their respective teams is very real.
DeAndre Jordan, Jeff Green and the ultimate fighter, Ish Smith, have a combined 43 seasons in the league. They have seen it all, heard it all, and they chain the invisible decisive passes for their teammates. Even a two-time MVP like Nikola Jokic is grateful for those they fondly refer to as the old branches of the Denver locker room.
“DeAndre has played with a lot of great players, he’s been on some great teams, and he’s seen it all in his career. Ish, Jeff and DeAndre are our alumni if you will, and when they speak, everyone listens to them because, if you listen to them, you can hear valuable advice to help you navigate the NBA game. »
The evolution of Jeff Green
“Uncle” Jeff Green, as he is nicknamed throughout the NBA, wears a double hat. He is one of the key elements of Mike Malone’s second five. His association with Aaron Gordon has thus allowed Denver to find a formula that allows them to hold on while Nikola Jokic blows on the bench.
And as he played on the positions of Aaron Gordon throughout his career, the former Magic drinks his words.
” It does not have a price “ he summarizes. “He has encyclopedic basketball knowledge, he plays chess when he is on the field. He is always calm, solid and he is a model of professionalism. Not only can he be productive on the pitch, but he can also give you great advice and be a leader off it, and that’s just as crucial. He is concise, he always has the right words to refocus everyone. »
Jeff Green was not always like that, however. At the beginning of his career, he was much more reserved and he took time to put into practice the advice of what he considers to be one of the best veterans he has worked with, Kevin Garnett.
“I had KG (Kevin Garnett) when I was in Boston, and he was always talkative. Talking and communicating is extremely important and not easy to do when you are younger. Kevin kept telling me: ‘You have to say what you see, you have to talk all the time’. This advice stuck with me throughout my career, and it’s something I should have done sooner.” he shared. “And now I can’t stop communicating, in a way I’ve become a little bit like Kevin. »
What is the message that Jeff Green repeats to his young teammates?
“Today, my message is to be focused. I don’t want to talk too much but I want to make sure everyone communicates on the pitch because there is a lot of noise. The more we talk, the better it is for our defense. »
From Kevin Garnett to Kevin Love
The transmission, from Kevin Garnett to Jeff Green then to the new generation, is underway. In Miami, it’s another Kevin who has had an impact much wider than his stats since his arrival in February.
“The arrival of Kevin (Love) completely changed the dynamics of our locker room. His character, his lightness, his sense of humor. This is a guy who has played four Finals, who has won a title, who finds himself out of rotation in the middle of the series (against Boston) and his first reaction is to support the guy who replaces him in the starting five . That alone sets the tone for everyone,” explained Duncan Robinson in the JJ Redick podcast.
With the NBA about to announce its sanction against Ja Morant, one can’t help but think that the presence of veterans in the Memphis locker room might have helped the young Memphis star.
“We don’t talk about this stuff enough,” continued Duncan Robinson. “To win in the NBA, you need so much more than a good game plan and playing hard. Obviously it’s important but having a connection with your teammates and collective cohesion is essential, and veterans know how to make sure everyone is pulling in the same direction. »
Haywood Highsmith, who continues to discover the NBA after a winding journey to Miami, had the same speech.
“For me, as a young player, it’s a godsend to have these players talking to me every day. I learned so much from them this season,” he confirmed. “They have been in this position before. Udonis won three titles, K-Love won one. They know how to win those intense playoff games. Their leadership is a bottomless pit for us. »
Interview in Denver.
