POLITASPORTS

Game Three of the NBA Finals was rough on the Miami Heat. Though they started out well enough, the wheels started to wobble in the second quarter and broke off in the third. At one point late in the third quarter Miami had nine points. This while Denver’s Double J’s were playing like a freshly tuned piano. Today stats are thrown at the reader or viewer for any miniscule anomaly in a game; “player X is the first player to make three field goals while playing with one shoe undone and the other double knotted since Bill Cunningham in the 62-63 season, lets see how that plays out Jim.” But what JnJ did last night to Miami was dominating. In the first half Jamal Murray answered every Heat bucket with one of his own. When Martin came off the bench for Miami and showed life for the first time since game 7 in Boston; Murray had the answer and hushed the Miami crowd with a flick of his wrist. Nikola Jokic, set the tone early at the rim. The NBA has no answer for Jokic. If Sir Charles was the ‘Round Mound of Rebound’ Nikola is the ‘Dishing Doof of Domination.’ He had a double double by the end of the first and was nearing a triple double by halftime. JnJ scored or assisted on 40 of the nuggets first 45 points. As Coach Spo said after game 2, only an “untrained eye” would think you can stop these two. It is impossible to prevent any one, from getting a shot off. You can contest a shot, block a shot, force a bad shot, but you can not prevent the attempt. These two are making too many, no matter how well guarded they have been. And the Heat haven’t played awful defense, it hasn’t been there best effort, but it hasn’t been awful. Denver’s top two are playing at their best, Miami’s top two are not. That is one key to this series.

However; Aaron Gordon, is the skeleton key. The Miami Heat have no answer for Gordon’s size and athleticism. He is just good enough the Heat have to guard him and just big enough they have no one capable. Kevin Love is a body that can match Gordon’s size, but not currently athletic enough to deter him; Martin, Robinson, and others lack the strength to slow Gordon down. As Gordon has gone in the first three games, the Series has gone. Jokic and Jamal will put up stats, Miami needs to focus on the periphery players, and Gordon is the biggest obstacle for the Heat. Gordon has scored in double figures every game this series; however in game two, Miami was able to limit his movement inside. Half of his 12 points came outside the arc; for Miami, that is a win. Gordon bullying his way down low is disastrous for Miami. Not sure what help there is off the Heat bench; perhaps Highsmith can body him up and have just enough quickness to limit him? This is the matchup Coach Spo should focus on; if the Heat can make Denver a two man team, perhaps they can out work the other three players and steal three more wins. If they can’t stop Gordon, they won’t compete against Denver.

As for the Heat; Jimmy Butler needs to step up. He hasn’t thus far in the NBA Finals. It is much to ask; but 2 rebounds and 4 assists will not cut it verse this Nuggets team. Jimmy has to orchestrate and score, he can’t pick one over the other if Miami truly wants to compete in the Finals. Bam needs to be assertive in the low post, not settle for floaters and baby hooks, but dive to the rim and get contact. Every move needs to be strong. This will draw help, create more open perimeter looks and perhaps Denver foul trouble. Denver will give Bam all the 10-15ft jump shots he wants, it doesn’t create panic on defense. Diving to the basket will. Without this Denver has been able to keep defensive contact with all of Miami’s three point shooters. The Heat have not generated the open looks they had throughout the Eastern Conference bracket because they are not attacking the rim. The “teammates” need to make open looks. Strus and Martin have both struggled to do that with consistency. Hopefully if the Heat can give them more space, they can regain their form from deep.

Game four is a must win for the Heat. Coach needs to figure out a way to slow Gordon, free up his perimeter shooters, and make JnJ a little uncomfortable. In the end, as is always the case, the players are the ones that need to step up. Miami can beat Denver, the question is will they.