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We are not ready for an agency free of madness.
Heat from anywhere
Going into Game 3 tonight, both teams have a chance to dominate the NBA Finals. In series history, the winner of Game 3 of the series tied 1-1 has won the title 80 percent of the time. The Nuggets can take back the home court advantage. Here are several notes to prevent Miami from doing so:
1. IMPOSSIBLE/FLAMMABLE FIRE FROM HEAT: Is Miami hot shooting lucky? Let’s examine the undisputed 3-point shooting numbers from last season.
- 2021-22 Regular Season: 38.9 percent (first), 28.5 tries per game (22nd, tied)
- 2022-23 regular season: 35.6 percent (23), 29.2 tries per game (16, tied)
- 2023 postseason: 42.4 percent (1st), 26.3 attempts per game (13th)
The biggest changes from last year are the departure of PJ Tucker (Philly) and Tyler Herro missing most of this playoff run (broken hand). This team is similar to the 2021-22 format.
Miami shot 36.7 percent in 3 uncontested seconds in Game 1 before improving to 53.3 percent in Game 2. Despite the massive swing, the Heat had 30 tries in both games. Denver should better defend the perimeter.
This fourth quarter was special.
🔥 beat them 36-25
🔥 11-16 Female Genital Mutilation
🔥 9-10 FTM pic.twitter.com/Gq0h5T8fB9– Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 5, 2023
2. Jimmy Butler needs to take charge. Some wondered if the “Final Game Jimmy” would be showing up for Miami soon. The Tree Kirby interrupter in the ring certainly thinks so. Butler scored only 39.4 percent in Games 1-2 but hit 42.9 percent on his triple-doubles. Since the first round, he has shot 42 percent overall and has scored 30 points once. But, in that period, Butler leads all players in free-throw attempts (112, 85.7 percent) and trails only Nikola Jokic with 89 assists.
He has now had more rest between Game 1 and Game 3. Will we see Butler prioritize scoring in Game 3 or will he remain the mediocrity we’ve seen in recent innings?
3. Where is the love? Kevin Love did not play in Game 1 but made impressive rebounding, passing and ground-spacing contributions in Game 2. His appearance snapped a streak of three consecutive DNPs, and Miami needs him to continually impact games. Will love prevail in Game 3?
4. When did Tyler Hero return? The Heat guard reportedly still has soreness and swelling when he shoots. There is a chance Herro does not return for the finals Absolutely. If the Heat needs an offensive injection, that might change, but he’s officially out of Game 3.
Before checking out the nuggets, let’s reach out to Shams for some news.
The latest from Shams
One on one with a potential draw gem
I recently spoke with top 10 NBA draft pick Anthony Black of Arkansas, broadcast on the field. The 6-foot-7 point guard could potentially be a next-level difference. One thing stood out for me from our conversation. When I asked Black which current NBA player he’d like to model his game next, he mentioned another rising star.
“Geddy,” he said — as in Australian Oklahoma City Thunder star Josh Geddy. “I watched him a lot in his rookie year. I was still very young at the time. I just loved the way he reads and he wasn’t really fast. I kind of see a little bit of myself in that.”
Black has also stated that he got his ability to read plays and pass angles from his youth as a soccer player. He also noted his great height as a point guard gives him an advantage.
“I think it helps with my reading,” Black said. “Just come back, I watch a lot of movies. So, I’m watching a movie from the season, and I just see some of my readings that I make look straight, but there’s a defender, but he’s not tall enough to block him.”
The Lions certainly look the part of an imposing future star at the point guard position. Sam Vecenie made it ninth overall in the latest post-lottery mock draft, and Black’s stock could still go up from there.
Back to you, Zack!
Denver Keys
no jest
Ready to talk about nuggets, guards? Here are four Game 3 prongs going into tonight’s Denver:
1. Jokic is a monster: Whether you want to limit his death or not, Jokić still destroys the kaiju in just about every way. In Games 1-2, he averaged 34 points (69.7% real shooting), 10.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. Good luck to Bam Adebayo.
2. Turning Joki into a scorer: That was the big Game 2 angle, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra tried to dismiss the idea out of respect for Jokić. But Jokic passes it an act He slipped from games 1 to 2 (14 to 4) – as did his passing potential (17 to 11). Essentially, you still won’t be able to trick him into scoring more, but if his teammates don’t pay off, he has no alternative.
On the Draymond Green podcast, Steve Kerr said that Jamal Murray is the head of the Denver snake, which surprised a lot of people. But that makes sense, considering Jokić is unstoppable – he just can’t. So if Jimmy Butler and company prioritize treating Murray as the man to stop, Denver crime lives and dies because of it.
Joker has his 15th double-double in the playoffs so far 🃏
41 points
11 rep
4AST pic.twitter.com/0hBh1vW6y7– Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 5, 2023
3. Zone defense: The Heat plays more territory than any other NBA team ever. The Nuggets were the best team this season in a district defeat before the NBA Finals. So how does this work out for both teams? Through two games, the Nuggets have scored 39 points for a District 37 possessions, according to Synergy Sports. That’s 105.4 points per 100 possessions with an effective field goal percentage of 59.1. Denver’s offensive rating against Districts in the series is about 10 points worse than the regular season number (115.3).
4. Michael Porter Jr. is MIA: Despite not shooting well in Game 1 (2-of-11 from deep), Porter Jr. still played good basketball – he even blocked two shots. But he had a terrible Game 2 in almost every respect and is now headed to Miami. His splits were on the road/home until this season, but his real shooting percentage fell nearly 10 points when Denver lost. With two games, the MPJ is shooting 29.2 percent overall and 17.6 percent depth
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Player choice predictions
John Hollinger had a great article leading up to this summer’s free agency, examining player and team options that are expected to be decided upon before teams spend the money. There are 22 player option decisions and 21 team option decisions being made for entry this summer. More than ten partially guaranteed salaries must also be specified.
Expect news from big players with player options, including Chris Middleton ($40.4 million), James Harden ($35.6 million), Draymond Green ($27.6 million), and Fred VanVleet ($22.8 million). Hollinger predicts that only eight of the players’ 22 options will ever be exercised. You must decide these decisions Just How crazy free agency will be this summer.
Players could get less money next season in exchange for building a long-term security on four-year deals. And all of this could be an attempt to avoid the second threshold of luxury tax fines in the new CBA.
Will Harden return to Houston? Is Middleton stuck in Milwaukee? Will Green return to the Warriors or find his way to LeBron James? Buckle up this summer!
Bounce passes
Listen to David Aldridge, Marcus Thompson, and Marc Spears Game preview 3.
Fred Katz’s description of Galen Bronson: “Carmelo Anthony and Dreidel had a baby.”
How the Suns decided Frank Vogel should be the new head coach.
Watch Sam Amick and Will Guillory discuss If LeBron uses Kyrie leaks.
Everyone is worried about the NBA Finals rankings. It shouldn’t be.
Michael Shearer ranks the best Game 2 quotes – Spoelstra did not win.
Mo Dakhil’s film “One Mo Thing” is being examined Two huge nuggets From game 2.
(Top photo: Jesse D. Garrapant/Getty Images)