Nuggets Draw First Blood!!!

In the battle between the well-rested against the well-tested, the fresh-as-daisies Denver Nuggets mowed down the fresh-from-mayhem Miami Heat to take Game 1 of this year’s NBA Finals 104-93. The Nuggets were coming from a 9-day lull in the cage wars as they upended the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 for the Western Conference title way back in May 22. The Heat, on the other hand, had to go through a wringer, having barely survived their physically, mentally and psychologically-draining duel with the equally tough-as-nails Boston Celtics 4-3 to win the Eastern Conference title. The Heat then had to fly straight from Boston to Denver – with their lumps, their bruises, their fatigued muscles, and their other aches and pains – to do battle once again. This time against the West’s best – the now-or-never Nuggets – finally, for the prestigious NBA crown.

This Game 1 win was made doubly important as both teams were riding on their own Game 1 records, which they hoped would carry them to the very top. The West’s top seeds Nuggets had won all their Game 1’s in this year’s playoffs: against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, followed by the dangerous Phoenix Suns in the 2nd round, and the surprising Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. On the other hand, the East’s giant-killing 8th seed Heat had also taken all their first games unexpectedly; shocking the top seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, the taller and bulkier New York Knicks in the 2nd round, and finally, last year’s Eastern Conference champs Boston Celtics for the conference crown. It was clear then, at the start of the series, that 1 of them would have to lose their unblemished Game 1 win record. Hence, the Nuggets’ victory in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals augurs well for the Nuggets.

What were my key observations in that game, and what do we expect in the games ahead?

The game was not as competitive as the score suggests. At the end of the 3rd quarter, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets were already on top by a whopping 21 points, 84-63; before they eased up on the gas pedal. The 63 pts in 3 quarters was the lowest the Heat has scored in the playoffs. This significant lack of firepower was mainly caused by a well-prepared defense orchestrated by the Nuggets’ coaching staff, and the Denver altitude which, coupled with the fatigue factor setting in just now with the well-challenged Heat players, clearly connived to bring down the Heat’s shooting percentage.

The Nuggets defense was particularly stingy. They were so effective, they afforded the Heat a measly 2 free throws for the entire game! This is an anomaly – an atrocity even – that has never been witnessed in the modern pro basketball arena. That the Heat players like Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, etc could not buy a single free throw from the best refs from the NBA is a testatment to the Nuggets’ suffocating defense. The Nuggets’ coaching staff did a great job dissecting and preparing for the Heat’s offensive patterns. As a result, the Nuggets outscored the Heat 16 – 2 from the free throw line, enough to cover their 11-point winning spread.

Related to this was the fact that the Heat suddenly went gun-shy for the game. Caleb Martin, Max Strus and Duncan Robinson were unfortunately firing blanks, and uncharacteristically, their spiritual leader Jimmy Butler was relatively silent as well. They even missed wide open looks that they routinely swished in previous series. It seems that the Denver altitude has done its magic to fluster and frustrate the Heat hordes. Hopefully, the Heat will have acclimatized themselves enough to get their shooting skills back in time for Game 2 this Sunday evening (Monday am, Manila time).

But even if the Heat is able to adjust to the altitude in Denver, even if they are able to up their shooting performance for Game 2, they will still need to address the problem of the Nuggets’ vaunted 2-man game. The Nuggets’ dangerous duo of Jokic and Jamal Murray is the basic offensive staple which morphs into so many sub-plots. Both Jokic and Murray are not just good shooters, they are brilliant ball-handlers and unselfish passers that make their teammates not just look better, they feel better as well. With a leadership tandem like that, the Nuggets are definitely at a huge advantage.

Ultimately, the biggest question for the Heat now is: how do you solve a problem like Nikola? (To the tune of The Sound of Music’s “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?”) Jokic finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. He is only the second player ever to have scored a Triple Double on his first NBA Finals, following the footsteps of that Hall-of-Famer, Jason Kidd. In particular, Nikola’s generous assists are what has improved his teammates’ performance. Ask Jamal, Aaron, MPJ and the rest, and they will unanimously point to Nikola’s trust and confidence, and his belief in their ability to score those points, as a significant morale booster for the team. Coach Eric Spoelstra will have to find a way to address this.

Game 2 is just around the corner. The Heat will definitely come up with adjustments. To contain Nikola, to diminish the Nuggets’ 2-man game, and to counter their physical play. On the offense, they will need to ensure a better shot selection and hence, a better shooting percentage. They will have to find answers to the mismatches, knowing full well of the Nuggets’ superiority in height and heft, and everything else. This will definitely be a tall order for the Heat, but knowing coach Spoelstra’s penchant for meeting big-time challenges, I cannot put the Heat down.

My head says it’s the talented Nikola Jokic and the under-appreciated Nuggets. It looks like their time has finally come. But my heart goes to those pug-nosed underdogs, Jimmy ‘Friggin’ Butler and the undermanned, undersized, under-the-radar Heat.

Cover photo courtesy of ESPN.