2023-06-01 15:50:00
That’s it, we are in June and who says June says NBA Finals. Game 1 between the Nuggets and the Heat is scheduled for tonight at 2:30 a.m. on the Denver side, a match that will pit a well-rested team against another in full playoff rhythm.
The written preview of the 2023 NBA Finals
It’s been May 22 since the Nuggets haven’t played a single basketball game. That’s a week and a half. It seems like an eternity compared to the Miami Heat, who only qualified for the Finals on Monday night, three days ago.
In this kind of case, the team that has had an extended rest can sometimes have trouble getting back on their feet, especially in the first minutes of a Game 1. This is the big challenge that the Nuggets coach Michael Malone preparing for the NBA Finals. He said it himself a few days ago, nothing replaces a good 48 minute battle.
“It’s impossible to keep up your pace if you don’t play games. You can do whatever you want in training, it will never feel like the intensity of a playoff game. As far as we are concerned, my biggest concern is the pace, and more importantly, our physical condition.
At the same time, the Heat have the opposite problem. No worries in terms of pace for Miami, which has chained matches in recent days until winning its qualification at the end of Game 7 in Boston. On the other hand, the legs are likely to be heavy and there is a way that it sticks out the tongue at the end of the match, especially in a hostile environment like Denver where the altitude can put the opponent in difficulty. Nothing to worry about Erik Spoelstra, however, the Miami coach ensuring that his players are ready to play everywhere.
“I’m not going to start going into that. Our guys are in great shape and ready to play. If Denver wants to play on top of Everest, then we will.”
Whatever Spo says, the Heat are used to struggling on the side of Denver.
By taking a walk on Basket-Reference, we realize that Miami has not won a single game in the Rockies since… November 30, 2016. Jimmy Butler was not yet in Miami, neither was Bam Adebayo, while Nikola Jokic was the replacement for Jusuf Nurkic for Denver. Holy time. Even more alarming stat for the Heat: since this victory, Miami has lost 11 of its 13 games against Denver, home games included. Not very reassuring for Florida fans all that…
Can Jimmy B. and his buddies beat their pet peeve and take Game 1 straight away to reclaim home court advantage? The Nuggets – favorites – will they be respected from the start in front of their public? What will take precedence: freshness or rhythm? Response from 2:30 am.
Denver has won each of its Game 1s in the Playoffs.
At home against Wolves.
At home against the Suns.
At home against the Lakers.
Miami has won each of its Game 1s in the Playoffs.
On the road to Milwaukee.
On the move in New York.
Traveling to Boston.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) June 1, 2023
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#Heat #Game #preview #freshness #rhythm