2023 NBA Finals Game 1 Observations

Since I apparently like torturing myself and making more work for myself, I have decided to bring back something I introduced last year:  my observations from each game of the Finals!  In Game 1, Denver was winning easily throughout, and while Miami had a late push, Denver still won 104-93

 

1st Quarter

  • Well the opening tip was an odd start.  This’ll be interesting
  • Geez, the movement by Denver on the first play was so nice that Jamal Murray had a wide open lane to the rim
  • I’m surprised Denver didn’t go for the rebound on the play that Jimmy Butler scored on.  They’re so good at rebounding and are aggressive, so it was weird to see
  • While I expected it, I’m not sure I love Nikola Jokic guarding Bam Adebayo.  If I were Miami, I would just keep setting screens on Jimmy Butler’s guy with Bam
  • The basket that Aaron Gordon had shows the risk of having a smaller guy on Gordon.  I think Gabe Vincent was on him at that moment, so he cut to the room and made an easy basket
  • After his basket at 9:10, will we get an aggressive Bam today?  That is a game changer if so
  • At around 8:00, I really liked the switch that Denver had.  While it was because Kentavious Caldwell-Pope lost his man, Gordon’s recognition of this to initiate the switch was so smart
  • I heard bleep noises in the background and started wondering who was swearing.  Then I remembered my girlfriend is watching a TV show in the other room
  • Gordon has been so aggressive this game, which is a literal game changer for Denver.  That might mean Miami can’t go as small
  • I think the play where Murray slipped should be clear path, but that is bad luck.  I committed a foul like that one because I tripped; it is a brutal foul to commit since it only happened because I’m apparently clumsy
  • Michael Porter Jr. already has 2 blocks.  This is the perfect matchup for him defensively since he is pretty much guaranteed to be so much bigger than whomever he guards
  • I can’t say I would have bet Aaron Gordon being the first player to reach 10 points in the series
  • I know the shot at around 4:15 missed, but that was absolutely beautiful team basketball.  The passing and driving to get the ball to Max Strus open on the wing was amazing
  • Geez, I don’t want to be caught being a prisoner of the moment, but Jokic might be the best passer I’ve ever seen
  • I just heard them mention Jokic hasn’t taken a shot.  It’s 1:59 and that is the case.  I love how he can dominate and then realize he isn’t even shooting
  • Was Butler confused that nobody was guarding him during his shot at around 1:25?  I waltzed into a shot while opened prior to shooting it, which doesn’t seem like the Butler I know
  • The Low Altitude signs make me laugh so hard.  It literally is just to mess with them I think
  • Geez, Jokic had such a nice heads up play there with that steal.  Cody Zeller looked totally shocked
  • While Denver has looked dominant on offense, they have gotten a bit of luck defensively.  Miami has missed some good looks, which I don’t think Denver can bank on

2nd Quarter

  • I’m surprised they had Gabe Vincent doing the interview.  Normally they have a coach or sometimes a player do the interview, but I can’t say I expected to see Vincent as the first interview
  • I know everyone is going to talk about the effort by Christen Braun, but it really was a risky play going for that steal.  He’s lucky he just barely tipped it
  • I think Miami going with the zone when Jokic is off the court is a good idea.  I know they gave up a 3, but it was the right timing
  • Back to back plays, Bam was guarding Braun but realistically was laying off him.  The first time, Braun stayed in the dunker spot and didn’t really move.  The second, he cut in and ended up with Porter’s man on him, resulting in an open 3 by porter
  • At first I thought Lucky, Denver’s mascot, was crowd surfing.  At that point, I was hopeful that we were combining my basketball and concert fandoms
  • Oh geez, I hope Porter is okay there; that looked like quite the blow, especially coming from Bam’s arm since he is so strong
  • Bam appears to be aggressive with his scoring so far, which makes me think that Miami has a legitimate chance this game
  • Jokic can’t leave Bam wide open there; even though he didn’t shoot on that attempt, it allowed Miami to have an easy cut in
  • I don’t get why people say Jokic isn’t exciting.  He makes brilliant reads look easy and just does such difficult plays look easily.  The pass out of the double team to Bruce Brown
  • I’m so confused about what the defense by Jokic was on that play when Zeller had the ball.  It was like he was running the opposite way
  • Porter just helped on Butler.  I don’t love that since it left a guy open behind the arc.  Even though he missed it, I’d rather he stay off Butler since Gordon can at least wear him down a bit
  • Could we just point out how strong Jokic is?  All NBA players are so strong, and he knocked over Zeller as if a bowling ball was knocking down pins
  • How on earth did butler get wide open while he had the ball?  I swear whoever was guarding him ran off him and I’m not sure why
  • I love how Miami is missing wide open looks, but then Gabe Vincent makes a difficult step-back 3
  • I previously said that I would consider putting Jokic on someone like Max Strus.  Even while Strus is having bad luck with his shot, I take back my statement.  There were a couple switches where Jokic looked lost when being on Strus at the arc
  • Is it too extreme to say Jokic and Murray have a perfect two-man game?  I don’t think so
  • Geez, Denver looks amazing so far.  They’re shooting so well and really show just how good their chemistry is

3rd Quarter

  • It’s so weird to see that Jokic is 3-4 from the field and that Adebayo has 20 points in 20 minutes
  • I don’t think enough people discuss how smart of a passer Butler is.  He just had a nice one from under the rim out to the 3-point line
  • I really like how Jokic can bring the ball up no problem at his size
  • I’m not saying that Jokic’s first foul wasn’t a foul (it was), but I’m always surprised when a moving screen is called
  • There is a value in having a guy who can make insane shots.  I’m more surprised when Murray misses a shot than when he is defended well
  • To say Bam is the second best big playmaker in this series is an extremely unfair statement.  He is one of the better playmaking big men in the league, but just so happens to happens to be playing against the best
  • That Gordon block was amazing; I thought he had no shot of getting back to that one after overextending
  • That was a nice fake handoff by Adebayo.  I was surprised when he still had the ball after, and it looked like Jokic was too
  • Was Caldwell-Pope standing in the corner at the other end the entire play?  I didn’t notice him there until it was passed to him
  • I don’t think that enough people talk about the Butler-Adebayo two-man game.  They really know each other so well
  • I’m not sure about that offensive foul; I think Vincent was still moving when Murray left his feet
  • I’ve always loved Porter’s jumper.  Someone with that smooth of a jumper at 6’10 has got to be so hard to defend.  Even with his injury concerns entering the 2018 Draft, I said at that time that I would seriously consider taking him just after Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton were drafted
  • I was recently telling someone that I would allow Lowry to take so many shots and fall off him even on an open deep 3.  That feels so strange since he was so good for so long and is someone I consider to be a hall of famer
  • Porter seems to collapse unnecessarily on defense frequently.  While he has certainly improved significantly defensively, this shows that he still has work to do
  • I’m wondering if Miami is getting tired given how many 3’s they’re missing.  The shot is often what goes first, making me wonder how this series will go after a long series last round
  • Yeah, this is a blowout.  Miami can’t hit anything, and Denver’s offense appears almost perfect

Quarter 4

  • Adebayo is having an amazing game; it’s a shame that nobody is hitting anything for Miami otherwise
  • At Miami’s shot at 10:45, Denver’s defense was pretty bad, and Miami’s passing was brilliant.  I know the shot missed, but it was amazing offense to get the look that they did
  • Aye, we have the ball that got stuck in the rim!  I remember that happened in middle school one time and someone on the other team who was like 6’5 got it down.  We knew we were in trouble since we had nobody who was 6’
  • Could Miami start making a run?  I don’t want to jinx it either way, but it is Miami we’re talking about
  • I really wish Jokic wouldn’t drop so much on screens.  I know what I just said about Lowry earlier, but he is a good enough shooter to hit open ones easily
  • Remember when Jeff Green was infuriatingly inconsistent?  He’s been so valuable for Denver on both ends, as he’s a solid defender now and is so smart offensively even when his shot isn’t falling, and that cut is evidence of that
  • Jokic wanted to inbound the ball quickly so badly when Bam was on the ground.  He looked so mad when the ref passed it back after he stood up again
  • The play that ended at 7:16 was so weird.  Murray had a nice play, Porter seemed not confident at all, and Jokic was dumped the ball abruptly but seemed unbothered
  • At around 7:00, Murray did very well with defending Butler on the post up.  Even though Butler is bigger, Murray positioned himself in a way where he really couldn’t get the ball
  • Denver had three offensive possessions straight where they had bad possessions, which is strange to see.  They brought Jokic back in immediately, which I think was the right call
  • I often joke that Erik Spoelstra appears to look like what I think of when I think Miami.  There are times that I wonder if Pat Riley might as well
  • That was a nice play by Miami to set a pair of screens and a ball handoff that resulted in Haywood Highsmith getting a dunk
  • I think Jokic just had 3 pass fakes within 2 steps, which is something that just feels too unreal to be true
  • They showed a guy with Joker makeup to represent Jokic’s nickname.  I thought they were dressing up as a member of Insane Clown Posse at first.  What on earth have I become?  I don’t even listen to the group
  • It makes no sense that having Jokic dribbling the ball for like 10 seconds in the post is a good shot.  It is, but I’m so confused as to how he does it
  • I can’t believe that Miami only had 2 free throws in this game.  That is so strange, though it’s not too surprising given how long Denver is
  • Nikola Jovic and Nikola Jokic are both in the game!  I’ve been waiting for this moment!
  • While Miami made a run late, this was a case of too little too late.  Denver’s offense was too good in the first 3 quarters for Miami to even have a shot in this game.  That said, there should be some optimism for Miami since Denver allowed several good looks to good shooters, but multiple role players had difficulty.  That’s something I wouldn’t necessarily bank on every time

 

What did you think about Game 1?  What do you think will happen in Game 2?  Let me know in the comments!

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