2023 NBA Finals Game 2 Observations

Here are my observations for Game 2 of the NBA Finals!  It was a close game throughout most of the game (even though I thought one team outplayed the other), where Miami beat Denver 111-108.

 

1^st Quarter

• Miami’s first possession was not what they wanted with Bam Adebayo fading away.  It was good that he is going against Jokic, but that isn’t going to work
• I’m surprised Denver hasn’t attacked Kevin Love on their first few possessions; they’ve taken contested difficult attempts for their first 4 and it looks like their offense isn’t operating smoothly
• Even though Jokic scored a basket at the rim, that wasn’t an easy look
• How did Miami end up with a situation where a good shooter in Max Strus lost his man on a simple pick and roll?  I’m so confused
• Did the Nuggets just commit a backcourt violation coming out of a timeout?  The broadcast wasn’t showing it, but wow
• Even though he missed, I like what Adebayo was doing when posting up on Jamal Murray
• I’m so confused as to why they had such a delayed whistle on the charge against Michael Porter Jr.  I hate delayed calls; if it was a foul, don’t wait until the next day to call it just because someone made or missed a basket
• That was such a smart cut by Aaron Gordon when the double team was brought against Jokic.  That is why I say you can’t leave Gordon open, something that a lot of talking heads have said
• I don’t understand why Adebayo doesn’t go harder to the rim when he has a mismatch
• I know this isn’t breaking news or an astute observation, but Jokic has a pretty shot
• Again Denver missed Strus during a pick.  There was a fake pick and
• What on earth just happened where it looked like Jimmy Butler jumped and landed with the ball?  Even if someone from Denver got the ball, it should be a jump ball
• I’m glad Jokic finally attacked Love.  Miami has an easy target out there; just keep going at him until they adjust
• Michal Malone has to be mad, coming off a Miami timeout, Denver allows multiple offensive rebounds and then allows an easy look; they’re lucky they didn’t allow a basket
• Denver shouldn’t be double teaming jimmy Butler as extreme as they have been.  They allowed another open look to Strus
• I love the two man game of Jokic and Jamal Murray; their chemistry is among the best I’ve ever seen
• Oh lovely, Cody Zeller is in the game.  I can’t say this is what I’d consider to be the best decision, but who else do they have?
• I love how aggressive Bruce Brown has been offensively for Denver.  He used to be resistant at times offensively, but he’s totally changed
• Jimmy Butler seems to be a bit resistant to shoot so far.  He appeared passive last game as well, so he’s lucky Strus is killing it
• That looked like a backcourt on Miami...maybe Denver touched it and I missed that?
• Denver is lucky that they’re only down by 3; they’ve allowed a lot of open looks.  Miami has been playing really well so far.  The only critique I’d make is that they have almost always had a target on defense

2^nd Quarter

• Murray had a couple risky passes to start the quarter; they’re lucky they didn’t turn the ball over and scored
• Even though they didn’t get the ball, I love the defensive play by Christian Braun to throw the ball into the backcourt to save it.  The best case scenario there was that it ended up being a transition basket
• Wow, Braun had 3 really nice defensive plays in the first minute of the quarter
• Dang, the foul occurred to ruin a Jeff Green dunk.  It’s crazy how he’s like 36 and has played so many games, yet he is still an amazing athlete
• One thing Denver did well in game 1 was take advantage of Miami’s misses in transition.  They have done that to start the second quarter and now have a 4-point lead
• Denver makes the transition 3 look like the world’s easiest play, even though isn’t necessarily analytically the best opportunity
• Remember when Denver couldn’t hit anything?  Literally all it took was Denver start doing drive and kick plays and Miami can’t handle it
• Dear Bam Adebayo, you’re allowed to go hard to the rim
• I find it hilarious how the refs were ready to break up a fight between Murray and Strus.  I honestly believe Murray was so excited about the play
• The broadcasters are making a big deal about the fact that Denver is on a run without Jokic.  Maybe their defense is better?
• Murray has a really nice shot fake.  I never noticed that until recently, and it is a smooth one
• Even if he misses shots, Love has already shown his impact as a rebounder.  He has always been a great rebounder due to his positioning and ability to box out, two things that can remain as a player ages
• I know I said this last time, but I’m shocked when a moving screen is called.  There’s some sort of movement on at least half the screens set, probably more
• Both teams are shooting so well from 3, and they’re using different strategies.  Miami is exploiting bad defense and Denver is either doing drive and kick or making them in transition
• I need to go to Colorado at some points.  They showed the clip at Red Rocks and it looks like so much fun while also being beautiful
• The reach by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was not a good decision with Strus throwing a heave up.  Oof, that was rough
• As Stan Van Gundy is complaining about the hug Kevin Love gave Gabe Vincent for missing him on a pass, I think The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz has just the sound:  ”look at me Louie!”
• Well Butler looks a bit disoriented after that collision.  I don’t even blame him there in all seriousness; that has to hurt!
• I have no idea what on earth happened on that foul against Vincent.  I’m not sure with the official rules who that should be a foul on, since Caldwell-Pope was going forward, but was also trying to avoid Vincent, who was in his landing space
• That play by Murray to Jokic to Gordon was absolutely beautiful. 
• More Joker face paint.  I know this time that it wasn’t intended to be Insane Clown Posse face paint…though part of it is because that face paint was better
• I know that Denver is up by 6 now, but I didn’t feel like Denver was playing all that great.  I also didn’t feel like Miami was playing that terribly other than in transition.  This game is so strange

3^rd Quarter

• I know that Miami’s first shot was a 3 by Gabe Vincent, but I was sitting there the whole play wondering how everyone missed the fact that Porter wasn’t even guarding Strus in the corner
• I mentioned Jokic’s form before, but it’s so difficult to guard it because he has such a high release
• I genuinely don’t know how Porter has just totally bailed on his man each time.  He’s been atrocious defensively today
• I’m so confused as to what happened with Jokic on the foul on Adebayo.  Did he forget how to run?  That looks like it’ll be a clear path foul
• I’m surprised Murray only has 10 points.  I figured he had so many more
• Adebayo went to the rim!  He did it!  He does have a nice midrange game, but it’s better to go towards the rim and a more efficient play
• I wasn’t sure what the contact was on the foul was on the foul against Adebayo.  I’m still not sure after the replay was shown.  I used to say not to challenge if there was any contact, though now they are starting to get more realistic
• That was an incredible defensive play by Caldwell-Pope to prevent the score by Butler.  Most defenders would have given up on that play, so I was shocked when he was back there and played it perfectly
• Playing amazing defense and then allowing a basket with 1 second left has got to be the worst feeling.  That stinks for Miami
• Bam played really nice transition defense on the play with around 4:40 left.  Great positioning
• While he’s a solid shooter, I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world to leave Brown open on a 3.  He’s never going to have the reputation of a knockdown shooter
• Eventually I reach the point where I feel bad for Zeller.  There’s only so much he can do against Jokic other than pray
• I say that and then Zeller had a really nice basket immediately after
• I feel like this kind of game is more of what I expected from Miami with their shooters knocking down 3’s
• Don’t get me wrong, Lowry fouled Jokic with around 1:35 left.  Also don’t get me wrong, that was one of the funniest flops I’ve seen in a while
• Geez, Zeller just had a turnover that Jokic ended up going coast to coast one.  As I finished writing that, Jokic stole it from Zeller and was fouled.  Maybe the Zeller minutes should be revisited?
• When Duncan Robinson first came into the league, he was really only shot.  In the playoffs, he has done a lot both on and off the ball, which is really cool to see in that regard
• It’s an 8-point game, but I still feel like it’s a lot closer than the score indicates.  We’ll see how the next quarter pans out

4^th quarter

• I really liked the fake by Robinson to get the Heat on the board.  Murray bought it and was going full speed ahead, so he didn’t have many options
• Murray had bad positioning on that Robinson catch that resulted in an and-1…well, that is until they missed a free throw and Braun committed a foul.  Murray was off him and ran to the opposite side of him, which made no sense
• Miami’s defense out of the timeout was so good.  I don’t think Erik Spoelstra gets enough credit for his play drawing
• Did Denver just have a 5-second violation?  I turned the volume on mute since my girlfriend is asleep, but geez, that’s bad
• Why did Denver leave Vincent wide open for no reason?  Geez, that communication off the picks has been atrocious tonight
• What on earth is going on with Denver’s defense?  They aren’t an elite defensive team, but they can’t handle screens right now.  They don’t look like a championship team this quarter
• I don’t love Porter’s shot selection at points.  He often takes contested looks with a lot of time left when there are better looks available
• Oof, Gordon’s defense on Butler wasn’t good there, it resulted in a bad foul
• My honest reaction when Caldwell-Pope fouled Lowry on the 3 was to just shake my head
• Yeah, this is bad.  Jokic looked lost on the pick and roll, and Porter was way too late on the help
• I think the block by Adebayo was a goaltend…
• Who on earth was guarding Martin?  I think Murray just ran to get him from the other end of the court
• Murray took that deep shot and while it was risky, I knew that was going in
• Miami has been so much better at rebounding this game; even at moments where they don’t get the rebound, there are plays like the one where the ball went out of bounds after a missed shot
• I was ready to count Denver out, then Murray drilled that 3
• Adebayo is not the guy you want to foul; he’s a really smooth free throw shooter and has such a nice touch
• How did Miami end up with a situation where Vincent was guarding Jokic?
• I don’t know why Denver didn’t call a timeout when there was clearly no play that was developing.  It made no sense to me.  Did they take a lesson from Joe Mazzula?
• I honestly never felt like Denver played that well this game, but they full apart in the 4^th while Miami took advantage.  Even though they weren’t perfect, I thought Miami outplayed Denver throughout and deserved to win.

 

What did you think about Game 2?  What are you looking for in Game 3?  Let me know in the comments!