Kevin Love, Al Horford, and Brooke Lopez. It’s been so great to watch these guys come back in the late stages of their career, make the changes they needed to, and continue to play well.
@@chauvintookaknee4blm268 Brooke Lopez’s career was almost done because of foot injuries when he was in Brooklyn. Al Horford was traded to the Sixers, forgotten, and his game was regressing. They’re both doing much better man
@@TOGGGAA1 he wasn't forgotten in sixers. Sixers just sucked and bad fit. Brook was great in la before bucks. He furthered himself on bucks what he did in LA
Heat defenders making life TOUGH on Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr and Kentavious Caldwell Pope 🥶 Coach Spoelstra adjusted well. They let JOKIC score and clamped everybody else. Brilliant gameplan. The Denver Nuggets are winless in these playoffs when Joker drops 40+ points 😮
I dunno man, maybe. He’s good, for sure. But if he’s so great why were they the 8 seed? I think it’s more catching fire at the right time combined with a bunch of guys who are extreme, almost vicious competitors. They’re a great story either way and I’ll be happy if they pull it off.
People have to absolutely respect more two way superstars!! As much as people have been praising Jokic which he deserves all the praise. You saw how MIA really exposed him on defense. A lot of PnR and Jokic inability tor run out to the perimeter to contest 3 and inability to athletically get to the rim to get a block was present. On the other hand, Jimmy Butler whose been very underpreciated drastically turned it up in the 4th stopping and contesting Murray, making clutch shots and most importantly making high IQ dimes to get his team the deserved win.
For people to go at MPJ and KCP. If you see some of these clips. Jokic has to be the help defender switching off whenever Struss or Vincent peel out to the 3 but because Jokic is limited on defense or a liability he can't run out to the shooters. Basically Malone is doing what he criticize Lakers AD. Jokic just sags off and becomes a free safety defender to diminish any liability he has on defense all while his teammates have to work harder to make up for Jokic and also Murray on defense.
Kevin Love really left a 4-seed Cavs for an 8-seed because he wanted playtime, and found himself in the Finals as a major contributor. That's Big D Energy.
Kevin Love’s return is huge simply off the strength of being a decent/good big to play alongside Bam when Denver has Jokic/Gordon out there (which is a lot of minutes)
It’s funny that the media was complaining about the heats size issue but I was always saying that they should utilize Love more. They do and here’s what happened.
I don't think his under appreciated in the Heat maybe you are reffering to his ex-team the reason they don't mind losing him and now in denial that his doing great with his new team
Love used to be a monster on the Twolves, a legit 20/20 threat. then he morphed into a charge taking machine and solid 3 ball shooter. miami picked up love and lowry, two excellent charge drawers; couple that with jimmy, bam, i'm just beginning to realize how frustrating it must be to play against this team, their defense is suffocating
Yet the only thing these basketball "fans" are talking about on the internet is that it doesn't feel like the NBA finals and that the ratings are bad. It's pathetic.
Denvers mental lapses were also key. KCP two clear fouls on 3pt attempts and Jeff Green allowing Kyle Lowry to get an offensive rebound (which led to a Duncan Robinson 3) were absolutely inexcusable
This man is an insane coach, can never count them out of a series just off his adjustments alone. He keeps proving me wrong thinking this matchup is too tough for them and needing to shoot the lights out
He's the most important weak link. Murray is not going to struggle long but MPJ's youth and undisciplined defense will cost the Nuggets. He's the third best player and he might get neutralized.
You are such a great teacher. My wife understands the game at a deep level now, and you've increased my understanding of NBA offence and defense imenensly Thanks!
after game 1: the nuggest just 3 wins away after game 2: the heat just 3 wins away i think this will be going on until game 7 because of this 2 great nba coaches. but i still think Spo is more experienced in final games than mike and has the advantage to made history with miami. that would suck for me as a big Jokic fan, but im also a huge butler fan.. this finals will be remembered for a long time, you will see.
It’s definitely going 6 or 7, both fans better relax. The league made it clear game 2 with the bad officiating that neither team will run away with this.
@@RS-ol8or Game 2 bad officiating? Miami shot two free throws in game 1. There is not a basketball watching soul on this planet that believes any team in the history of basketball only committed ONE shooting foul in an entire game. Yet, Miami only got one call in game 1. Officials have been horrendous the entire post season.
The creativity and relentlessness that the Heat generate offense with is incredible. Spo is the best coach in basketball and the "heat culture" is very real.
This is the perfect example of why coaches matter, people keep saying firing coaches is a scapegoat but coach spo is the perfect example of making adjustments and utilizing your pieces to the best of THEIR ability, not just putting them in a system and hoping they can do it. He knows his players strengths and uses each players strength to elevate their abilitys. Many coaches dont know how to use the players they are dealt to the best of their ability.
coaching today matters more than ever especially with the sophistication of the game and the spacing of the floor, even the players with the highest basketball IQ need a competent coach to use their abilities within the game.
Elite coaches are incredibly underrated, and are as valuable as an allstar player. But most coached are quite replaceable. Theres only a handful of elite coaches every year, the rest are replaceable or complete trash
MPJ had a really rough game. I guess we will see if Spo will continue to try to attack. MPJ's decision making on defense. He had been mostly pretty good during the playoffs up until yesterday.
Denver hasn't really been defensively challenged against a team with great offensive half court set the whole playoffs. Lakers, Wolves, and Suns are all playing ISO ball or Dribble Drive offense for the most part. It's all been Denver's size that stop those offenses and not because of their rotations. Spo is really testing their defensive capabilities right now. Basically, they're exposed on that end of the floor. Let's see if Mike can adjust.
@@s_ame1135 exactly. having jokic in a high PNR is money every single time. you can't hide two bad defenders in the starting lineup. so mike will have to really tweak something or spo will constantly pick on jokic and murray all game.
Duncan has more gravity than Strus and has a connection with Bam in the 2 man game that’s been built up for 5 years. He’s also. 6’7” and is good in zone
@@TheTMSxGaming nah its more like they played the hot hand. Strus was playing well, but Duncan Robinson was firing on all cylinders in the 4th and that was easy to see. You don't put someone on the bench when they're that hot and the team is clicking, you'll just destroy the momentum.
@@joeyveloso that’s not how it worked lol. Duncan started the 4th quarter, he didn’t “come in” for max when he was hot. Look at the game play by play, he was already there. He got hot in the 4th, and It doesn’t take much for him to get goin. It was about the 2-man game.
he probably noticed throughout the team's playoff performance that Max performed generally well opening the games and Duncan excelled at closing the games out. Duncan's energy in the second half is also extremely contagious when he's on fire, whereas Max is more stoic, setting the tone for the rest of the game while giving an early reminder to teammates that it's ok if you miss shots--just keep shooting if you're open. and when everyone contributes, it does very well to boost the team's morale. Spo is a genius.
I’ve played b-ball for years and even won a Toronto city title for my age group. I watched all the top reviewers of this particular NBA game and yours was clearly the best, even beating out B-Ball Breakdown. You’re my go to from now on.
I love these videos so much, there so much I dont see and you explain it so well. I can tell the amount of effort you put into these videos. Keep it up!
I remembered years ago when Jimmy chose to go to the Heat and he had some flak; people saying he was only after the money, or that his ego only allows him to go to weaker teams where he will clearly be the alpha and not going to help a title contender. In the last 4 years, the Heat has beaten every Eastern contender at least once in a playoff matchup, has been to the conference finals thrice, and was a 1st seed last year.
all depends on how you look at it im sure Jimmy thinks he is worthy of being the number 1 guy on his team and he doesn’t have to help a titled contender team lol …he look good in that heat uniform
@@21Kolb tbf, with Simmons on the lineup, they need shooters more than any other slasher. Wrong move now after the fact but it was the most logical move at that time.
The title contending teams didn't want Jimmy because he was too hard on the soft-ass players in the modern NBA. The Heat have the mental fortitude to handle doing literally everything in their power to win down to the 15th guy on the bench so it was a perfect fit for him.
Hope every hall fan is soaking in and appreciating Heat culture right now. Being a raptors fan I’ve gotten a taste of the undrafted/ building a team through the draft or through proper scouting but man Props to the Heat to taking it to a level we’ve never seen. Pat Riley and Spo are both legends of the game.. but getting Butler and surrounding him with a bunch of killers hungry to make it in the league has been a joy to watch. Guys like Strus, Vincent, Martin, and Robinson are reallyshowing up a lot of these other NBA players that are on lucrative contracts and have just settled.. they just ain’t hungry. The Heat culture really shaking up the league.. other front offices will be second guessing where they’ve went wrong lol
Pat knew they needed a michael jordan like mentality in their team because the roster will follow suit. Though not the same, tim duncan is that person in spurs. Or curry in warriors. A culture setter. In the case of butler, they developed soldiers.
Miami looked totally mismatched in Game 1 and thought Denver was gonna roll all over them but I was surprised how they were staying so close in Game 2. Just shows how good of a coach Spoelstra is, making the necessary adjustments to bring in Love, play the Zone defense fronting Jokic. Insightful video, keep em coming! Great series, can't wait for Game3!
Not at all. Miami played poorly, got nothing from Jimmy, Martin, or Struss and still only lost by 11. I came away from game 1 saying Denver is in trouble.
Insanely good video again bro 🔥.Ive watched enough basketball in my life for two lifetimes, but everytime I watch one of your breakdowns, I feel like a casual again. Amazed how much I learn everytime I watch one of your videos
If Miami slays the dragon, will Kevin Love make the hall of fame ? 5x All star, 2x all NBA, Most improved player, 2 rings, all rookie, arguably the second best player of his draft class ; not a bad resume. I say yes, Kevin Love Hall of Fame babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
It's amazing that we cannot see the impact of Kevin Love in the game but upon closer analysis, he was a big factor on why Denver cannot score a lot. Good job here breaking down the impact of Love in the game.
Heat defenders making life TOUGH on Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr and Kentavious Caldwell Pope 🥶 Coach Spoelstra adjusted well. They let JOKIC score and clamped everybody else. Brilliant gameplan. The Denver Nuggets are winless in these playoffs when Joker drops 40+ points 😮
When Miami executes their strategies and adjustments (zone, pick and roll, bigger lineup, looking for shooters), they look like a completely different team. Game 1 they were sloppy and overwhelmed, but Game 2 they were physical from the beginning which bothered the Nuggets. That 1-3-1/3-2 zone is killer, very unconventional but you can tell they practice that quite a bit. People don't like zone but when executed right its beautiful to watch
Dude this guy is seriously the best coaching I've witnessed. Every time out and adjustments are so well executed are strategic to the point even casuals like me notices it. The Miami had roster has absolutely no business being in the NBA final and beating the best teams to get there. A lot coaches will tell you that it's the players who wins the games, Spo demonstrate that coaches put players in positions to win.
Man it’s just something about Miami’s zone defense that opponents always have a hard time dealing with 😅 Coach Spo is that guy up there with the genius minds of Phil Jackson, Pop, Kerr, and Riley. All top 5. Spo is gonna have to start Kevin Love from here on out, smart decision to put him in game 2 to make up for height. Don’t act like Spo has never been to the finals before! Dude has a good amount of finals experiences as a head coach. He knows what he is doing and will always make the proper adjustments.
Great analysis. Spo starting Love and having him on Gordon so that Jimmy could guard Murray while Bam was on Jokic was a huge adjustment that really helped them win this game. Jimmy obviously isn't 100% but he made timely buckets, facilitated, and played great defense while Bam has done an amazing job picking up the slack and has been solid on both ends of the floor. Their biggest issue right now is the non-Bam minutes as Zeller has been terrible. If they can solve that i think they have a decent shot at winning but either way i think it'll be a great series.
I don't see how that was such a big adjustment. Love started most of the playoffs by a great deal. It was a return to what worked best for them. They started Martin because he had a hot hand the prior series. First thing Denver did to them was bully Martin down low. Something gordon couldn't do to Love. I
And we see such a symphony of amazing basketball from Miami yet Denver still was mere inches away from a tie. It’s sobering to think how well you have to play to unwind this Denver team
@@reelmagic88 Yep which is crazy even when Heat were the #1 seed - somehow that wasn't because of his coaching. They always give COTY as "most improved team" award.
COTY award doesn't really matter. Nick Nurse finally got COTY recognition in 2020 (only after he won the chip with the Raps in 2019) and now he's a coach for the Sixers. Dwayne Casey was COTY in 2018 and he's not even coaching anymore. Spo has coached the Heat to six FInals appearances and won two of them. Budenholzer was 2x COTY, won a chip with the Bucks and still can't adjust in the playoffs.
@@t4d0W I'd posit that it matters to some coaches. Maybe not Spo, in true Heat fashion he probably doesn't give a shit what people think of his coaching. I could imagine that some recognition would be nice though. Everyone knows that Spo is an elite coach, it'd be fitting if he had some hardware to show for it. But as you point out.. COTY seems to be handed out on a whim and really suffers from "prisoner of the moment" syndrome and doesn't age well.
4:28 "Maybe Bam was the one who fouled Vincent." Nobody fouled Vincent. He just flailed wildly for no discernible reason. He was presumably pretending to get hit in the face, but neither Bam or KCP were anywhere near his face.
Obviously he sold it hard but that doesn't mean there wasn't contact, you can see bam touch him on the closer angle. Also idk where you got the idea where he pretended to get hit in the face, he probably just felt the contact on his arm which he thought was from KCP and flailed to bait free throws
You're not wrong... though I'd argue that Bam did set a moving pick on KCP. Then again, I'm not sure whether the NBA refs remember that moving picks are illegal, because I can't remember the last time one got called...
Awesome! I was telling co workers Kevin Love is gonna be the difference in this Series! He’s not even acting up yet with them full court passes. Between him and Jimmy the passing is gonna set up alot of buckets. Don’t let Hero come back popping it will really be a wrap. I got MIAMI winning it all
Spo is the best coach in Heat history and will go down as 1 of the best if not the best ever when he's done. (Assuming he chooses to coach another 15+years)
even ben said himself that he has to rewatch some stuff to catch it, not just untrained eye ppl. its just too much all at the same time. but yeah, for casual fans .. no chance of getting most of it live.
This is why as a Celtics fan I get so upset with people wanting to dump Joe Mazzula after his first season. Imagine if Erik Spoelstra got canned instead of letting him develop into the Hall of Fame coach that he is today. This heat team finds ways to completely change how your team plays against them. You lose your identity and start playing right into Miami's favor. This is elite tier coaching combined with great execution by a team of guys that wants to win at any cost. Once again Thinking Basketball breaks it down like nobody else can
Can we give Coach Spo his 💐 now! Him and his coaching staff are master tacticians and been this way for years. Go back to the Dallas finals. That was the last time I seen Spo get out coached. Regardless of how the series ends…Spo is still one of the GOATS!
A juggernaut of a Nuggets squad with crazy depth with one of the greatest playmaking offensive centers of all time in Jokic and his electric sidekick. VS The Power of Friendship.
Respect to Duncan Robinson. Imagine being benched virtually a full season and still have the confidence to do what he do when his number is called in the playoffs.
He's low IQ and doesn't think the game. He and Murray had several possession where they ignore joker. When bam cut in front to deny joker all they have to do is swing and then entry pass. They just waste clock
As a Denver fan, I want him traded this offseason, whether they win or lose. He’s too inconsistent as a max contract guy who’s supposed to be their 3rd best player. Two bad Finals games in a row is inexcusable.
Pat Riley is the master of manipulation who has handpicked a clone in spo he is so respected that Malone wouldn't even call a timeout in the final seconds cuz he knew he would be done can great coaching beat a super team we'll have to wait till see nothing like the finals
I swear, everything I thought about basketball is thrown out this year with this Heat team! As a Celtic fan I hate that they beat us but they earned it and I can't even hate, they are far from a super team but actually one of the best teams I have ever seen since they love clutch time and no one on the roster gets rattled down the stretch - which is hard to find when its every player not afraid of the moment.
I have Denver ad the heavy favorite over the Heat ans winning in 5. BUT, the Heat have been tbe most disciplined team all postseason long. And i believe Erik Spoelstea is the best Coach in all of the NBA. With those 2 components in play, as KG once said "Anything is possible!"
Jokic's defense isn't as bad as the naked eye would imply. He holds those he guards to lower shooting percentages than their averages. Granted, he isn't a great defender, but I think the key for the heat is their efficiency from 3.
Miami likely doesn’t even need him. Denver has a 3 man deep bench just take them to deep water every game they will get tired eventually, that’s the downside to being as tall as they are. Once Jokic and Murray slow down from lack of rest they’re in trouble.
@@tjayk9127 yup I said that also the bigger you are the more oxygen you need to fuel the muscles. Plus the heat looks way faster do to being smaller. That Robinson kid is a beast.
@@tjayk9127 Agree. Den is only playing 8 guys right now while the Heat have at least 10 guys + Herro. It's gonna be a battle of endurance and coaching adjustments. With that many players to take note of, it's gonna be harder for Malone to adjust.
I cannot express how much I appreciate the Miami Heat simply because of the dynamics. I am now a major Miami Heat fan coming from being a Dallas Mavericks fan. After the antics from Dallas and the horrible coaching of Jason Kidd, this is refreshing to see a real team playing real basketball. The Miami Heat are by far the best team in the NBA and the most underrated. These guys are a true gift to be able to witness.
I mean Mike Malone is a good coach but not calling timeout at the end there showed he didnt want Spo to draw up his D. That is a compliment and a great mental win for Spo and the Heat.
I love matches like these where the audiences are forced to think and read the plays from both teams. Casuals find this boring because all they want is flashy basketball.
It's crazy to think that a 34 year old Kevin Love in his 15th season was the key to a playoff win... because of his defense.
It's just the size man, he really doesn't need to be a spring chicken to execute this strategy. That's the brilliance of it all.
Geez he's only 34? It feels like he's been in the league forever
I think he improved a lot after going to the cavs, now he is a decent defender, he reads passes, contest at the right moment, and stay with his man
if you think about it befits him because we forget love's brilliant defense against curry during cle vs gsw finals.
@@MrE_ haha i think he looks a bit older because of his grey hair
Kevin Love, Al Horford, and Brooke Lopez. It’s been so great to watch these guys come back in the late stages of their career, make the changes they needed to, and continue to play well.
I think only love had a comeback. Other 2 just adapted with no drop-off
@@chauvintookaknee4blm268 Brooke Lopez’s career was almost done because of foot injuries when he was in Brooklyn. Al Horford was traded to the Sixers, forgotten, and his game was regressing. They’re both doing much better man
@@TOGGGAA1 he wasn't forgotten in sixers. Sixers just sucked and bad fit. Brook was great in la before bucks. He furthered himself on bucks what he did in LA
because they can all stretch the floor.. The Zellers and DJs of the world are going extinct..
Jeff Green in Nuggets' rotation too
While Miami have to deal with Jokic, Denver have to deal with Erik Spoelstra. That's show how great and important Spo is to the team.
Jimmy overrated AF
@@Tuvok_Shakur yes he is. His team been carrying him
Lol. Miami shot 55% from 3 and won by 3, assisted greatly by two blown calls in the 4th that amounted for 5 points for the Heat. But sure.
Heat defenders making life TOUGH on Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr and Kentavious Caldwell Pope 🥶
Coach Spoelstra adjusted well. They let JOKIC score and clamped everybody else. Brilliant gameplan.
The Denver Nuggets are winless in these playoffs when Joker drops 40+ points 😮
@@cincydooley heat in 6. Denver’s speed and defense is atrocious
I swear this mfer Spo can win any game against any team. Bro is such a crazy good coach
Jimmy is MJ’s long lost son tbh
@@walz4635 they won the game. Wins are wins
@@walz4635mj has missed shots
I dunno man, maybe. He’s good, for sure. But if he’s so great why were they the 8 seed? I think it’s more catching fire at the right time combined with a bunch of guys who are extreme, almost vicious competitors. They’re a great story either way and I’ll be happy if they pull it off.
Give him game 1; he’ll take 4 of the next 6 😂👉👉 He is a genius
That heat zones isn’t the typical zone, it’s chaotic but they communicate and execute very well, can’t wait for game 3
It's more like the Amoeba defense
Yeah its HeatZone with 80ft ball pressure.
People have to absolutely respect more two way superstars!! As much as people have been praising Jokic which he deserves all the praise. You saw how MIA really exposed him on defense. A lot of PnR and Jokic inability tor run out to the perimeter to contest 3 and inability to athletically get to the rim to get a block was present. On the other hand, Jimmy Butler whose been very underpreciated drastically turned it up in the 4th stopping and contesting Murray, making clutch shots and most importantly making high IQ dimes to get his team the deserved win.
For people to go at MPJ and KCP. If you see some of these clips. Jokic has to be the help defender switching off whenever Struss or Vincent peel out to the 3 but because Jokic is limited on defense or a liability he can't run out to the shooters. Basically Malone is doing what he criticize Lakers AD. Jokic just sags off and becomes a free safety defender to diminish any liability he has on defense all while his teammates have to work harder to make up for Jokic and also Murray on defense.
@@CleanMusicLover229 what's that
As a Denver fan, Spo is a meastro. He elevates all his players to their best selves with real tangible adjustments.
Kevin Love really left a 4-seed Cavs for an 8-seed because he wanted playtime, and found himself in the Finals as a major contributor. That's Big D Energy.
That's right... Big Defensive Energy. 🙃
If you watch hoops at all; you know Love and Lowry were great additions to this Heat roster
Thought love got waived?
@@user-ix2uv9er1v He was bought out by the Heat.
@@user-ix2uv9er1vhe asked for a buyout so that he could come to Miami
Kevin Love’s return is huge simply off the strength of being a decent/good big to play alongside Bam when Denver has Jokic/Gordon out there (which is a lot of minutes)
It's funny how when the heat get an old champion vet like that, they make the finals. Iggy in 2020, Love in 2023
This. With Love in, Denver has to respect his ability to rebound, sending more players to crash the boards thus slowing them down in transition.
It’s funny that the media was complaining about the heats size issue but I was always saying that they should utilize Love more. They do and here’s what happened.
@@Dimelo.Ryeah, with Love, I never saw Gordon backing him up.
Love was such an under appreciated signing for the Heat.
Oh he didn’t sign with the heat he was traded there😊
@@30GotNext nah
@@30GotNext He signed with the heat after he agreed a contract buyout with the cavaliers.
I don't think his under appreciated in the Heat maybe you are reffering to his ex-team the reason they don't mind losing him and now in denial that his doing great with his new team
Love used to be a monster on the Twolves, a legit 20/20 threat. then he morphed into a charge taking machine and solid 3 ball shooter. miami picked up love and lowry, two excellent charge drawers; couple that with jimmy, bam, i'm just beginning to realize how frustrating it must be to play against this team, their defense is suffocating
Hoop fans have got to be hyped seeing cognitive team basketball both ways, counter after counter, so much detail
Legit like a boxing match. This finals is the real deal, thankfully we have 2 well coached teams and team players. no super teams thank god...
legit bro, a beautiful series, pure team basketball being played
Watching the heats zone is so much fun when they execute. So unique in the NBA
Yet the only thing these basketball "fans" are talking about on the internet is that it doesn't feel like the NBA finals and that the ratings are bad. It's pathetic.
@@24hourgrind yeah but even "super teams" like warriors were fun to watch.
Denvers mental lapses were also key. KCP two clear fouls on 3pt attempts and Jeff Green allowing Kyle Lowry to get an offensive rebound (which led to a Duncan Robinson 3) were absolutely inexcusable
I was for the nuggs at first but ever since Aaron Gordon spoke crap I think the heat will destroy the nuggs now.
KCP has been such a non factor this series i honestly forgot he was on the floor until he started fouling 3pt shooters.
@@othBBfan 😂😂😂
Yup, very frustrating to watch
Three. Three inexplicable wrong calls in the 4th, Jokic said it in game... Three bad calls in a row?
This man is an insane coach, can never count them out of a series just off his adjustments alone. He keeps proving me wrong thinking this matchup is too tough for them and needing to shoot the lights out
Eric Spolestra is single-handedly making NBA fans appreciate coaching
Coach Pop?
Players win not coaches, Spo is no different than any coaches
@@HarrisFreedman-s1o nah. Players take the shots. No disrespect to the players at all
I think my biggest takeaway from this video is that MPJ goofed a lot
He told his cousin to put 2 millions on Miami to win the game. Next game, he will ball as usual.
And that the refs missed a bunch of fouls
he’s been so unbelievably bad in the first two games 😕
Biggest black hole in the Nba
He's the most important weak link. Murray is not going to struggle long but MPJ's youth and undisciplined defense will cost the Nuggets. He's the third best player and he might get neutralized.
You are such a great teacher. My wife understands the game at a deep level now, and you've increased my understanding of NBA offence and defense imenensly Thanks!
after game 1: the nuggest just 3 wins away
after game 2: the heat just 3 wins away
i think this will be going on until game 7 because of this 2 great nba coaches. but i still think Spo is more experienced in final games than mike and has the advantage to made history with miami. that would suck for me as a big Jokic fan, but im also a huge butler fan.. this finals will be remembered for a long time, you will see.
You're winning the finals either way congrats!
You think... 6 Finals 2 Chips to 1 Finals zero chips
baloney is no where near spo, not even close. smokes to much ciggaretes with that crusty as voice too.
It’s definitely going 6 or 7, both fans better relax. The league made it clear game 2 with the bad officiating that neither team will run away with this.
@@RS-ol8or Game 2 bad officiating? Miami shot two free throws in game 1. There is not a basketball watching soul on this planet that believes any team in the history of basketball only committed ONE shooting foul in an entire game. Yet, Miami only got one call in game 1. Officials have been horrendous the entire post season.
The creativity and relentlessness that the Heat generate offense with is incredible. Spo is the best coach in basketball and the "heat culture" is very real.
Best Basketball Channel in the world, great study every time, thanks for the content❤️
This is the perfect example of why coaches matter, people keep saying firing coaches is a scapegoat but coach spo is the perfect example of making adjustments and utilizing your pieces to the best of THEIR ability, not just putting them in a system and hoping they can do it. He knows his players strengths and uses each players strength to elevate their abilitys. Many coaches dont know how to use the players they are dealt to the best of their ability.
coaching today matters more than ever
especially with the sophistication of the game and the spacing of the floor, even the players with the highest basketball IQ need a competent coach to use their abilities within the game.
Elite coaches are incredibly underrated, and are as valuable as an allstar player. But most coached are quite replaceable. Theres only a handful of elite coaches every year, the rest are replaceable or complete trash
@@jojoprocess2820 u are talking to doc .
MPJ had a really rough game. I guess we will see if Spo will continue to try to attack. MPJ's decision making on defense. He had been mostly pretty good during the playoffs up until yesterday.
Probably won’t be the case every game, but Malone couldve done himself a big favor closing with Braun last game
@@t-mofisher8922 exactly lol
Nuggets are in serious trouble. It’s funny how the whole size bs was what everyone spoke about now your gona see the heat take off in the next games.
Denver hasn't really been defensively challenged against a team with great offensive half court set the whole playoffs.
Lakers, Wolves, and Suns are all playing ISO ball or Dribble Drive offense for the most part. It's all been Denver's size that stop those offenses and not because of their rotations.
Spo is really testing their defensive capabilities right now. Basically, they're exposed on that end of the floor. Let's see if Mike can adjust.
@@s_ame1135 exactly. having jokic in a high PNR is money every single time. you can't hide two bad defenders in the starting lineup. so mike will have to really tweak something or spo will constantly pick on jokic and murray all game.
Spoe putting Duncan Robinson over Max Strus in 4th quarter was mindblowing, how did he come up with that decision when Strus was shooting well
These are the questions that need to be asked
Duncan has more gravity than Strus and has a connection with Bam in the 2 man game that’s been built up for 5 years. He’s also. 6’7” and is good in zone
@@TheTMSxGaming nah its more like they played the hot hand. Strus was playing well, but Duncan Robinson was firing on all cylinders in the 4th and that was easy to see. You don't put someone on the bench when they're that hot and the team is clicking, you'll just destroy the momentum.
@@joeyveloso that’s not how it worked lol. Duncan started the 4th quarter, he didn’t “come in” for max when he was hot. Look at the game play by play, he was already there. He got hot in the 4th, and It doesn’t take much for him to get goin. It was about the 2-man game.
he probably noticed throughout the team's playoff performance that Max performed generally well opening the games and Duncan excelled at closing the games out. Duncan's energy in the second half is also extremely contagious when he's on fire, whereas Max is more stoic, setting the tone for the rest of the game while giving an early reminder to teammates that it's ok if you miss shots--just keep shooting if you're open. and when everyone contributes, it does very well to boost the team's morale. Spo is a genius.
I’ve played b-ball for years and even won a Toronto city title for my age group. I watched all the top reviewers of this particular NBA game and yours was clearly the best, even beating out B-Ball Breakdown. You’re my go to from now on.
I love these videos so much, there so much I dont see and you explain it so well. I can tell the amount of effort you put into these videos. Keep it up!
I remembered years ago when Jimmy chose to go to the Heat and he had some flak; people saying he was only after the money, or that his ego only allows him to go to weaker teams where he will clearly be the alpha and not going to help a title contender. In the last 4 years, the Heat has beaten every Eastern contender at least once in a playoff matchup, has been to the conference finals thrice, and was a 1st seed last year.
all depends on how you look at it im sure Jimmy thinks he is worthy of being the number 1 guy on his team and he doesn’t have to help a titled contender team lol …he look good in that heat uniform
Lol it’s crazy too bc he seemed perfectly fine being a #2 behind Embiid… but Philly wanted Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris instead 😂
@@TheDrunkLawyer which is wild to me. tobias fcking harris over jimmy butler is insane.
@@21Kolb tbf, with Simmons on the lineup, they need shooters more than any other slasher. Wrong move now after the fact but it was the most logical move at that time.
The title contending teams didn't want Jimmy because he was too hard on the soft-ass players in the modern NBA. The Heat have the mental fortitude to handle doing literally everything in their power to win down to the 15th guy on the bench so it was a perfect fit for him.
Hope every hall fan is soaking in and appreciating Heat culture right now. Being a raptors fan I’ve gotten a taste of the undrafted/ building a team through the draft or through proper scouting but man Props to the Heat to taking it to a level we’ve never seen. Pat Riley and Spo are both legends of the game.. but getting Butler and surrounding him with a bunch of killers hungry to make it in the league has been a joy to watch. Guys like Strus, Vincent, Martin, and Robinson are reallyshowing up a lot of these other NBA players that are on lucrative contracts and have just settled.. they just ain’t hungry. The Heat culture really shaking up the league.. other front offices will be second guessing where they’ve went wrong lol
Pat knew they needed a michael jordan like mentality in their team because the roster will follow suit.
Though not the same, tim duncan is that person in spurs. Or curry in warriors.
A culture setter. In the case of butler, they developed soldiers.
WAS WAITING FOR THIS VIEDO. Looking forward for yall to discuss the huge differences from game 1 to game 2 amazing vid like usual.
Miami looked totally mismatched in Game 1 and thought Denver was gonna roll all over them but I was surprised how they were staying so close in Game 2. Just shows how good of a coach Spoelstra is, making the necessary adjustments to bring in Love, play the Zone defense fronting Jokic. Insightful video, keep em coming! Great series, can't wait for Game3!
Not at all. Miami played poorly, got nothing from Jimmy, Martin, or Struss and still only lost by 11. I came away from game 1 saying Denver is in trouble.
Insanely good video again bro 🔥.Ive watched enough basketball in my life for two lifetimes, but everytime I watch one of your breakdowns, I feel like a casual again. Amazed how much I learn everytime I watch one of your videos
Spo has always been underrated.
Game 2 has to be one of the most beautiful and intelligent game plans designed in the NBA. ❤
If Miami slays the dragon, will Kevin Love make the hall of fame ? 5x All star, 2x all NBA, Most improved player, 2 rings, all rookie, arguably the second best player of his draft class ; not a bad resume.
I say yes, Kevin Love Hall of Fame babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
My guy Kevin Love making that impact
I love how you breakdown all of these with sense.
It's amazing that we cannot see the impact of Kevin Love in the game but upon closer analysis, he was a big factor on why Denver cannot score a lot. Good job here breaking down the impact of Love in the game.
Heat defenders making life TOUGH on Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr and Kentavious Caldwell Pope 🥶
Coach Spoelstra adjusted well. They let JOKIC score and clamped everybody else. Brilliant gameplan.
The Denver Nuggets are winless in these playoffs when Joker drops 40+ points 😮
Thank you for creating such insightful videos! Love the in depth analysis
kudos to great analyzation So nice to hear intelligent views and reviews Keep up the good work and God bless you all
Dope to see K. Love still ballin, been a fan since he played with Bron. One of my favorite NBA white boys of all time lol
J williams white chocolate takes # 1 doe
White men can't jump. But they can certainly shoot and play great team defense
@@YRPAudit J-Will is an aberration. He's basically the NBA version of Eminem 😅
great analysis. Really helped me understand the game better. Thank you,
When Miami executes their strategies and adjustments (zone, pick and roll, bigger lineup, looking for shooters), they look like a completely different team. Game 1 they were sloppy and overwhelmed, but Game 2 they were physical from the beginning which bothered the Nuggets. That 1-3-1/3-2 zone is killer, very unconventional but you can tell they practice that quite a bit. People don't like zone but when executed right its beautiful to watch
exactly. Also, they don't stay in a zone 100 percent of the time. they switch to man which throws off teams even more.
The Amoeba 🦠 zone is confusing
Finally!!!! Miami has fans too you know! Great video man
As a Cavs Fan I love seeing LOVE make the finals!!! Now he’s a key!!! Awesome!
He deserves it. 100% team guy. It's nice to see a coach that knows how to make adjustments and use him properly. If only the Cavs were so lucky.
Torono Fans happy for Lowry too ;)
@@moradimedia3171 that’s true! He’s been battling for a long time!
Dude this guy is seriously the best coaching I've witnessed. Every time out and adjustments are so well executed are strategic to the point even casuals like me notices it. The Miami had roster has absolutely no business being in the NBA final and beating the best teams to get there.
A lot coaches will tell you that it's the players who wins the games, Spo demonstrate that coaches put players in positions to win.
Man it’s just something about Miami’s zone defense that opponents always have a hard time dealing with 😅 Coach Spo is that guy up there with the genius minds of Phil Jackson, Pop, Kerr, and Riley. All top 5. Spo is gonna have to start Kevin Love from here on out, smart decision to put him in game 2 to make up for height. Don’t act like Spo has never been to the finals before! Dude has a good amount of finals experiences as a head coach. He knows what he is doing and will always make the proper adjustments.
great analysis. thanks as always
I love how love's defense is so unatgletic but it works so well.
Remember when he guarded curry in 2016?
Because he does the basics. Never forget the basics.
unathletic*
Great analysis. Spo starting Love and having him on Gordon so that Jimmy could guard Murray while Bam was on Jokic was a huge adjustment that really helped them win this game. Jimmy obviously isn't 100% but he made timely buckets, facilitated, and played great defense while Bam has done an amazing job picking up the slack and has been solid on both ends of the floor. Their biggest issue right now is the non-Bam minutes as Zeller has been terrible. If they can solve that i think they have a decent shot at winning but either way i think it'll be a great series.
MPJ was not even considered in Miami's defensive scheme. He is also big.
I don't see how that was such a big adjustment. Love started most of the playoffs by a great deal. It was a return to what worked best for them. They started Martin because he had a hot hand the prior series. First thing Denver did to them was bully Martin down low. Something gordon couldn't do to Love. I
As an east coast guy, I hate this Heat team, but man, you HAVE to respect Spo. He’s an all time great coach. Gregg Popovich level
I agree. Guy’s a damn genius
Remember he is Pat Riley successor
Fascinating series, thanks! Allways a good idea to have a battle tested veteran big on your bench.
And we see such a symphony of amazing basketball from Miami yet Denver still was mere inches away from a tie. It’s sobering to think how well you have to play to unwind this Denver team
The video i been waiting on
Spo is coach of the year no competition
Whats crazy is I think Spo has never won COTY ever.
@@reelmagic88 Yep which is crazy even when Heat were the #1 seed - somehow that wasn't because of his coaching. They always give COTY as "most improved team" award.
@@reelmagic88 yup. The only official top 15 all-time coach without a COTY so far.
COTY award doesn't really matter. Nick Nurse finally got COTY recognition in 2020 (only after he won the chip with the Raps in 2019) and now he's a coach for the Sixers. Dwayne Casey was COTY in 2018 and he's not even coaching anymore. Spo has coached the Heat to six FInals appearances and won two of them. Budenholzer was 2x COTY, won a chip with the Bucks and still can't adjust in the playoffs.
@@t4d0W I'd posit that it matters to some coaches. Maybe not Spo, in true Heat fashion he probably doesn't give a shit what people think of his coaching. I could imagine that some recognition would be nice though. Everyone knows that Spo is an elite coach, it'd be fitting if he had some hardware to show for it. But as you point out.. COTY seems to be handed out on a whim and really suffers from "prisoner of the moment" syndrome and doesn't age well.
Cant believe the time would come where we review KLove for his defense lol
4:28 "Maybe Bam was the one who fouled Vincent." Nobody fouled Vincent. He just flailed wildly for no discernible reason. He was presumably pretending to get hit in the face, but neither Bam or KCP were anywhere near his face.
Obviously he sold it hard but that doesn't mean there wasn't contact, you can see bam touch him on the closer angle. Also idk where you got the idea where he pretended to get hit in the face, he probably just felt the contact on his arm which he thought was from KCP and flailed to bait free throws
When you take away landing space or tap the legs in anyway it’s a foul. Gabe felt contact and sold it.
You're not wrong... though I'd argue that Bam did set a moving pick on KCP. Then again, I'm not sure whether the NBA refs remember that moving picks are illegal, because I can't remember the last time one got called...
Both kcp and bam touched him what u on about 😂
@@noosurprises honestly, when it's an obvious flop like that, the refs should give a tech to the flopper. Play basketball, not flopball
love the breakdowns on this channel
Awesome! I was telling co workers Kevin Love is gonna be the difference in this Series!
He’s not even acting up yet with them full court passes.
Between him and Jimmy the passing is gonna set up alot of buckets.
Don’t let Hero come back popping it will really be a wrap.
I got MIAMI winning it all
L
The most iconic play for coach spo..is the mario chalmers game tieng three..
What a genius ..
so proud of my HEAT we never lackn
Spo is the best coach in Heat history and will go down as 1 of the best if not the best ever when he's done. (Assuming he chooses to coach another 15+years)
If Miami can pull this off, it will be the most incredible postseason run in basketball history IMO. In the minimum, it's top 3.
That zone defence is a beauty. Shows how well the team was coached
Most "untrained eye" people will not know that they are doing all of that while watching it live. Really great! 😂
even ben said himself that he has to rewatch some stuff to catch it, not just untrained eye ppl. its just too much all at the same time. but yeah, for casual fans .. no chance of getting most of it live.
This is why as a Celtics fan I get so upset with people wanting to dump Joe Mazzula after his first season. Imagine if Erik Spoelstra got canned instead of letting him develop into the Hall of Fame coach that he is today. This heat team finds ways to completely change how your team plays against them. You lose your identity and start playing right into Miami's favor. This is elite tier coaching combined with great execution by a team of guys that wants to win at any cost. Once again Thinking Basketball breaks it down like nobody else can
Can we give Coach Spo his 💐 now! Him and his coaching staff are master tacticians and been this way for years. Go back to the Dallas finals. That was the last time I seen Spo get out coached. Regardless of how the series ends…Spo is still one of the GOATS!
As much as I like Bron he's the only one to blame for that Dallas series. Others played bad but he REALLY struggled.
A juggernaut of a Nuggets squad with crazy depth with one of the greatest playmaking offensive centers of all time in Jokic and his electric sidekick.
VS
The Power of Friendship.
Nuggets are doomed.
I mean juggernaut is a bit excessive, but a better team overall yes.
Spo's a genius!
Respect to Duncan Robinson. Imagine being benched virtually a full season and still have the confidence to do what he do when his number is called in the playoffs.
Kevin Love signing was genius
Congrats Coach Erik Spoelstra! You're a Genius! Very good adjustments! Let's go Heat!
There’s a reason why Jimmy loves Coach Spo
After your last video, especially the title, I was very interested in how you would respond to Game 2. Nice work - - as usual.
1:29 the best part of the video. He never looks at the others, does he?
He's low IQ and doesn't think the game. He and Murray had several possession where they ignore joker. When bam cut in front to deny joker all they have to do is swing and then entry pass.
They just waste clock
yeah very low IQ play
Pretty sure the coach tells him to just shoot if he’s open
Michael "possession ends here" Porter Jr. strikes again!😂
As a Denver fan, I want him traded this offseason, whether they win or lose. He’s too inconsistent as a max contract guy who’s supposed to be their 3rd best player. Two bad Finals games in a row is inexcusable.
Never been a Heat fan and never will be but Spo is easily one of the top 3 coaches in the NBA. Maybe the best.
Men look at Spo, he is so inspirational, he has always been underdog all his coaching career
Really always the underdog huh? Lol
Think you're forgetting the big three days
@@edwardking9359 lebron wanted him fired
Got destroyed by Dallas 😅😂
might want to lay off that drug
Spo is the best NBA coach today. If Miami become champion it is mainly because of him. He is like Baby Dalupan in the former PBA.
Man this Finals is a game of chess between Spo and Jokic/Malone
coach spo casually exposing players weaknesses in the finals.
Pat Riley is the master of manipulation who has handpicked a clone in spo he is so respected that Malone wouldn't even call a timeout in the final seconds cuz he knew he would be done can great coaching beat a super team we'll have to wait till see nothing like the finals
Awesome video!! Great watch ❤
Kevin love a veteran moves is the key for Heat.
Can we appreciate this compilation of MPJ lowlights as you could probably retitle the video and it would still fit perfectly
I swear, everything I thought about basketball is thrown out this year with this Heat team! As a Celtic fan I hate that they beat us but they earned it and I can't even hate, they are far from a super team but actually one of the best teams I have ever seen since they love clutch time and no one on the roster gets rattled down the stretch - which is hard to find when its every player not afraid of the moment.
Coach Spo not having a single Coach of the Year has to be some of the biggest robberies in NBA history.
He was pretty awful in the Big Three days. I remember consistently being pissed at his ignorant decisions back in the day.
I have Denver ad the heavy favorite over the Heat ans winning in 5. BUT, the Heat have been tbe most disciplined team all postseason long. And i believe Erik Spoelstea is the best Coach in all of the NBA. With those 2 components in play, as KG once said "Anything is possible!"
Na heat will win this just look at who they beat in the East.
Love content keep up
Jokic offense is Nugget's best advantage. But his defense is Heat's best chance of becoming champions.
Jokic's defense isn't as bad as the naked eye would imply. He holds those he guards to lower shooting percentages than their averages. Granted, he isn't a great defender, but I think the key for the heat is their efficiency from 3.
Wtf kcp and mpj defense was bad not jokic stop that narrative
We know you haven't watched a single nuggets playoff game
Yessir! When we don’t got games for the day, at least we got Thinking Basketball! Really unearthing the beauty of basketball for the masses!
Spo lowkey the only coach subbed to TB.
Love he’s gettin the respect he deserves- Cavs fan
If Tyler Herro does come back in game 3 don’t be shocked if that confidence n moral boost pushes Mia up 2-1
Lol not necessary he might destroy the good chemistry of the team right now
Miami likely doesn’t even need him. Denver has a 3 man deep bench just take them to deep water every game they will get tired eventually, that’s the downside to being as tall as they are. Once Jokic and Murray slow down from lack of rest they’re in trouble.
@@tjayk9127 yup I said that also the bigger you are the more oxygen you need to fuel the muscles. Plus the heat looks way faster do to being smaller. That Robinson kid is a beast.
They’ll probably over feed him to get him in rhythm and disrupt the chemistry
@@tjayk9127 Agree. Den is only playing 8 guys right now while the Heat have at least 10 guys + Herro. It's gonna be a battle of endurance and coaching adjustments. With that many players to take note of, it's gonna be harder for Malone to adjust.
I’m so happy for Vincent Strus and Duncan
I really hope the Heat win. I love good coaching
great video as someone who wants miami to win i feel good with the adjustments i just hope they continue to play well
GAME 2 ADJUSTMENT*** GREAT VID THO AS ALWAYS
I cannot express how much I appreciate the Miami Heat simply because of the dynamics. I am now a major Miami Heat fan coming from being a Dallas Mavericks fan. After the antics from Dallas and the horrible coaching of Jason Kidd, this is refreshing to see a real team playing real basketball. The Miami Heat are by far the best team in the NBA and the most underrated. These guys are a true gift to be able to witness.
I mean Mike Malone is a good coach but not calling timeout at the end there showed he didnt want Spo to draw up his D. That is a compliment and a great mental win for Spo and the Heat.
Erik spoelstra is the best coach in the 2010s till now
I love matches like these where the audiences are forced to think and read the plays from both teams. Casuals find this boring because all they want is flashy basketball.
This has been a great chess match. While denver may arguably have the better pieces...miami has tons of heart and an OG coach
hahaha classic MPJ moment at 1:27
ALL OF HIS TEAMMATES ARE WIDE OPEN AND HE IS SHOOTING WHILE TRIPLE TEAMED. THIS IS THE PEAK OF MICHEAL FCKİNG "POSSESION ENDS HERE" PORTER JR
Good point and analysis explained well👌