Posted: 2023-06-03 07:57:26 (CT) [ 510 views ]
Defense was the key to the game. Made it tough on both teams. No easy walk away win there! Denver 94 Miami 89
Game 5 in Denver
I would expect a little adjustment again in three-point shooting in Denver, mostly by Miami, of course. However, Miami has more to do than shoot well to beat this team, as most everyone knows. But the toughest part for Miami is to do that again, and then again!
Games 3 & 4
Many have predicted that the series will end in 5 games by Denver. Games 3 and 4 proved that Miami has a tough row to hoe. At this point both teams are familiar with the issues that the opponents venue creates for them. Transitioning to Miami from Denver caused some issues, but Denver overcame those issues with their defense, rebounding and assist barages.
Game 2
As I warned you, game 2 was pretty much what the Nuggets should have been concerned about and Miami's three-pointers were the big difference.
So, now the scenario switches to Miami for game 3, where the Nuggets are not as familiar (shots will fall a little short in the beginning) with the distance the ball will travel on their longer shots. Miami's shooting should be better than in their first game in Denver since they are at home, and Denver has transitioned to many sea level locations during the regular season, so they may make that adjustment quickly. Since Denver will have had a couple shoot-arounds they may be able to compete in the 2nd half with the three.
Of course Denver's game is not as dependent on the three as are some teams, so they may surprise, especially by the 2nd game in Miami.
Game 1
Miami was 0-6 vs. Denver coming into Game 1 at Ball Arena. No one gave Miami much of a chance in this game and it transpired just that way.
As many of you know, I speak for altitudinal issues a little differently than most. So, here's my take.
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In the first half, Miami was actually shooting from three-point range very long and when they noticed it tried to adjust only to come up short a few times, even on some shorter shots. That had to be personally frustrating for the Heat. They got behind and by the second half, needed to try to hit some threes in order to catch up to the Nuggets who were just doing their thing.
In the second half, the bench started hitting some threes, but not the starters. My take on this is that the bench does not get as set in their shooting touch as do the starters. So, the bench gets maybe a little better feel for the three during shoot arounds, and then when they enter the game, do not have frustration from already having missed too many shots.
The Heat really needed someone to get hot and it turned out not to be the starters. However, the game was pretty well out-of-hand, so Miami did not ever get close enough to put real pressure on the Nuggets. Denver was never in a position to depend on threes, which is a nice way to play the game and they have the personel to do that.
So Game 2 might go a little differently, in that Miami (now 0-7 at Denver) not only has shoot arounds prior to Game 1 in their experience, but also shoot arounds for two days prior to Sunday's game. So, warm-ups will be about the 5th or 6th time the Heat are exposed to shooting longer on threes and the entire team is now focused on three-point shooting.
Altitude physiology (see Science on this website) will still be in play to cause Miami's players to feel the effects. Denver is a uniquely built team and should not feel the effects much anyway, so Game 2 may go the same, but I would not be so certain of that.
