After the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, there are a few key takeaways for Game 2.
- The Nuggets need to continue to get contributions from their role players. In Game 1, several Nuggets role players stepped up, including Will Barton, Monte Morris, and Jeff Green. The Nuggets will need to get similar contributions from these players in Game 2 if they want to win.
- The Heat need to find a way to slow down Nikola Jokic. Jokic was dominant in Game 1, scoring 35 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. The Heat need to find a way to limit Jokic’s touches and force him to make tough shots.
- The Heat need to get their offense going. The Heat shot just 40% from the field in Game 1. They will need to improve their shooting if they want to win Game 2.
The Nuggets are the slight favorites to win Game 2. However, the Heat have shown that they are a resilient team and they will not give up easily. The game should be close and it should be a good one.
Here are some additional thoughts on the game:
- The Nuggets were able to take advantage of the Heat’s size advantage. The Nuggets have a number of big men who can score inside, and they were able to use their size to their advantage in Game 1.
- The Heat were unable to get their transition game going. The Heat are a fast-paced team, but they were not able to get out in transition in Game 1. This was a big factor in the Nuggets’ victory.
- The Heat need to find a way to get Jimmy Butler going. Butler was held to just 12 points in Game 1. The Heat need their star player to be more aggressive if they want to win the series.
Overall, it was a very close game. The Nuggets were able to make some key plays down the stretch to win the game. The Heat will need to make some adjustments if they want to win Game 2.