Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic are proving to be league’s deadliest duo in NBA Finals
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray’s gravity opens up room for their teammates
The actions with Murray and Jokic are so deadly that they attract opponents’ attention, opening up opportunities for their teammates to be open, whether that be on a cut or for an open three.
Take this play, for example.
The Nuggets quickly get into their offense (see the shot clock) after a rebound from a Miami miss. They flow into double drag with Murray as the ball-handler and Porter Jr. and Jokic as screeners, and the Heat contains this action well with Butler navigating the screens and staying on Murray’s hip. They kick to Jokic.
Meanwhile, Gordon has the smaller Vincent on him and cuts to find position in the post. This kick to Jokic brings Zeller out of the paint, and it’s a wide-open paint for the physically dominant Gordon to get a layup. It’s a spectacular pass by Jokic to put it right where only Gordon can get it. Now, watch this one.
The Heat’s zone has been incredibly effective throughout the post-season and is one of the larger reasons that the Heat were able to defeat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, entering the series, discussions about if the Heat could even run the zone against Jokic and the Nuggets because of their personnel, mainly Jokic, to bust the zone.
Still, the Heat went to the zone late in Game 1 even with Jokic on the floor. Jokic slips a screen and flows into open space in the middle of the floor, the exact place an offensive player needs to be to break the zone. Once the ball gets to Jokic in this spot, it’s over. He’s too talented as a shot-maker and passer to be stopped with the numbers advantage.
Duncan Robinson fails to rotate down to stop Jeff Green’s cut, allowing for a wide-open dunk. Even if he did rotate all the way down, look at Bruce Brown on the left side of the floor. He would have a wide-open three. This is just an awesome pass from Jokic to find the cutting Green while congested in traffic. This play right here is exactly why Miami’s zone isn’t super viable versus the Nuggets.
Next. 3 Series-defining takeaways from Game 1 of the NBA Finals. dark
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, man. They just break and bend defenses together in ways that have been seen only a few times through NBA history. They are three wins away from becoming NBA champions.