DENVER — Kumpiyansa ang Miami na mag-iinit ang Heat kontra Denver Nuggets sa Game 2 ng NBA Finals.
Dinomina ng Nuggets ang Game 1, 104-93, sa best-of-seven series noong Huwebes, kung saan lumabo ang tsansa ng Miami dahil sa kawalan nila ng kakayahan na maipasok ang kanilang mga tira — kabilang ang 33.3% success rate mula sa three-point range.
Si Max Strus ay 0-for-10 mula sa field, habang si Caleb Martin ay 1-of-7 at si Duncan Robinson ay 1-of-6.
Subalit sinabi ni Heat talisman Jimmy Butler — na nalimitahan din sa 13 points — na may simpleng mensahe siya para sa teammates, na gumanap ng key role upang ang Miami ay maging ikalawang eighth-seeded team na umabante sa NBA Finals.
“Stay aggressive, because you’ve been the reason that we have won so many games before,” sabi ni Butler noong Sabado habang nag-eensayo ang koponan sa Denver bilang paghahanda para sa laro sa Linggo (Lunes sa Manila).
“You are going to be the reason that we win games now. and that’s never going to change.”
Sama-samang sumang-ayon ang Heat — matapos ang pagkatalo noong Huwebes at pag-aralan ang game video — na marami silang magandang pagkakataon sa Game 1.
“We did see some things that we liked and we got some great looks, myself included,” ani Strus. “We’ve got to knock those down, and we’ve got great shooters on our team, and we will knock those down.”
Sinabi ni Heat coach Erik Spoelstra na hindi mahirap na gawin itong posible.
“In terms of the shooters, that’s pretty simple,” sabi ni Spoelstra. “Let it fly. Ignite.
“Once they see two go down, it could be three, it could turn into six just like that,” he added with a snap of his fingers. “As long as we are getting those clean looks, that’s what matters.”
Ayon kay Butler, may iba pang adjustments na gagawin matapos ang Game 1 kung saan dalawang beses lamang nagtungo sa free-throw line ang Heat — isang record low para sa isang NBA playoff game.
“I think I’ve got to be more aggressive putting pressure on the rim,” he said. “I think that makes everybody’s job a lot easier.”
