NBA Finals: 3 adjustments the Miami Heat need to make for Game 2

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 01: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 01, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

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DENVER, COLORADO – JUNE 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets passes over Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the second quarter in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 01, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

2. Pick Your Jokic Poison

The Heat’s defensive strategy against the Nuggets showed all the signs of a team trying to figure out which poison pill would take them out the slowest. With Miami choosing to take the full dose of everything authored by Nikola Jokic. The result was a 27-point, 10 rebound, 14 assist game to follow in the footsteps of Jason Kidd with an NBA Finals debuting triple-double.

So, should the Heat treat Jokic like Kidd? Meaning, would it be more beneficial to let the center get his in order to disrupt Denver’s flow?

For instance, Jokic is more than capable of going for 50-plus points. Nevertheless, he cannot be allowed to score, board and get others into a rhythm. Double doubles are survivable but assists leading to triple-doubles will always result in a Heat loss.

If Jokic is allowed to go off and just score, his passing capabilities are not being utilized to rope teammates into a flow. Hopefully, for the Miami, forcing Denver’s others to press to get their own. Because everything else is an uphill battle if all the Nuggets are getting involved.

The only way around that team effort includes less double teams on Jokic, more fighting over the pick-and-roll instead of hedging and eliminating the switches that leave Gabe Vincent mismatched against oversized wings.

A defensive shift will not stop Jokic but will be the only hope to neutralize the big man from doing it all.

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