INSIDE THE NBA | "Nikola Jokic is KING of Finals" - Shaq claims Nuggets will beat Heat in Game 2

Finals media availability, you know what that means you get to hear from players from coaches as we get you ready to take in game 2 of the NBA finals which will be tomorrow night G a we have a guest. But just quickly your thoughts as we head into the media sessions, what do you think that you get from players and coaches today, well, I'm always interested to hear from a coaching standpoint and a player standpoint, the adjustments what they need to be better at and particularly you feel that way about the team that loses right so I'm really anxious to hear from from Spohr and from Butler and these guys in terms of what they felt cost them that game and then would never let's see how they can use what happened in that 4th quarter to get them ready for game 2 because they were dominant in that. Yes, well, I mentioned we have a guest it's time now to bring him in our very own Jerry Greenberg we're so excited that you're here with us, I see you're right in the thick of things as usual Jerry, how are you doing. Great Stephanie how you guys do it we're doing great. Thank you for taking time out to join us let's start off with the Miami Heat as you just heard you talk about that's where I think people have the most interest they want to see how will they rebound from that loss in game one what is the Heat mindset hit it into game 2. Yeah, I don't think this team gets rattled although they are used to winning game ones. I think the biggest thing right now is making some open shots, but with all the bad 3 point shooting they had they were still a plus 15 from the 3 point line in game one over Denver so neither team had a particularly good night, but Colts post is saying after the game, we've got a bunch of ignitable guys and once they get going it's like an avalanche they certainly expect the mouse Max truces the Duncan Robinson's even Jimmy Butler to get going from the outside, but I think the more concerning issue for the Heat that you will see a major adjustment was the fact that they were a minus 14 at the free throw line stemming mostly from the fact that Miami only took 2 free throws the entire game. Now them out of bio said he didn't want to comment about it because he didn't want to get fined not confirmed from the league them out of I certainly will not be getting fined for his comments that he made after game one the bigger thing has to be guys like Jimmy Butler playing downhill because Denver really doesn't have true rim protectors you've got to challenge the Nuggets at the rim and I would expect will do that I also think that there's a chance we see Kevin love in game 2 for his 3 point presence, his help along with somebody else may help them get going from the outside. Well you mentioned we might see more of Kevin love, I'm curious I guess has there been any updates on the status of Tyler hero for the Heat. So no official word yet on Tyler hero who again has been out for almost 2 months in the thought process back when he first broke his hand was well, there's no way we're going to see him again because how in the world is the HC can ever reach the NBA finals well here we are and here's the opportunity what's going to happen is what I've learned is going to happen today is that after the Denver Nuggets practice and do media availability will then have media availability with the Miami Heat at that time I will anticipate Eric Spolster saying he will not have an update on Tyler hero until tomorrow, the reason for that is because once the media clears out of this arena this afternoon, Tyler hero will be a part of the Miami Heat practice. The coaches the medical staff will evaluate him we'll talk with him and decide whether they can whether he can give it a go tomorrow night in game 2 or if they will hold off for game 3 in Miami. That makes perfect sense. I thought you're going to say spell wasn't going to give you an update just because he's fell, but I understand where you're going. That's that's a good point to yeah. All right so now on the other side, yeah, he'll catch he's been nothing short of amazing, but how is he able to be so impactful when he does not get a ton of FDA's he still dominates the game. Yeah, I Stephanie I think this was the most amazing part of game one and this is you know if you're a Miami fan, you're saying okay, we can't have a worse shooting night. But you could also say Nicolai Oakes could be a whole lot better even in his brilliant performance, he had game one. He only had a few a handful of shots in the first half and only 12 in the game is there another team in the NBA that has their superstar focal point of their offense only take 12 shots and they could get what felt like a dominant win. I don't know if there is and the problem with yoke it if you're trying to come up with schemes and adjustments is that if you want to take away the others and not let him have those passing lanes then find he's perfectly capable of taking 2025 shots and lighting you up for 40 or 50 points. He is the ultimate Swift foot Swiss Army knife and he's so unselfish that he doesn't care if he's not scoring as long as his team is winning. Love that that's why he is such a likable superstar Jared Greenberg thank you so much for your time we always appreciate your insight. Thanks that we will speak to you throughout the show will have Duncan Robinson and Aaron Gordon live with us here in the stands in a few moments. Love that we're looking forward to that and people at home make sure you take notes, he heard what Jared said he's going to have guests as we continue through this finals media availability here on NBA TV all right. Greg Anthony. We're getting ready for game 2. Yes. You have to start with the heat in my opinion because they're the losers what has to change for them to be on the victor side. A couple things I think it has to start with their best player Jimmy Butler I think he's going to have to have far more of an impact on this game. I think he's going to have to be far more aggressive. He's a guy that typically gets to the free throw line about 8 times a game didn't attempt one in game one. That has to happen. Secondly, I think three-point shooting and that's an area where the heat have really excelled in the postseason and that's where three-point shot. I mean, you can check the weather, you know, maybe take a dribble or two and like that didn't have any chance of going in and so they three guys that have been so terrific for them. When you think about Caleb Martin, Max Bruce and Duncan Robson, a lot of people voted for Caleb Martin to be the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals. That's how good he was in game one. I think Caleb Martin and Max Bruce also terrific and Duncan Robson has found his touch as well. But you see what they did in game one. I don't care who you are. You're not going to have any chance in this series even be competitive if you're having that type of a performance from that supporting cast. So that's the other area that has got to change. And if you look at it, Miami also look, they were good enough on the backboard. They're minus 200 in rebound and that's not going to kill you. They did a good job of taking care of the basketball on the road. So if the free throw line, the three-point shooting and Jimmy Butler can raise their level. I would think they're going to feel good about having the opportunity to even this series up because as great as we talk about Denver, they scored a hundred and three. I think that's the second lowest point total. They've had this postseason. Now in fairness, they were up big after three quarters, but still that's a number that if you're Miami, you have to feel like we should be competitive and be able to win games. If we can keep them around at one Oh five point margin, uh, one, one 10, maybe they should have some success. I mean, those numbers that you talked about 9% shooting. I mean, 12% shooting from behind the arc. That's not going to get it done at all. No, I hope it's that easy, right? That it's just a matter of making shots, but I always wonder, is that by design for the Denver's defense, that they are allowing certain guys to take certain shots because they know that their odds are, are better. Well, no, the thing about good defense and good teams, you don't ever want to give open shots and, and you might have a philosophy of saying these are shots we want to give up that, that absolutely can happen. But the reality is with this Miami Heat team, the one thing that's allowed them to get to the finals has been the three point shooting. We know they're going to take care of the ball. We know they don't beat themselves. They're going to try to control T tempo, but the three point shooting has really what's kind of elevated them. And so from Denver standpoint, that will be a point of, of conversation for them as they prepare for game two. And they got to also feel like we can be a lot better offensive. You know, we talked about, uh, Jokic only taking the 12 shots. He got to the free throw line 10 times though. And also because of how they were able to control the game, he didn't have to take a lot of shots early. Aaron Gordon had 10 points in that first quarter. I think Jamal Murray had 12 in the second or, you know, they got contributions from a multitude of guys and he was just able to kind of just play. And so we'll see how they come out in game too. But if you're the Denver