How did the Denver Nuggets dominate Game 1 of the NBA Finals vs. the Miami Heat? How did Nikola Jokic end up with so many assists? Why was Aaron Gordon on an early scoring spree? This film room study details Denver’s size advantage on both ends of the court, and how they were able to use cross matches in transition to create mismatches and create easy offense.

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Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.

Stats courtesy:
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https://www.basketball-reference.com
https://stats.nba.com
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Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.

Music by csus (instrumental)

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34 Comments

  1. I always thought Gordon was a borderline star even back in Orlando. Reminds me a lot of Wiggins, he just needs the right circumstances to shine. MPJ was also a high draft prospect before his back injuries so there’s definitely potential there. He used to get KD comparisons back then.

  2. MPJ is the key player to attack, he has to be in foul trouble if Miami try to create something, mostly because MPJ became a good rim protector and allows Gordon to be more flexible on the defensive end is the main focus of Malone's defense, on a different level of the Lakers, Gordon is Hachimura and MPJ is AD, job wise at least, at the same time Gordon is so much better, so MPJ doesn't actually have to be good he just need to be a threat and Gordon can take care of the rest, this balance has to break, I just don't know if Miami can, their roster is just so not built for this.

  3. I'm rooting for Miami, but old school post up possession basketball will always shit on 3 point money ball any day.

  4. Miami really needs a tall center. Bam is more of a power forward that needs to be at the 4.

  5. Question, did the Nuggets actually let Bam run the offense? Because it felt like they'd rather let Bam do the heavy lifting rather than Jimmy who is known for great takeovers the whole playoffs this year? They weren't doubling or crashing on Bam even though he became hot early on.

  6. Oh hey, new series, new opportunity for "Thinking Basketball" to overreact to a game 1. Remember the genius Hachimura vid two weeks ago? Hindsight is 20-20. If this channel was so clever shouldn't they predict how Miami will adjust next game?

  7. yea, heat have no chance. You can't beat a team that has this many mismatches at so many different positions and capitalizes on them in this manner. The Heat can only win this series with hot shooting or if Himmy goes super saiyan

  8. Do you think Jimmy saying that they were going to share responsibility on Jokic let Jokic know ahead of time to find open man as 1st option.

  9. I don't think people realise how big Jokic is. He's too big.
    I don't think how big Aaron Gordon is.
    He's huge.
    Miami on the other hand, are bigger than average, but not as big as Jokic or Gordon.
    Size matters.

  10. Honestly, Giannis is the only matchup that would allow not double teaming. Bam is going to have to play him straight to win unless Denver’s supporting cast goes cold I don’t see them losing

  11. Its looking over for the miami heat, they have no answer against Jokic and Nugget's size disparity

  12. It's great to see players from both sides being knocked on the floor and getting up as fast as they can without complaining. No flopping! It would have been disgustingly different if the Flopping King were present.

  13. Steph re-defined the game by hitting insane 3's. Jokic is bringing the game back to the post by being so versatile. It's so fun to watch.

  14. Aaron Gordon winning the chip will more than make up for being robbed of all those dunk contests he should have won.

  15. Dawg, I love your vids. But you gotta do s/t about those photoshop-filter thumbnails, that is a desecration of Aaron Gordon's likeness oh my god what is that.

  16. Jokic is looking too comfortable in the 1 and 1 vs the Miami dwarfs… This game is just a training… Jokic will put 45 next game.

  17. I gotta be honest man, I don't think there's anything the Heat can do to win the Finals. Jimmy gotta go crazy or Erik Spoelstra gotta have some crazy game plan.

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