NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 3, 2023

Haywood Highsmith

Miami Heat

Practice Day

Q. After watching the game film, what jumped out at you about what has to change for tomorrow?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: I think from the jump we've just got to set the tone defensively. They're a big, physical team, so we know they're going to try to bully us.

We've got to stand our ground, be physical, and keep pushing the ball with pace and make it as tough as possible on the defensive end and just keep playing our game, move the ball side to side, and make good plays on offense.

Q. What do you make of the opportunity you're getting and how much do you relish it?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yes, I've waited for this opportunity to play in the NBA Finals. My story has been a whirlwind getting here, so I'm definitely grateful and blessed.

So I'm going to take advantage of my opportunity and do whatever I've got to do to help the team win.

Q. Three stints with the Delaware Blue Coats; now you're here in the NBA Finals. Do you ever think about that journey?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yeah, like I just said, my journey has been a little crazy. I went to a smaller school so I had to work my way up, but I'm glad that I'm here. Put in a lot of work, and I'm going to trust my work and continue to play my game.

Q. Jimmy said you guys need to attack the rim more. Agreed?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: For sure. We only shot two free throws that game, so we definitely need to get to the free-throw line more, attack the paint, set the tone, and then spray out from there and be more aggressive for sure.

Q. How do you disrupt their offense?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Just make it as difficult as possible. Like I said, be physical with them. They have a lot of different actions. They have a great passing big man, a lot of different guys who can score.

We've just got to be physical and communicate about different things they're doing and just keep playing hard.

Q. To have guys like Kevin Love, Udonis Haslem, what do they bring as veterans on your team?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yeah, for me I'm a younger player, so having those guys in my ear has been great for me, just learning different things. They've been in these positions before.

K Love has a ring; Udonis has three rings I'm pretty sure. So just learning from those guys can help me, help me in the long run.

Q. Are you guys discouraged after the Game 1 loss?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: No, we're not discouraged at all. This is a great basketball team. We're a great basketball team. We're going to have to compete to win this. They won Game 1, that gives us time to respond and make adjustments and go from there.

Q. How do Kevin and Udonis and Kyle's veteran styles differ? Do they speak up a lot? How does that manifest?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yeah, like I said, they've been here before. They know what it takes to win a championship. They know what it takes to win these close playoff games. They're going to have a lot of information, a lot of experience for the younger guys that we've got.

They have confidence as well. So that veteran leadership is going to be big for us for sure.

Q. What have you guys been doing to stay loose here?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Just relaxing and chilling, taking your mind off basketball, doing stuff -- our families are here. Hanging out with our families and just watching film and going from there.

For me, I've just been relaxing, doing what I normally do outside of basketball, and then when basketball comes I get back to the film and lock back in.

Q. No plans to watch the Panthers tonight?

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH: Yeah, I'm not a big hockey person. I actually did go to a Panthers game. It's pretty cool to watch. Now that you've said that, what time do they play? 6:00 here? I might watch. It's the Game 1, right, Stanley Cup? I'll probably watch that, thank you.