NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 4, 2023

Duncan Robinson

Miami Heat

Game 2: Postgame

Miami Heat 111, Denver Nuggets 108

Q. Duncan, Coach was saying it's hard to overstate how difficult Bam's responsibilities are in this series. Curious, what has he meant for you guys and you specifically as a playmaker?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, I mean, Bam is the heart and soul of what we are doing at both ends. Sets the tone for us defensively with his versatility, and just making it difficult, usually on a team's best player, a lot of times, especially in this series.

And then offensively, you know, he does a lot. Gets people open. A lot of stuff that doesn't show up in box scores: screens, assists, all that sort of stuff.

And also when he's aggressive, it's usually when we're at our best. He's been huge.

Q. It looked like early in the second quarter they were blowing up your bread-and-butter action to Bam, and then it flipped in the fourth. What changed with your pick-and-roll and head-up actions with Bam to let you get free?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, first off, just kind of having an approach and a disposition to not kind of just let them take me out of what we're trying to do. So that's a start.

And also, just kind of doing it with a brain, as well, and, you know, not just going out there mindlessly and just trying to run off a hand-off; but instead being a little more patient, a little more thoughtful with it.

So was able to get open in large part because of good screens and good passing.

Q. Do you remember anything specific that was said in the huddle going into the fourth? You guys have lived in that situation all year, having to pull games out late. It's like second nature for you guys. Was there anything special about that huddle, or was it just more of the same because it's kind of the story of your year?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, nothing that really sticks out. We got a lot of belief as a group. And to be honest, we liked the flow of the game and how it was going. And the fact that it was -- we felt like at times we really had it on our terms and we're kind of making it difficult for them. You know, that's important.

But we knew they were a really good team, and we just needed to come out with a sense of urgency in that fourth. It was kind of like a now or never sort of thing. Started with the defense, obviously, and we were able to do some things from there.

Q. You mentioned sort of your patience moving off the ball. Curious if you can take us through that play? I think you finished through Jeff Green and had contact, that cut, to that right side of the basket. What are you seeing there? Is that something that comes through the patience that you are seeing things open up as the play develops?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, just not always running to the ball. Just trying to be a little more creative. Something I've been working on for a little while now. It's a development thing. It's taken time to get to that point.

But, you know, it makes it easier when you have got guys that can find you in those situations because the cut is one thing, but the pass is really what makes it.

Q. You didn't take a shot through three quarters, and you had a stretch in the fourth where you couldn't miss. Did you find your rhythm there, or can you take us through that little stretch you had to kind of get this team back on track?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, I mean, to be honest, I had not done much in the first game; and then the first half of this game, we talk a lot about trying not to have empty minutes.

So just trying to play with a certain level of aggressiveness on offense just to at least be out there and have my presence felt.

Obviously, it helps when the ball goes in, which you can't always control. But, you know, just really about taking the right shots and just being aggressive.

Q. Max Strus also had a tough Game 1. He comes out and makes a few big threes early. How encouraging was that for the team, and can seeing one guy get going be contagious for the rest of the roster?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, for sure. You know, Max coming out like that was huge. And to be honest with you, we expected it. We know how great of a shooter he is. And, you know, when he came out and hit those shots early, I think it settled everyone a little bit. And from there, it's just about continuing to chip away.

So we've got a lot of belief in everybody that can step up and make shots.

Q. After you went on that run in the fourth quarter when you got the bucket just before the time-out, a little flex, pretty impressive mean mug there. What's going through your mind? What are you feeling at the moment?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: I surprised myself with the fact that I pulled that one out. That was not premeditated at all. That was a spur-of-the-moment thing.

To be honest, I don't get a lot of moments in the season to break that one out; so when you get one, you've got to try to take advantage of it, I guess.

Mostly just try to play with a certain level of joy. I feel like I play my best when I'm having fun, and I'm always going to try to be respectful with it but having fun and enjoying just this stage. This is an incredible stage to be on as a player. That is when you dream about, so it doesn't make any sense to get here and not enjoy it.

Q. Just to follow on that question, with everything you've dealt with the last couple years, in and out of the rotation, maybe confidence at times, how gratifying it and how much of the emotion we've seen from you is a result of that and contributing on this stage?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: It's certainly gratifying. Gives you a newfound perspective and appreciation just for opportunity and this journey, understanding that you kind of go through stretches where you're going to have challenges and you're going to have to deal with adversity and overcome it. It's not always storybook in that sense and you don't always get when you want, and just kind of learning how to deal with that and push through that, I think obviously it makes moments like this more enjoyable but I think it also just makes you more grateful to have opportunities on this stage. Try not to take it for granted and yeah, you know, just go out there and enjoy myself and have fun and try to help this team win games.

Q. You mentioned your struggles in the first game of the series. Did a lot of that have to do with the physicality Christian Braun was showing on the other side, and going off that, how did you adjust? Was it about the mental aspect that allowed you to adjust during the fourth quarter?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, he's a really good defender. Comes in and sets the tone with his speed and physicality.

There's going to be adjustments both ways. As an offensive player, you have to adapt, and he's got to do the same.

So just kind of continuing to learn and grow as you kind of gain experience throughout the series, but at the same time, always try to fall on the side of being aggressive and flying up at things and making shots because that's what my team needs me to do.