NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 6, 2023

Gabe Vincent

Miami Heat

Practice Day

Q. I apologize for a bit of a general question but during the soccer World Cup, many players in your position, born in Europe, decided to represent the African nation of their roots, they spoke out, the missing piece for them, it improved them as people. Do you, as players, do you feel that way?

GABE VINCENT: When I play for the National Team?

Q. Yes.

GABE VINCENT: I just feel a great sense of pride, you know, to be able to represent a country with so many people that, you know, really value how we perform and how we play. You know, I just take a lot of pride in representing them.

Q. This city, I know you've been here a couple years now, first Finals game in this city in nine years, have you fallen in love with Miami? What do you think of the city itself, the fan base, that kind of thing?

GABE VINCENT: No, I love Miami in general as a city, the people, the culture, the food, you name it. It's kind of like its own little country to be honest. It's very unique in that way.

Q. How old were you when you first played a zone defense? Do you remember --

GABE VINCENT: Wow.

Q. Do you remember how old you were, what team you were playing for and did you do it at all?

GABE VINCENT: Yeah, I'm sure I did it very young. I don't know, man, probably 10 or so. You know, basic 2-3 zone, like most kids probably.

Q. Do any of the same fundamental things that you learned back then still apply to what you guys do here?

GABE VINCENT: A little bit. I wouldn't say -- our zone isn't as traditional as many zones are, especially at this level. You've kind of got to be a little creative. But certain principles in terms of making sure you box out and rebound. It's hard to rebound in the zone.

Q. It was banned in the NBA for a long time. Are you surprised how much you guys do it? What makes it effective?

GABE VINCENT: I'm not surprised how much we do it. We're just trying to win. I think it's effective because it's different, and like I said, it's not necessarily a traditional zone that we play. You know, other teams in the NBA run a zone or will play zone, and everyone's kind of looks a little different.

It's kind of a different look regardless who you're playing against.

Q. When you guys audited the three pointers that you guys got from Game 2, what do you think they were a product of, and was there an underlying common denominator between those makes?

GABE VINCENT: I think it was just good basketball. We got the ball where it needed to go and we were able to create advantages and move the ball and find an open guy.

Q. After one of them, you might have given a look to Jamal Murray. Was that in essence, like why aren't you guarding me as close? Is that what that was about?

GABE VINCENT: I think that was just my passion talking at the moment and I was just in the moment of the game. I don't think there was anything really to it.

Q. The pocket passes have been really important to start the series, for you to get the ball to Bam and work those 4-on-3s. What have you seen in him making decisions on the 4-on-3?

GABE VINCENT: Bam's been great, his reads offensively, especially thinking about how much energy he's expending defensively, the way his mind, his brain speed has been going. I think he's been making great reads, and I think he'll continue to, whether it's a pass or shot or attack or whatever the case may be.

Q. You just said that you feel very confident in decisive moments. So, when do you feel uncomfortable?

GABE VINCENT: When I train. I try to push myself to those points of being uncomfortable to try to grow.

Q. And do you have like any special routine before each game that we or the people don't know?

GABE VINCENT: At this point that you guys don't know? Probably not. But I definitely have been meditating before each game and it's been quite helpful for me.

Q. Any of your teammates have one that you want to tell us?

GABE VINCENT: Oh, no. When we kind of get close to game time, I'm pretty locked in on my own routine, so I kind of miss what they have got going on.

Q. You guys in the fourth quarter will throw different things, on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively. A lot of teams don't do that. They don't necessarily switch up as much as you guys do. What is the mindset about being able to do that? Is it a challenge? Is it easy? What enables you guys to be so effective at switching things up in specific moments in a game?

GABE VINCENT: I think we just have the habits built for it. We have had a number of close games this season. Probably too many than we would have liked but they helped us prepare for moments like that, when we need to adjust on the fly or, you know, put in a wrinkle, and it's in a pressure situation. The more reps you have with that, the less, quote, unquote, pressure you feel, I think.

Q. The NBA discussion is very much about stars and supporting stars and supporting roles, and then you are immensely unpredictable. Nobody knows what you're going to come up with. Is that one of your strengths that the other team doesn't know who is going to score?

GABE VINCENT: Yeah, I think our depth is definitely a strength of ours, and it's been someone different pretty much every game in these playoffs in terms of our supporting cast that has a game or plays well.

All of our guys are capable, and when they get their moment, they usually step up.

Q. Would you hate to play against a team like you?

GABE VINCENT: I mean, if I had our group, I'd like our chances, regardless of who we played.

Q. We've talked ad nauseam about Heat culture in the past, but was there a moment when you just knew it was the right fit for you?

GABE VINCENT: The day I walked through the doors.

Q. Any particular reason or anything that just made you feel that?

GABE VINCENT: I think it's a lot of what the culture represents and signifies matches who I am as a person. It matches my character. So, I think it was a little easier for me to assimilate to the quote, unquote culture, and although it isn't for everybody, I think it is for me.