NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 6, 2023

Max Strus

Miami Heat

Practice Day

Q. Max, this is the first NBA Finals game in Miami in nine years. You've been here a few years now. Just curious about the city; is there anything you've fallen in love with?

MAX STRUS: I love it here. Walking outside every day, the weather is phenomenal. But I will say, the fan support we've had during this playoff run has been huge. They have been phenomenal. They have shown up every single night we've been home and even when we're on the road, we've seen the videos of families, fans, walking the streets, banging pots and pans every time we win.

It's pretty special to feel that love from them and can't wait to play in front of them tomorrow night.

Q. What is your own process after a disappointing shooting game to come to the next game so sharp?

MAX STRUS: Keep shooting. I've worked too hard to give up on myself at this point. I've missed a lot of shots in my life and career. I'm not going to let that stop me from shooting and doing what I do. I get paid to do this and I do this for a living. So, I'm going to keep shooting every time I'm open.

Q. I was going to ask you about Jimmy seeing the attention throughout the series. Do you think it's similar to the series against New York where you got open on some slots in the corners, is it similar in a way to that series?

MAX STRUS: For sure. The way they defend is similar to New York. I think we can still do a better job of attacking, but yeah, I would say it's going to be similar. Similar shots, similar execution on their end of just how they guard.

Q. A lot of what you do on offense and defense, you run different actions and different sets and you introduce zone. What is the type of preparation like for you as an NBA player to be able to do that in these specific situations? Is that mostly communication from Spo? What goes into being able to change things as much as you guys do in specific instances?

MAX STRUS: 82 regular game season. We have ran every defense. We have ran every scheme. Spo does a great job preparing us all year to be ready for situations like this, to be able to switch in a timeout, switch a scheme, switch a defense. We have ran every single defense with every single lineup this entire season.

So, it's nothing new to any of us and we are ready to be plugged in at any point.

Q. You've probably seen the stat about Pat [Riley] having been involved in a quarter of all Finals as a player, coach or executive. What's your interaction with him? Is there something he typically tells you when he sees you?

MAX STRUS: He just tells me to be me. Love Pat. Love having him around. He's here every single day, and just being able to learn from him. And like you said, he's just been through so much experience in these type of environments, so nothing seems to really faze him.

Just learning from him and watch how he reacts and how he carries himself is enough in itself.

Q. Without revealing what it is, is there anything over the course of your time that he's noticed about your game from a mechanical or technical standpoint where he's given you a tip or advice?

MAX STRUS: Not really. Just defending and rebounding is really all he cares about. He's told me to rebound more a couple times, but he lets me play and lets us do our thing and trusts us that with our ability on the court that we are going to do what's best for the team.

Q. You guys talk about the importance of Bam and seeing him in the series, dealing with Jokic and doing what he's doing offensively. Have you been impressed, even more so with the way he's doing it at this level?

MAX STRUS: I wouldn't say I've been impressed. Bam is just being Bam. Bam is an All-Star. Bam is an unbelievable player. One of the best big men in the NBA and we are lucky to have him on our team.

His ability to guard at that level, one through five, it's special. It's unique and you know, he's been carrying us and he's going to continue to do that and keep playing at a high level.

Q. I know we've written about Heat culture, but was there a moment where you knew, hey, this is the right system, the right fit for me, right culture for me when you got here?

MAX STRUS: Yeah, I think my first day. Just kind of how we go about our business, how they trust in the work, they trust in people preparing themselves and putting in work behind closed doors. That's everything I've done in my career to get to where I am. Continue to work hard through all the ups and downs and keep pushing. That's really it, and they really strive on that here and push you to work harder, and I've just been built like that.

So, you know, ever since the first day I got here, I've just felt a special connection and a strong love for this organization.

Q. This is not about any outside noise, but I am curious, has the talent do you think in your room been underestimated overall? Is this group of players simply more talented than what public perception is?

MAX STRUS: Yes.

Q. And can you expand?

MAX STRUS: I mean, I think we keep backing it up. We keep showing and proving ourselves over and over again. Even when people don't do it themselves.

So, we believe in each other. We believe in ourselves, and that's really all that matters to us.