NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 6, 2023

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Denver Nuggets

Practice Day

Q. The last two press conferences of Coach Malone, he was a little frustrated with the intensity of the guys that closed the game, especially in the first game and came back for the second game. Can you comment on his frustration?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: I understand it, I would say. I wasn't pleased with Game 2 as well. The way we came out, energy and our effort, we can be a lot better. I know we can be a lot better. I've seen it, and like you say, it was different from Game 1 to Game 2. Game 1, our intensity was through the roof and in Game 2, it was nowhere to be found.

I understand where he was coming from.

Q. Were you offended by what Coach said, or it's part of the game?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: We wasn't offended. As our coach, he sees on the court the effort we put out. So for me as players, I could feel that. Our effort and energy wasn't there Game 2, even though we lost by three. We didn't play at our best, and I know we can be better.

Q. I know you can't give the secret game plan adjustments, but do you watch the film? You're here and practicing, and do you feel like you're going to be on the same page now?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: We are always on the same page. We just had a little slippage in Game 2 where our miscommunication or our communication was bad. So we just got to be a little better in areas and be locked in.

Q. After Game 1, Malone said that he wasn't super happy with your perimeter defense as a team. They had open looks and just didn't knock some of them down. It seemed like maybe it came back to get you in Game 2. Was there any consistency between those two games that you saw that you guys can fix in terms of defending the three?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: I would say just be a little bit more aggressive, and I know they got the same amount of open shots they got Game 1 and Game 2, but Game 2, they knocked them down, so just -- I feel like be a little bit more aggressive and try to limit them threes.

Q. Jimmy can read so many situations, able to read the floor, what is your concern level?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: Not too concerned. Got to be solid. Stay in front of Jimmy. We know he's a great play-maker and great scorer. Just got to be solid and give him different looks and be aggressive. Just get the ball out of his hands, whatever it takes. Do my job for my team.

Q. The Heat are shooting 47 percent from their wings and they shoot 48 uncontested threes. How much of what you saw in Game 1 and 2 is maybe not overreacting heading back here to Miami. How do you gauge the three-point shooting that they have had when you're contesting and the defense you've played?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: They have been the No. 1 three-point shooting team in the playoffs. They have got great shooters on their team. For us, we've just got to limit the shot attempts and try to not let them see the ball go in the basket.