NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 6, 2023

Jeff Green

Denver Nuggets

Practice Day

Q. Just talk about any sort of adjustments you guys have to make for next game.

JEFF GREEN: I think we just have to play harder, truth be told, play harder and be more disciplined, and I think that'll put us in a better spot to win the game.

Q. What did you eat for breakfast?

JEFF GREEN: I had some Nutella French toast, some good ol' eggs and cheese, and some bacon.

Q. Tell me about your game day meal.

JEFF GREEN: That's private, man. I can't give out all my secrets. No, but today has been a great day. I'm here.

Q. Kevin Ollie, joining the Nets staff. You've got a lot of history with him. What do you think he brings?

JEFF GREEN: Man, leadership, great leadership qualities. I had him as a vet when I was in OKC, and obviously with his connection through UConn, we always had great stories to go back and forth.

With his leadership, his poise, his ability to communicate with people, it's amazing. I think he'll be a perfect fit, especially with the young guys that they have there now.

I think he'll be able to get to them, to have good conversation with them, to get them to do what's necessary for them to turn the corner on that.

Q. As accomplished as he has been at the college level, is a part of you as excited as he is to have him as an addition to the NBA?

JEFF GREEN: I think people always try to say that coaching isn't equal, but it's basketball at the end of the day. But it's all about being able to communicate and have a relationship with your players, and obviously he's had great success in doing that.

Q. What's your concern level when Jimmy is isolating and guys are able to shrink the floor? What are you trying to accomplish there?

JEFF GREEN: I think at the end of the day it's about him making the tough shot, or when he is probing and trying to make a play for his teammates that we are aware of where his team is.

Jimmy is a threat, regardless where he's at, whether he has the ball or not. He's been playing amazing these Playoffs, and whenever he has the ball or doesn't, we have to be aware of where he's at because he's able to make plays in different ways.

Q. Of course you guys play with intensity, but even the first game it was tough to close it out in the fourth quarter. They scored 30 points and shot 60 percent, and same thing happened in the fourth quarter. Can you tell me what happens in the fourth quarter for you guys?

JEFF GREEN: We let our guard down. Our defensive presence wasn't there, especially Game 2. We allowed them to get a groove. They found things that worked for them and we didn't adjust and we didn't make plays on the defensive end to get us out on offense to try to get us easy scores.

Q. It's been a long journey this season. How do you recuperate?

JEFF GREEN: When the time comes. You know, lately we've had two days in between games, so that's been a time where I've just been able to get away from basketball, being around my family. I've had family come into town, my kids, my wife, and that's my opportunity to free the mind and relax a little bit and to just disengage from basketball.

That's been my way of recuperating the body and the mind from basketball and this long journey that we've been on.