NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 6, 2023

Aaron Gordon

Denver Nuggets

Practice Day

Q. You played in this arena quite a bit when you were with the Magic. This arena, from a noise and ambiance standpoint, where does it rank in the NBA?

AARON GORDON: It's up there, man. It's top five. It gets rocking.

Q. You played here as a visitor but any cool moments that stick out about this arena in the past, watching games here or whatever?

AARON GORDON: I mean, you know, watching D-Wade go through his run. Watching Bronny and them go through their run. There was some iconic moments. Ray Ray [Allen] hitting a trey, yeah.

Q. How are you feeling after postgame the other night when you weren't feeling well? What's your confidence level in this team's ability to bounce back? What makes you confident that you guys will bounce back from how you played in Game 2?

AARON GORDON: Definitely feeling a little bit better. A little under the weather towards the end of that last game. Feeling better now.

I'm extremely confident in this group of guys that have bounced back all year long. We do a good job correcting and making adjustments, and I'm excited to play.

Q. How does it feel come back to Florida? It's not Orlando but it's Florida. Did you see some friends? What's the reception?

AARON GORDON: Yeah, a lot of my friends from Orlando they are going to drive down and come to the game. That's nice. Florida almost feels like a second home to me. So, it's nice to be back.

Q. Butler has been able to find open teammates behind the three-point line in the first two games of this series. Do you feel like you're over-helping as a team, particularly when he's isolated on the wing?

AARON GORDON: No, I feel like we've had some breakdowns that are uncharacteristic of us. So, we went through film today and cleaned up some of those breakdowns, and I think it will be a different outcome.

Q. Michael [Porter Jr.] mentioned that the Heat are playing off of your coverages, where he said they will hear what you guys are doing and then do the opposite and play right into it. With the amount of actions that they are running and the amount of actions that you guys run, is there a mirror image thing going on here, and how hard does it make it on you guys to defend everything going on and with the multiple efforts?

AARON GORDON: It's a really smart ballclub. They read the game very well. They have guys that can do a multitude of things. I mean, yeah, they make you play for an entire 24 and they make you play through 48 minutes a game. That's not usually -- that's not typical for an NBA team.

Just guarding, guarding through the entire shot clock and guarding through the entire game is going to be really important.

Q. Coach Malone mentioned the film session this morning was pretty honest. At this stage of the game, how vital is honesty and accountability and getting out of everybody's way?

AARON GORDON: It's important. You've got to call a spade a spade. You've got to call it like you see it. It's the only way you're going to get better and only way you're going to make the necessary adjustments. It's about taking accountability, looking inward first and moving from there.

Q. When you say "looking inward," what has the last couple days looked like, assuming you were feeling well enough to look inward?

AARON GORDON: I could have been better on defense. Not breaking down. Not letting -- you know, just sticking to the game plan a little bit better as far as like rejects or switching or low man or just the game plan discipline, knowing the personnel. Just where I can be better in that area and start there.

Q. Do you have some routine, because of taboo or superstition, you do before each game that you want to share with us?

AARON GORDON: Yeah, I kiss my jersey. I kiss the front of my jersey, and the back of my jersey. I kiss -- I'm thankful for the organization and just thankful for my family as well.