NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 8, 2023

Gabe Vincent

Miami Heat

Practice Day

Q. Did you feel they did anything differently as far as taking away the three-point line a little more than the first two games?

GABE VINCENT: I think they competed really hard on both ends of the floor. Credit to them. Credit to the way they came out and fought. I think we had a slight lack of intention, a slight lack of spacing probably that we could do a little better on our part. They competed really well.

Q. Did you notice them doing anything differently in terms of maybe shading one way or the other to try to take away that pocket pass to Bam?

GABE VINCENT: Not really. That's pretty much their system, the way they guard. They usually pull guys into the paint, make things difficult. They're a really good team for a reason. They force you to play a certain way. We just got to be a little more intentional.

Q. What have you noticed from Spo in terms of what he's telling you guys after great shooting nights, off shooting nights? What is his message to the team?

GABE VINCENT: I'd say the message is pretty similar. We're not going to get too high or too low. Things are going to be difficult. We just got to continue to stay the course.

Q. Not a basketball question. Are you a soccer fan?

GABE VINCENT: I'd say so, yeah.

Q. Were you surprised when you heard the Messi news? What do you feel like that means for the city and the community?

GABE VINCENT: Yeah, I wasn't really surprised. I think I heard whispers about it a couple years ago, a few years ago. You hear a lot of things. Often, they don't always come to fruition.

I think it was a great move on his part. From what I saw about the deal, it looks like it was a no-brainer deal, decision to make. I'm happy for him and his family. Hopefully they bring some good soccer to Inter Miami.

Q. They played Jamal into a lot of ball screens. What kind of challenge does that pose to you guys as a defense?

GABE VINCENT: Yeah, I mean, Jokic is a pretty good screener. He typically makes contact with the primary defender pretty well. Jamal can score in a number of ways. He puts pressure on guys immensely.

They're a dynamic duo. We got to bring our best effort.

Q. You've haven’t fallen behind in a series in these playoffs. What is the mindset right now?

GABE VINCENT: I feel like it's the first team to get four wins. Whether we're behind or tied or ahead, we're going to stay pretty even-keeled and keep that in mind. It's the first team to four. That's all that matters.

Q. Weak-side rotations, guarding the three-point line last night. Is a counter for that to drive and attack off those or is it more ball movement?

GABE VINCENT: I think either one could work. What we did could work, if we followed our game plan a little bit. I think we strayed. We lost our focus a bit on what we could be better on.

Like you mentioned, they picked up their effort. They were good defensively, solid offensively. They're a very good team and they're going to force us to play well.

We're looking forward to the competition in Game 4.