NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 9, 2023

Michael Malone

Denver Nuggets

Game 4: Pregame

Q. Miami has played late in the clock offensively a lot in these playoffs and they seem very comfortable. Is that a unique challenge for you in regard to your opponents? And do you think they want a low-possession count, and would you prefer a higher-possession count?

MICHAEL MALONE: Yeah, it's definitely something that we talked about as coaches going into this series, and even with the players and the importance of understanding that you have to be ready and willing and able to defend all 24 seconds.

Kind of reminds me of San Antonio back in the day. They would be like the league leaders in their field goal percentage in the last five, six seconds of the shot clock.

So they want a slower pace, if you will, and they really exhaust the entire shot clock. That's where your defense is really tested because that first rotation, that second rotation and then having the effort and discipline to continue to do that through the entirety of the clock. Something that our guys have done a really good job of, in my opinion.

It's going to come down to our ability to guard the three-point line. To me, that's where the series will be won or lost. Can we take the three-point shot? The one game that we did not do that, obviously, Game 2, they made 17 threes. That opens up everything else for them.

Q. You mentioned a few times about the trust that you have with Jamal. I wanted to ask you a question about a game from a few years ago, the first series you guys were in in the playoffs, Game 2 against San Antonio, Jamal missed his first eight shots that night and then had a huge fourth quarter. What do you remember about that? Why did you have so much trust in him then, and how have moments like that helped you guys be so successful now?

MICHAEL MALONE: Yeah, great memory, great recall. We lose Game 1, and then halftime we are down in Game 2 and Jamal has not played well to that point in time. The backstory to that was I don't think Denver had won in San Antonio in like a decade. So now we are looking at potentially going down to San Antonio 0-2. I think there were a lot of people clamoring for a change, which is what people do. They panic. Right now, people want Michael Porter out of the lineup. Michael Porter is not coming out of the lineup, man.

And that moment with Jamal Murray five years ago, our first play -- and I just remember grabbing him as the third quarter was getting ready to start, telling him I loved him and I believed in him and just go out and play his game. He won us that series in the second half, because now we go down to San Antonio 1-1, end up stealing that game in San Antonio and wind up beginning Game 7 on our home floor.

That's when I think you saw that Jamal was built for this. No matter what was going on and the adversity he may have been facing, he is going to find a way to rise and show out on the biggest stage. He has done that ever since.

Q. Essentially a must-win situation for them. What do you tell your guys in terms of matching that urgency and desperation?

MICHAEL MALONE: This is a must-win for us. This is the Finals. This can't be human nature, "We came down, got one game, we can relax."

Each game, each possession, each quarter are way too important. As I told our players, when we got on that plane to come down here, it wasn't just to get one win. Our mindset is to go out there and take it tonight. It's been our mindset for Minnesota, Phoenix, Lakers and now Miami. Go out and take it, because they are not going to give it to us.

This is going to be a hard-fought game. We expect them to come out with great energy. Forget matching that. We have to exceed it.

Q. Jamal Murray played a brilliant game in Game 3, but the Heat put a lot of pressure on him playing him full court, blitzing him in pick-and-roll and attacking him with Jimmy after you guys switched. Especially with only one day of rest between Game 3 and Game 4, is that something that you are looking at to maybe relieve that pressure and make life a little easier for Jamal, or is he just that good that it doesn't really matter?

MICHAEL MALONE: He is 26 years old, man. This is the Finals. Whatever they throw at him, we are ready for. Our guys are ready, willing and able to go out there and do whatever it takes to get this win. And if that requires Jamal playing 44 minutes once again, so be it. We'll read the game as it plays itself out, but I know Jamal is definitely ready for that challenge.

Q. How difficult is it to play as big-time favorites?

MICHAEL MALONE: I don't think we are big-time favorites. We've never had that mindset. Throughout these playoffs, we've been the underdog quite a few times.

You're in the NBA Finals. They are here for a reason. We are here for a reason. I think you can see in the first three games, two really good teams, a lot of talent, a lot of fight. We don't expect any of this to be easy, nor do they. And that's the way it should be.

So yeah, I don't buy into the whole big-time favorites. That's from your perspective, not from ours.

Q. Just wondering when you realized that Nikola and Jamal were the guys that you were going to build around, that duo was something that you could build as a franchise? You were linked to LeBron when he was a free agent. At some point, they were right in front of you.

MICHAEL MALONE: For me, you go back to that third year when we lost to Minnesota in game 82, which was, in essence, the play-in tournament before the play-in tournament was put into play.

The thing that jumped out, we lost that game in overtime, but Nikola and Jamal, a third-year player, a second-year player, they were out there playing at a high level. That showed me and that showed our front office and, more importantly, I can remember Josh Kroenke coming up to me after that game and being excited about what the future held because of how well those guys played with the stakes that were obviously going on during that game.

So that was really early on, but even prior to that, Jamal, Nikola showed that they had a chance to become what they are today. I'm just thankful that we as an organization have given that the time that is required to get to this stage. Most places, that does not happen.

Q. You mentioned the Porter comment within the context of the question about Jamal. Have you discussed internally making a lineup change? He knows he has had a couple rough games, so what have you done to maybe get through that?

MICHAEL MALONE: Zero discussion about making any changes. Again, Michael Porter is a big part of our team. We would not be in this position if it wasn't for him. We are not just Nikola and Jamal. We are a basketball team, and Michael being a big part of that.

As far as him kind of getting back into his groove, I talked to him today about understanding that we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all the contributions and growth that you've shown us throughout this year being healthy. Go out there and play, be aggressive, shoot the ball with confidence and, remember, you're not a specialist. We don't bring in specialists. Those are guys that are not suited for us.

We want guys that if you're not making shots, you're doing something else to help your team: running the floor, rebounding, contesting, whatever it may be. Michael has that within him. I have no doubt that -- and I mean this: I have zero doubt in my mind that Michael Porter is going to have a big game and help us win a championship.

Q. Nikola's touch around the rim and then the floater range specifically, is that something that you guys have worked with him throughout the years, or has he just naturally had that?

MICHAEL MALONE: We have a terrific coaching staff. I'm really fortunate to have the guys on my staff.

But at the same time, I think you have to give credit where credit is due. Nikola is just a different player. From day one, what stood out to me was the skill level, the ball handling, the ball passing, the soft touch. He is a guy that works on his craft. He not just a guy that shows up and does that. The amount of time that he puts into his game I don't think is documented enough.

But yeah, Nikola is gifted with his IQ, his intelligence, his vision, but as you also point out, his ability to finish around the basket with a variety of shots with both hands.

Q. Nikola talks about basketball being in its right place in his life with his passions and family and in different areas. How much has that affected the team at all, especially pressure-filled moments that he puts basketball in the right area of priority in his life?

MICHAEL MALONE: I think all the players in that locker room look at him, and especially when we hit adversity, and he is always calm. I think he has a great way about him. Never gets too high, never gets too low and really just kind of stays the course.

For him, like he'll tell you, it is basketball. It's not life-and-death. Keeping it in perspective. But with that being said, at this stage, we understand that we have a chance to do something special, and he leads that charge. I think just his calmness when things are roughest really kind of settles down the guys around him, because they look to him for his words but also his body language and his positivity. That does a lot for our group.