NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 9, 2023

Duncan Robinson

Miami Heat

Game 4: Postgame

Denver Nuggets 108, Miami Heat 95

Q. In a season where we've seen adversity and we've seen crazier things happen, can you just walk us through the mentality of the locker room now as you look ahead to Game 5 after this loss?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, right now, disappointed as a group, and that's all right. We've got tonight to feel that, and then just becomes shifting that mindset.

Like you said, this is what this year's been all about for this group, so definitely not going to hang our heads or quit. That's not an option. It's not going to happen. So we'll band together and get on this flight tomorrow and find a way to figure it out.

Q. Neither Murray or Jokic, they didn't have particularly efficient or high-scoring nights, and their pick-and-roll between them was kind of contained. But what was leading to all of the easy baskets the other guys were getting?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: We'll watch it. Don't want to react, knee-jerk react to whatever it was right now. Obviously some of the cuts, some of the transition. We had some untimely turnovers.

Some of it, like myself, is just keeping the ball in front. They have got some guys that were more aggressive tonight, so we've got to have solutions for that.

Q. Just from your view over these last two games, what have they done better defending the three-point line? Attempts were down to 25 tonight, as well.

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, they are helping a little bit less on drives, it seems. Scrambling. Definitely give some credit to them.

For us, it's going to be about being detailed and running good offense, which we are capable of doing. But yeah, as the series goes on, both teams are going to make adjustments. Not necessarily surprised by that. But they are a good team. They have got a good scheme, and it's on us to continue to try to figure it out.

Q. I think Jamal Murray has had ten-plus assists in every one of his games so far. Aside from the scoring aspect, what is he able to do as a playmaker that's giving you guys some trouble, even when his shot's not going down?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Obviously it attracts a lot of attention, whatever action he is in. So when you garner that sort of attention and focus, people flying at you, he is good at creating advantages, putting two on the ball and finding somebody open. A lot of times it's on that short roll. He got some skips tonight as well.

They are good cutting off the ball. It's going to require a lot of discipline. He's obviously scored the ball but also passed the ball well in this series. We've just got to continue to try to make it difficult on him.

Q. You've played a lot of your minutes in this series against Denver's second unit, and in the fourth quarter again tonight, that kind of Gordon at center look. What challenges has that lineup presented for you guys?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Defensively for them, they switch a lot and try to blow stuff up to their guys, get them the ball, try to get them the ball. In theory, I guess it's a faster, more physical group. Offensively, player movement, ball movement.

When they play with pace, obviously no matter who it is, it's hard to guard. So for us, we have to be really detailed offensively, and defensively, just be better helping each other and, of course, stand in front of the ball, too.

Q. Defensively you guys are known for being comfortable with throwing a bunch of different defensive looks at teams. How rare is it to go against a team with Jokic and Murray that's just able to find answers; whatever you guys throw at them, they just find -- to be able to adapt the way they have so far this series?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: Yeah, they are both intelligent players, always processing the game, trying to find spots.

For us defensively, we've tried to do some different things to slow them down. We've had some success in pockets. But like I said, they are great players. It's not like you're going to wipe them out entirely. They're so much the focal point of what they do.

It's just going to continue on us to continue to obviously have a competitive will and spirit defending them. But then also, like you said, mixing it up and trying to do different things.

Q. Did you learn anything from tonight's loss that you can use to your advantage for Game 5?

DUNCAN ROBINSON: I thought we had some big-time efforts on both ends of the floor, particularly defensively on both Murray and Jokic. I thought guys just flying around, doing everything they can. Caleb, in particular, Jimmy, Bam.

So the effort is there, absolutely. That's something obviously you can control. So just continuing to build off that and just get a little more detailed with the execution on both ends.