2-0 lead itatayo ng Nuggets

DENVER -- Bagama’t nanalo sa Game One ay may ilang bagay pa ring gusto si Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone na mai­ayos sa pagsagupa nila sa Miami Heat sa Game Two ng NBA Finals ngayong umaga (Manila time).

“I don’t think we played well in Game One,” ani Malone sa 104-93 panalo sa Miami sa series opener. “I watched that tape, and they were 5-of-16 on wide-open 3’s. As I told our players this morning, the fact that they got 16 wide-open 3’s is problematic. And if you think that Max Strus is going to go 0-for-9 again or Duncan Robinson is going to go 1-for-5 again, you’re wrong.”

Hangad ng Nuggets na makuha ang 2-0 lead bago dalhin ang best-of-seven championship series sa balwarte ng Heat para sa Game Three.

Ayon kay Malone, kailangang higpitan ng Denver ang depensa lalo na sa fourth quarter kung saan nila pinaiskor ang Miami ng 30 points at nakalapit sa nine-point deficit sa huling 2:34 minuto matapos silang magtayo ng 24-point lead.

Paborito ang Nuggets na manalo sa Heat lalo na nang kumpletuhin nila ang 4-0 sweep kay LeBron James at sa Los Angeles Lakers sa Western Confe­rence finals.

“Don’t listen to the folks on the radio and TV saying that this series is over and that we’ve done something, because we haven’t done a damn thing,” bilin ni Malone sa kanyang tropa.

Sinabi ni Denver guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope na hindi dapat mawala sa focus ang kanyang mga teammates bagama’t hawak nila ang 1-0 lead sa Miami.

“Stay motivated,” ani Caldwell-Pope. “We’re here; don’t fumble the ball on the 1-yard line I would say. We’ve got three games left, let’s stay focused and let’s get this championship.”

Ito ang unang NBA Finals appearance ng Nuggets matapos ang 47 taon habang hangad ng Heat ang ikaapat na korona.