Denver coach Mike Malone has been able to lean into defensive lineups because Murray and Jokić provide enough offense, it’s time for the Heat to challenge that practice. That might be the best adjustment the Heat can make -throw a lot of bodies at it, sell out to stop the Murray/Jokic two-man game and dare any other Nugget to beat them. We got a lot of different bodies we can throw at Murray as well.” “But we got great defensive players, got some of the great two-way players in this game, Jimmy and Bam, so we’re gonna figure it out. “I mean, the Murray/Jokic two-man game is a pretty hard action to stop,” Haywood Highsmith said. Murray and Jokić played 40 minutes together in Game 2 and the Nuggets were +14 in those minutes (in a game they won by 15). The Nuggets stars ran 32 pick-and-rolls in Game 3, and those plays were the heart of both getting a 30+ point triple-double - the first teammates ever to have a 30+ point triple-double in any NBA game, ever. Which is what every team has tried to do all playoffs long with no success, but Game 3 was the peak of their two-man game. Getting that win means Miami finding some way to slow the Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray two-man game. Miami trails Denver 2-1 in the NBA Finals heading into Game 4, and while that game is not technically must win for the Heat, it is in practice. Through that prism, the Heat have a real growth opportunity Friday night. “We share very similar thoughts about finding strength in adversity and using those as lessons to help you grow.” “We’ve been texting back and forth,” Spoelstra said. MIAMI - Throughout the Heat’s playoff run, Erik Spoelstra has been confiding in and getting encouragement from another Miami coach - and it’s not Pat Riley.ĭolphins’ coach Mike McDaniel and Spoelstra have become friends. Where Young fits in that will be something to watch. The Hawks will evolve over the next couple of seasons under Snyder. There can’t be many shots after seven dribbles (and that’s not touching on the defensive concerns around Young). Snyder will call pick-and-rolls, he wants his team to hunt mismatches at times, but there has to be more of a flow to what is happening. The question facing him is whether he will fit into a team system that balances multiple shot creators, off-ball movement, willing passers and selflessness - what you can see in the two teams playing in the NBA Finals. This coming season will be an important one for Young, who has proven he is an All-Star who can put up numbers and drive an offense - he’s made an All-NBA team for a reason. Young shot 33.3% on the 3s he took after those seven dribbles, and less than that percentage on 3-pointers taken after three dribbles or more, which were the majority of his attempts. Last season, 45% of Young’s shots came after he had at least seven dribbles - he pounded the ball into the ground and jacked up a shot without getting teammates involved far too often (77.9% of his shots came after at least three dribbles). He also needs Young to buy into his system of ball and player movement more. Young has had better years, he shot 38.2% in 2021-22 and he is an offensive force as a creator capable of doing that again. (Also concerning for the Hawks and Young’s fit with Dejonte Murray, he shot just 20% on the less than one catch-and-shoot 3 he took a game last season.) While he has a reputation as a 3-point marksman, Young is a career 35.1% shooter from 3 and has been below that 35% number in three of his five NBA seasons. That’s a good thing… but only if they are “good shots.” It’s good only if Young hits more than the 33.5% he shot from 3 last season.

getting good shots and making sure my 3-ball is back to where it needs to be. 'I'm gonna focus a lot more on shooting 3's… likes us shooting a lot more 3's. Trae Young has heard his coach and is ready to get up more than the 6.3 attempts a game he took last season. In his final season as coach of the Utah Jazz, they took 10 more 3-pointers a game than his new Atlanta Hawks team did last season after he took over. Quin Snyder wants his teams to shoot 3-pointers.

Trae young stats last game