Denver Nuggets have waited for a long time to qualify for the NBA Finals. Now that they are there, they are leaving no stone unturned to bring the trophy home. The Nuggets are leading the Final series 3-1 and they can win their first-ever Championship in their first-ever final appearance.
Nuggets head coach Mike Malone has been with the franchise for seven seasons now and he is just a win away from winning the NBA Championship. Malone recently expressed how he progressed every year in these seven years. He highlighted that the Nuggets were looking for the right pieces and they were determined that if they get it right, they will get the result.
Reflecting on his journey with Denver, the 51-year-old shared his thoughts ahead of Game 5. He said, ”Our journey has been one of patience, one of drafting really well, and developing those players and adding the right pieces…Some teams want to mortgage their future and try to get the surefire player, the All-Star.”
The Nuggets have dominated the Miami Heat 3-1 in the Final series. However, Nikola Jokic and company cannot rule out a comeback from the Miami Heat, who have been exceptional throughout the postseason.
Kevin Love in a recent interview shared that turning around a 3-1 deficit is not impossible. Love himself was a part of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team, who turned it around against the Golden State Warriors.
The Heat will have to be at their best if they want to turn this Final around. The Nuggets have shown great attacking prowess and they will look to continue that going forward and winning their first NBA Championship.
The duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray has emerged as the best duo for their exceptional performances in this postseason. They have developed a great mentality and now they are one win away from winning the NBA Championship. It has been a long journey for Jamal Murray, who was out with an ACL injury.
Murray returned to action earlier this season and looked really good. His presence alongside Jokic has been immense for the Nuggets. He has delivered some exceptional performances throughout the season.
During an interview with ESPN SportsCenter, Jokic shared how Murray has braved the injuries and become more mature in these years. “I told him at the beginning of the season he’s not gonna be good the first couple months. But now he’s playing at the level I thought he was… I think he matured. The injury slowed him down but made him read the game better,” Jokic added.
Murray started cautiously with a minutes restriction and as he searched for his rhythm. His averages weren’t that great in the first two months. However, with the postseason coming up, he averaged 26.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists per contest. He is taking the shot burden off Jokic but has also shared the playmaking workload to free the big man. Murray’s rise in the postseason has made the Nuggets a potent force and a possibly NBA Champion team.
