Kevin Love back in the five for height and experience

NBA – To respond to the size of the Nuggets, Erik Spoelstra made the choice to reinsert the veteran in his five, to the detriment of Caleb Martin.

« I can’t confirm that and I won’t. “Ahead of this Game 2 in Denver, Erik Spoelstra preferred not to say too much about his intentions regarding his starting five. And to reintroduce Kevin Love. The Florida coach explained that he first wanted to take stock of the state of health of Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent.

The expected adjustment has taken place. Holder for 14 games in a row in these playoffs, before continuing with three “DNP” (the last two games against the Celtics and the first round against the Nuggets), the interior made its return to the five of Miami this night .

« I wouldn’t call it a change of five. We simply returned to our initial five, used for 14 matches. I was not far-sighted enough. It’s my fault “, Regrets the coach, visibly thinking back to the internal domination of the Nuggets in the first game.

Kevin Love titular? 11 wins – 4 losses

« We had to make an adjustment in the Boston series, which was really necessary and which worked. We then find ourselves facing a new opponent that we don’t really know, so we continued to do what we had done in the previous series. “, continues the technician, recalling the record in the playoffs displayed by this training of holders before the meeting: 10 wins for 4 losses.

« 11 wins now. We clearly needed K-Love’s size, veteran experience and physique. I don’t know how many minutes — I don’t have my glasses on, so I don’t know the stats — but that veteran experience, champion experience that K-Love and Kyle (Lowry) brought tonight, there is no analytical data that can show you how valuable she was », Qualifies the coach, who mobilized his veteran for 22 minutes.

An impact in defense

Playing time relatively well made profitable by the 34-year-old player. This one had a lot of trouble finishing in attack (6 points at 2/9 on shots, including 2/6 from afar), despite good positions, but he gave himself in defense.

Author of 10 rebounds and 2 interceptions, the interior responded present in the aids, to try to limit the connections between Nikola Jokic and his partners.

« It’s so hard to come up with a game plan for him. He’s such a basketball scholar. He is brilliant on the pitch. You’ll never be able to stop it, you’re just trying to slow it down. If you deprive him of a few passes, he will score. If you try to stop him and double-team him, he’ll pass. He is so smart that you have to try to make it difficult for him and eliminate the other X factors from the game », Analyzes Kevin Love, who also appreciated the reaction of the Heat shooters (Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson…).

After his team’s equalizer, Kevin Love is convinced that we are heading towards ” a hotly contested series. It is said that the series starts when a team imposes itself on the outside. Now the series is played best of five sets. »

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.