“ (Jamal Murray) is one of the leaders. I would say it is a two-headed monster in this case. In an attempt to best contain this Nikola Jokic pair – Jamal Murray to which Jimmy Butler refers, the Heat have changed their defensive strategy. With the return of Kevin Love in the five Florida, by definition larger with the replacement of Caleb Martin on the bench, Jimmy Butler can more regularly slip on the leader opposite.
The latter, author of 26 points (11/22 on shots) and 10 assists in the first set, was mainly defended by Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin during the first meeting. In the second, he was put in more difficulty, ahead of Jimmy Butler in particular, with 18 points (7/15) and again 10 offerings.
” I have a tough job on Murray. He scores in so many different ways. He has the ball all the time and he does the right readings, the right passes. But it’s just a matter of effort, of contesting every shot, of being in close combat, of making life difficult for him. This is what I have to do all the time, because I know that if I lead the way on that side with Bam, everyone must follow “Sums up the leader of the Heat.
“Just because he’s on me doesn’t mean I can’t participate in the game or put pressure on the defence”
His coach Erik Spoelstra recalls that the Nuggets point guard is ” an electrifying player in the playoffs which imposes this defensive attention. ” It’s not just Jimmy. He’s going to defend against a lot of different guys in this series. He rises to all these challenges, he will defend from position 1 to position 5 at one point or another. Murray will attract second defensemen, third defensemen. You have to take it over the 3-point line “Judges the coach, thinking of his 39% success rate behind the arc.
With Jimmy Butler facing him, Jamal Murray finds himself with a bigger, heavier and more physical player on his back. For example, it is less obvious for him to go into penetration on a one-on-one sequence. The leader of Colorado ensures despite everything to have to keep the same mentality.
” I’ve faced a lot of defenders in my career. Jimmy is a good defender. He has good hands, he anticipates things. Of course, he’s a little taller than me. I won’t tell you how to beat it, but I have my tricks (smile). […] Just because he’s on me doesn’t mean I can’t get in the game or put pressure on defense “Assures all the same Jamal Murray, who believes he had very good shots throughout this meeting, but lacked address.
Before this last more average outing, the leader had chained six games in a row to 25 points or more…
