Why supporting casts win championships | NBA Finals Game 4 analysis

Why did Denver's role players have such big nights in Game 4? This detailed film room study examines how Miami's defense tried to stop Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic as scorers, the Nuggets supporting cast on offense and defense, and Jokic's defense protecting the paint.

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Twitter: @elgee35

Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.

Stats courtesy:
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Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.

Music by Didekbeats (Nemesis)

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[samb]

Malone said it best; Murray had 12 assists, 0 turnovers while being hounded and pressured all night. That some great skill and concentration.

[CarnageMastodon]

I've been watching basketball since 1994, and it has been a while since I saw this kind of gorgeous basketball. Awakens the same feelings that I got from the Timmy led Spurs. No egos, max effort, max professionalism. Just pure joy.

[zaneverovati]

It takes a smart guy to tell a teammate what needs to be done (Jokic). It takes an even smarter guy (and a quite humble one as well) to actually take that for what it is, an advice - and implement it right away (Gordon).

[marcochen]

people had been accusing malone of shitty rotations the previous 2 seasons, but failed to realise the absolutely pitiful roster he had with all the injuries. The playoffs has shown that with rotation players he can make great adjustments

[armandoarmijo]

Joker is rubbing off on Murray. Murray used to force everything. He was too antsy, and was inconsistent. Through these playoffs, we’ve witnessed an evolution in jamal Murray’s game. He’s proved himself to be one of the most elite mid range shooters in the league. He’s gone from an average playmaker, to someone who can take over a game without scoring. But if he wants, he’ll get you 30 easy. This team is just amazing to watch. It’s a brotherhood. Unselfish, and no egos to plague the chemistry. They all support one another, and if one is having a bad night. They don’t force it, they let someone else eat, so they can succeed as a whole.

I hope we can retain brown, and keep this foundation.

[nikolakrstic]

Just look at Jokic coaching the whole team in real time lmao what a legend he claps when they do what they are supposed to do

[theinternetofrandomthings]

Good to see Gordon finally getting a decent system for him to shine. Helps to have Murray and Jokic throwing you the ball!

[ColoradoRay]

2:17 Is all you need to know to see how connected this team is. Jokic pointing up telling KCP to throw the lob to AG without even looking where AG or his defender was is incredible. He fist pumps when KCP and AG both already found it at the same time as him.

[botobanga]

I wish major media outlets like ESPN had this level of analysis. But then again, that would be too much to ask of them.

[AndrewLawton]

Jokic got me back into basketball. I saw some of his clips, which got me watching highlights, which got me watching analysis, which got me watching your channel.

I've been watching your videos for a while and it's made it really easy to fall in love with basketball again.

I haven't watched a live basketball game since Jordan left the Bulls. It's been over 20 years but I'm watching Denver vs Miami. I flipped on games 1 and 2 for some of the second half. I watched game 4 from the 2nd quarter onwards. I'm planning to just watch all of game 5. Never thought I'd see the day where I'd watch a full game, live but here we are. And I'm excited for it.

What an incredible and compelling post season it's been. I love watching Jokic play basketball. I'm not sure I would have rediscovered that passion without your videos.

Thank you.

[CalebShimomura]

The Spurs were my favorite team since I was a kid, mostly because I loved David Robinson. However, my time following the Spurs was mostly during the Big 3 era of Parker, Ginobili, and Tim Duncan. Ginobili is criminally underrated; he provided close to superstar value off the bench if BPM is anything to go by (seriously, check his BPM for his prime years), and Duncan is obviously Duncan.

The Spurs are still my favorite team, and I am super excited for the Wemby years (especially if Pop still has one chip left in the tank!), but Jokic's Nuggets make me so happy to watch. I really hope they can be another Spurs team for another decade. If they can keep Gordon and Murray and maybe even MPJ for the next 7 years, I will be very happy for them. Malone has been Jokic's only coach for his entire career, and if he can continue to be that until Jokic retires, it will be incredibly satisfying.

In so many ways, I feel like the Nuggets already are the spiritual successor of the Spurs, especially the 2014 title team. They drafted most of their core in Mal, MPJ, and Jokic. They have outstanding ball movement. They have an unselfish superstar who sets the tone for the entire team. They are coached well. Their main man feels like a combination of Timmy "I don't jump on defense" Duncan and Boris "Let's have pass-arounds instead of shoot-arounds" Diaw.

Here's to unselfish basketball. I hope Jokic gets a full hand of rings and forces everyone to talk about him in the GOAT conversation.

[TheNextManimal]

Haven’t seen Bruce Brown play since he left Brooklyn. He was practically an undersized 4 with a floater and corner three. Seeing him now essentially be the backup point running p&r on a championship team is incredible. I respect the work it took for him to get to this point in just two years.

[viperstrike]

Jokic is something else man. Dude makes it a point to be a quiet guy but not stay silent and his team listens.

[enzodapan]

This team really feels like a modern iteration of the Spurs. They have a superstar that isn't flashy but is a big presence at the post, a solid PG that can pass and shoot, and a good coach and supporting cast that contributes well in offense and defense. Plus, the excellent passing from Murray and Jokic.

[maciekh]

And many people slandered Jokić for the past playoffs, when he played with players that are literally out of the league right now. Campazzo was the backup pointguard! Third option on the team was Will Barton, who can't get minutes in Wizards. He got some help and look, he proved everyone wrong.

[rollotomasse]

Miami is playing so disciplined it's hard to believe. Any other team would be blown away by this Denver..

[gilless]

Gordon's play over pretty much the whole playoffs has been amazing to watch. I always felt like he was sorely underutilized, and languishing in a system that just didn't match his play, when in Orlando. Seeing him, on the complete opposite end of things, in a system built perfectly for him to thrive, has been a thing of beauty.

[Punk]

That foot action to disrupt the pass is genius. There’s no foul called for it so it just another great way to defend pick and roll.

[BeanZauce]

Watching this as a Heat fan shows me how well the Nuggets executed to the point where it felt inevitable. I’m proud the Heat got this far but the Nuggets are the best team they’ve faced these playoffs

[Will-zr]

I love your analysis, because you break down a play and can make it look simple