A beginner’s guide to the NBA Finals
Last Updated on June 1, 2023 by Admin
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So you’re at the water cooler, trying to engage with excited co-workers about the hometown Denver Nuggets, playing in the NBA Finals this week for the first time in franchise history.
But you don’t know what to say.
Have no fear, basketball casuals, The Denver Post is here to help.
This handy glossary defines some common terms, names and talking points you may hear on TV or in conversations around the office.
Keep this list close and don’t hesitate to glance awkwardly at your phone as your boss dissects the Nuggets pick-and-roll defense.
Names and nicknames
Nikola Jokic: The two-time MVP is arguably the best player on the planet. And yet legions of fans — let alone national pundits — don’t know how to pronounce his name. It’s Ni-Cole-uh Yo-Kitch. Remember the soft “J”.
The Joker: Jokic’s nickname
Blue Arrow: Guard Jamal Murray’s nickname
Uncle Jeff: Reserve forward Jeff Green’s nickname
MPJ: Forward Michael Porter Jr.
KCP: Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
AG: Forward Aaron Gordon
Michael Malone: The head coach. Don’t call him “Mike”
Bruce Brown: Easy enough
Christian Braun: Not as easy as you think. The rookie from Kansas pronounces his last name the same way Bruce does: “Brown”
Basketball terminology
Pick and roll: The most common play in basketball. A player sets a screen for a teammate handling the ball and then moves toward the basket to receive a pass.
Triple-double: AKA the Jokic special. This is when a player accumulates at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists (or 10 steals/blocks, though that’s extremely unusual). And, no, 10 turnovers is not considered part of a triple-double.
Sixth-man: The first player off the bench who doesn’t start the game. Think Bruce Brown.
Zone defense: A defensive scheme in which players defend a “zone” of the court rather than a specific player.
3-and-D: Players who primarily shoot 3-pointers and play tough defense. Caldwell-Pope is a classic example.
Point-center: Throughout much of basketball history, the point guard has run the show offensively. Not these Nuggets, where the team’s center (Jokic) is also essentially the point guard
Trey, triple, downtown, way downtown, behind-the-arc: All mean 3-pointer.
Finals-specific terms
Sombor Shuffle: The most devastating move since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook, named after Jokic’s hometown in Serbia. There are many variations, but the shuffle consists of one dribble, a jump off one leg, followed by a high-arcing jumper.
Rage timeouts: A Malone specialty. When the coach erupts off the sideline, stomping on the court as the players walk slowly toward the sideline. Smoke may or may not appear near his ears.
Chip: Championship. As in, “Jokic is going for his first chip.”
Heat culture: A subject of much media consternation. An ephemeral grittiness, hard-nosed play endemic to the Heat team. Attributed to coach Erik Spoelstra and team president Pat Riley.
Jimmy Buckets, Jimmy Freakin’ Butler, Jimmy (expletive) Butler: Heat forward Jimmy Butler
For the Denver hoop-heads
Munder: Noun, holding one’s opponent under 100 points. As in “we held theM Under 100”.
Yeah Mike: Viral Nuggets sensation, best illustrated in meme form. Porter, after hitting a 3 against the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs, said “something just told me to shoot it.” Nuggets Twitter quickly went to work, showing MPJ giving himself encouragement in various game situations.
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