Nate Robinson Exclusive Interview: Jokić should have won MVP

With the Denver Nuggets favorites in the NBA betting world to win the Championship, Nate Robinson sits down with Sporting Post to discuss the matchup between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. He highlights the challenges Miami will face in stopping the Nuggets' high-level play and praises Denver's team basketball and the contributions of Nikola Jokić.

Despite Denver's status as favorites, Nate believes Miami has the potential to upset them with their blue-collar attitude and collective energy. Nate predicts a 4-3 series win for Miami, with Kevin Love making the game-winning shot in Game 7. He also emphasizes the importance of defense for Miami and the need for Denver to make shots and play through Jokić and Jamal Murray. Nate shares his thoughts on other NBA topics, including Nikola Jokić's MVP-worthy performance, LeBron James' retirement rumors and the Boston Celtics' shortcomings.

NBA Finals Preview

Sporting Post: The first question is simple - can Miami stop the Nuggets?

Nate Robinson: It’s a cold task! It’s difficult because both teams are playing at such a high level. Miami’s defense has been great - they play the same way every time and don’t change - it’s difficult to do, finding ways and schemes to win the game.

Denver is playing lights-out, great team basketball. They’re shooting the ball well, playing through Nikola Jokić and every guy is contributing. They’re the best overall team this whole season and are the ones in control and in the driving seat. It’s going to be difficult, but if there’s any team who can beat them, it’s Miami!

I have to go with Miami to win it all. There’s just something about their blue collar attitude and the way they play - they have no big time superstars, they’re well grounded and they’re all energy guys who play hard and play together. Jimmy Butler is a star of course, and if they can upset Denver then it’s going to be them.

SP: What about your score prediction?

NR: I see it going seven games, that would be awesome to see it go to the last game - that’s what we want to see. It’s cool because it’s two underdogs playing each other. Denver will be the favorites, but they’re an underdog story over the years and so are Miami - guys that get drafted and picked up in the second round. You want to see that. If they could share the trophy, do it! But somebody has to win and somebody has to lose.

Personally, I have to go with Miami to win it all. There’s just something about their blue collar attitude and the way they play - they have no big time superstars, they’re well grounded and they’re all energy guys who play hard and play together. Jimmy Butler is a star of course, and if they can upset Denver then it’s going to be them.

I say 4-3 Miami. Final score game seven 103-101 to Miami, with Kevin Love with the game winning shot!

SP: But with more rest time, does it help Denver?

NR: Denver has the edge with the rest, but you want to be playing - you can get out of shape real quick! You don’t practice too much at this point, you want to have great energy.

They are used to it at Miami - they’re in shape and this is going to be an interesting finals. I hope my prediction is right and everything goes according to plan.

Jokić should have won MVP this year

SP: How impressed have you been with Nikola Jokić - what can you say that hasn’t been said already?

NR: He is in for a big finals. This is where you solidify yourself and your legacy lives forever like the Magics, the Jordans, they Shaqs - his name is going to live forever. He should have won the MVP this year if you ask me. He’s playing lights out, he is doing things that haven’t been done. He’ll play the game the right way, he’s fun to watch - he does everything you want him to do.

His build is a little funky, he’s a little chubby but you need that, it’s to his advantage. I love his game - when he’s on I’m glued to the TV. I want to see what he does next! He makes some big time shots and he lives for the moment. For me he’s the best player in the world right now.

Now, he is missing one final piece of the puzzle - the Championship.

As long as they play through Jokić and Jamal Murray, I think they have a chance. They're the new John Stockton and Karl Malone. That tandem is pretty dangerous. When they get it going, they get it rolling. I don't think there's too many people that can stop them.

SP: What do Denver need to do well to win this series?

NR: They’ve got to make shots. You can’t have dry possessions, that’s a recipe for disaster. As long as they play through their key men they have a chance. When they get it going, they get it rolling and I don’t think many people will be able to stop them.

But as long as they play through Jokić and Jamal Murray, I think they have a chance. They're the new John Stockton and Karl Malone. That tandem is pretty dangerous. When they get it going, they get it rolling. I don't think there's too many people that can stop them.

SP: But what do Miami need to do well if they are to lift the trophy?

NR: They’re going to need to continue to play the defense that they’re playing. The way they move the ball, if they keep doing that they’ve got a great chance.

Nobody thought they would make it this far. Nobody saw that coming - winning seven against the Celtics, that’s tough - to beat them four times is unbelievable. As long as they play defense, which they will do, then they’ve got a great chance to bring that trophy home to Miami.

SP: Game seven - Caleb Martin and Jimmy Butler, how important are they?

NR: My dad always told me as a kid that the play-offs bring out the big player in you. It brings out who you are as a player. Their little tag team, the Martin Butler tandem, has been doing phenomenal and they’re playing the right way.

You don’t have to worry about anything when you’re doing it the right way. As long as they do that they have a great chance, the ceiling is high. It’s going to be loud, so loud. That jump-off is going to be interesting.

Western Conference Finals: People wrote Denver off

SP: Let’s go back to the Western Conference - what did you make of the series, and what went wrong for the Lakers?

NR: Lakers man, some guys were a no show. D'Angelo Russell didn’t show up, they didn’t have the right combination - they didn’t want to play Walker who saved them a couple of games before. LeBron wasn’t his total self, he’s getting old now but still killing it with triple doubles - but it’s not the same. You can tell he’s on the decline now. Anthony Davis didn't show up every game.

When you play in the play-offs you have got to set your ego aside and you’ve got to go out there play as long and as hard as you can - give it your all. Denver just showed how much more dominant they are.

SP: Who else has stood out?

NR: Aaron Gordan, he played a good game on LeBron. Michael Porter Jr, he made some big shots. Mr Brown! Lights out. The energy the crowd gives them, they all play off that - it’s going to be hard to break them. They’re a well oiled machine. How can you not want this match up?

SP: Do you think the pundits had written off the Nuggets from the start?

NR: I think a little bit, but they didn't count themselves out. That’s what’s important. When you have Murray and Jokić, two guys who are the best at what they do - you get the feeling they can’t be stopped, they are so hard to guard. Their teammates see this and it get's the confidence going - it’s the snowball effect, you just can’t stop an avalanche! As I say, they remind me of John Stockton and Karl Malone - they can't be stopped!

Lebron won’t retire

SP: There’s LeBron retirement rumors - do you think it’s about to happen?

NR: No, he does a good job of taking care of his body and he’s going to come back ready to play next year. I think he’s going to want to play with his son one day, who is one or two years away from being drafted. He is going to want to be the first father/son combo in the NBA. He wants to make history, that would be awesome. It’s unheard of.

Celtic were living and dying by the three. Jaylen Brown was one from nine! This game is all about getting buckets - if you can't put the ball in the basket and make shots when you need to, it's gonna be hard for you to win. It showed with the Boston Celtics.

Eastern Conference Finals: The Celtics were living and dying by the three

SP: What about the Eastern Conference - Miami and Boston - who were the stand-outs?

NR: Top performers for the Celtics? Tatum of course, Brown.. Smart played well and White too but they just couldn’t make the shots when they needed to. That was the biggest thing for Boston. This game is all about the buckets. If you can’t put the ball away and make the shots when you need to, it’s always going to be hard. Miami were making and taking quality shots.

Celtics were living and dying by the three. Jaylen Brown was one from nine! This game is all about getting buckets - if you can't put the ball in the basket and make shots when you need to, it's gonna be hard for you to win. It showed with the Boston Celtics.

It's just like the Warriors. When you don’t make those shots, it’s going to be a long day.

SP: On the Celtics - this team against the all-time greats, do you see any parallels?

NR: They didn’t win the championship, this Celtics group - and the reason why is because they didn’t have ‘it’ - whatever Celtics had back in the day with Larry Bird, they had ‘it’. They didn’t have it, they didn’t have players taking quality shots. They have a group of talented guys but they have something missing.

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