On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, JJ Redick, CJ McCollum and Jay Williams discuss the role players’ impact in the 2023 NBA Finals.
0:00 Stephen A.’s role players for the Miami Heat
0:30 Caleb Martin has been a “no show” in the Finals?
4:00 JJ is looking at Gabe Vincent to step up
7:00 Quick takes
9:30 Are the Nuggets the new Warriors of the West?
#ESPN #FirstTake
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45 Comments
Its Duke on Duke crime right now, i almost died. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I know the internet brings up the undrafted caveat as a way to acknowledge there is talent cap for those guys and they really shouldn’t keep up with the top talented teams of the league
..and Stephen A jj is talking about u saying Denver is wayyyyyy better .. that’s y he said that about Gabe. These dudes ain’t no bums
Shut up molly
The Nuggets have actually been pretty meh so far in the finals from a team perspective (looking at you MPJ!). Haven't hit their pts avg of 114 yet. Whether that's because of Spo's defensive scheme or poor 3 pt shooting idk. But my logic before the series has held: It's not sustainable to ask Caleb to score 20+ and have Bam score 20 and defend and have Jimmy's shot volume go crazy. They got an above average 3pt performance in gm2 and other than that they would be losing this series in 4. Series can still go 6, but if they don't get a hero ball game from Jimmy it's over in 5 imo. (Only thing that would change my mind is if Strus and Robinson can get hot for two consecutive games. Would need 12-15 from each.)
Man Da Heat Has 2 DUBS AND 5 Ls N Dey Last 7 Games. Does That Seem Like A CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD? SMMFH
Heat took almost 20 more shots than Nuggets. Bam and Jimmy have to shoot better so someone else can get some shots up
Agree. Denver will be the favorite next year but Lakers, Suns, and Warriors are a threat
Caleb Martin said, ya don’t want to give me Eastern Finals MVP when I carried Jimmy butler. Then go ahead and play. Im good. 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
Where's Big Perk!!
1. Kareem
2. Hakeem
3. Joker
Shaq, Wilt…
Adding a challenge, if you get the 1st one right, you get another one. Put a time limit on it
"Are the Denver Nuggets the new Warriors of the West?"
Bruh, what??? What does that even mean?? What are we doing here?? Are we just saying random words now??
Molly really needs to stop cutting these men off. This is why I like FS1. She shows her woman power way to much on this show full of men.
"Your interrupting me Molly, your interrupting me, I'm trying to make a very valid point"…😅
As a Raptors fan, every heat bench needs to step up Especially Kyle Lowry . He needs to step up big time . He had more playoff experience and NBA champion . Out of curiosity, How come Haslem isn't playing ? Isn't that dude stong enough to guard Jokic?
DUKE!
Heat is far from over. They made adjustments once, they can do it again.
The heat needs a herro
I swear these guys always trying to find a way to disagree on anything. They really arguing on who needs to play better in Miami
15 minute video to just say, “The whole team.”. 😐They played from behind most of the game. The whole team needs to play better. If you need 4 steals and 4 threes to get back in any game, it’s the whole team.
where perk at? lol..
I mean it doesn't need to be a 'challenge' they could just have a full time camera refs that check the call in real time like soccer does. heck we can have AI check the calls with all the money the NBA have but then they'd have no power over how the games go.
maybe the first challenge gets forfeited in the first half if not used
Stephen A. really has a big connections, since I don't remember his decent comments about anything he speaks, he desperately need those connections 😄
Denver is my team but the delusion is real. The warriors beat arguably the guy everyone calls the GOAT MULTIPLE TIMES whiles he was in his prime with a prime. Denver is playing 3 play in teams to win a title. We dont know how good they are until they face someone else that is the modern day caliber of lebron or steph. Can they beat damien lillard if he pairs up with giannis ? Can they beat the warriors if they add Jaylen brown ? Can they miami if they had Luka or Kyrie ? Can they beat the suns if they add Kyrie? Can they beat the kings if they add some more peices? I rather wait to see. I highly doubt. I think the individual stats are proof that the nuggets have to go above and beyond just to win against playin teams. Theirs a reason Joker is being humble.
I love when JJ shreds SAS
Murray is injury prone
Is this a sitcom or sports show….espn you are trash. .
I tune in just to laugh at these clowns 🤡
Think about this. To work for ESPN you have had to go to College in the North East, play for DUKE, play for The Cowboys at some point, play for a pro team in the North East and/or be an ex teammate of LeBron James. Pretty crazy. Classic nepotism. This is coming from a Yankee fan!
Molly Qerim and "interrupting Stephen A. immediately after asking him a question".
Name a more iconic duo.
Why compare them to the warriors, and the warriors normally knock Denver out of the playoffs all the time.
denver has an apb out for mpj as well, his shooting is already on vacation apparently. at least he got some rebounds and played some defense in game 3….
You can't talk bad about undrafted players when they not on and be like that's why they was undrafted. When guys like MPJ got drafted making over 140 mill and can't get on the floor in the 4th quarter because he is doing nothing.
Y'all forgetting Butler dropping 35-50 bombs on Jrue Holidays head? Where's Jimmy? I know he's doing the glue but he set the precedent of doing the glue and being the best scorer.
Is Aaron Gordon that much better of a defender than the top defense in the league or is Butler just outta gas?
I like giving the challenge back as long as you succeed. Just means there are better calls and less people complaining about bad calls. It's only 2 and only if they get the first one right.
JJ Reddick as the new Max Kellerman please.
She needs to be held accountable yes but those two men should’ve thought logically instead of moving of emotion like her. Now look……smh 🤦🏾♂️
Most of the people in the comments and these analysts were not talking about Nuggets in September playing in June. With that being said, any filthy casual will say Jokic is good. If jokic was black he would be just a regular player. Damian lilliard is a star to me not him. Dont @ me.
Yo JJ Redick had a MUCH stronger personality than I ever thought he did! Lol. I always thought he’d be a more laid back sort of guy.
They missing Herro, those 20 pts a game matter, not to mention his outside shooting
If only Steven was as smart as he THINKS he is.
That JJ wink at 11:33 TO Molly, you aint low patna! LOL
Molly shut up