Miami Heat: Nikola Jokic Situation Adds Extra Motivation

On November 8, the Miami Heat played their worst basketball game of the season. After a poor shooting night and a struggle to hold their opponent on the defensive end, the Miami Heat were defeated by the Denver Nuggets with a final score of 96-113.

Although they lost, this may have been the most important game the Heat will play this year. The reason for that is because of what went down towards the end of the game.

Miami’s Markieff Morris committed a hard foul on the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets star retaliated by committing a dirty play, as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra later called it, by shoving Morris to the ground after his back was turned.

Here is a clip of how the whole thing went down. Markieff Morris received a $50,000 fine and Nikola Jokic received a one game suspension for their actions.

Although Morris is no saint in this situation, there is no excuse for Jokic to commit such a dangerous act against him. It is Morris’ job to be the physical player on the court who takes the fines for getting physical with the opponent’s best players.

That’s literally apart of the reason he was brought in by the Miami Heat.

Miami Heat: Nikola Jokic Situation Adds Extra Motivation

While Jokic had the right to defend himself, there was no reason to push Morris down after he turned away. The Miami Heat knew this and the whole team supported their teammate.

That’s the thing about the Miami Heat. They have each other’s backs.

And now, more than ever, is the extent of that support showing its form. This Nuggets game might have been the best thing that could happen to the Heat, since thankfully, no one got hurt.

If being humbled by a 20 point blowout wasn’t enough, they will now play with more hunger and physicality than we have seen before.

The Miami Heat have a plethora of tough players on their team, so you don’t want to mess with them.

Everyone was riled up from what happened. Jimmy Butler made it pretty clear that he was ready to settle things off the court.

Butler displayed his strong leadership skills by being ready to defend his teammate. Jimmy Butler isn’t one to get into a fight on the court, but what happens off the court is a different story.

If someone threatens Butler or someone he is close to, he is definitely capable of dealing some damage.

Miami Heat: The Late November Nuggets Contest Should Be Electric

Butler wasn’t the only one heated up from the escalation of events. The whole team looked ready to fight with the Nuggets.

If you look closely, you can see Udonis Haslem joining Butler in the trash talking. Haslem has been around for a long time, but this is perhaps the first time in his career where he is surrounded by several guys who feel ready to get physical with him.

It is a true Miami Heat squad.

The Heat’s fire didn’t stop on the court. Butler and some other players apparently waited in the hallway to confront the Nuggets.

Nothing further escalated from this, but it produced a pretty cool photo of a united and tough Miami Heat squad, afraid of no one and ready to take on anyone who stood in their way.

http://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1458087087798947842

That is the exact energy the Heat need to compete at a championship level this season. They were already good before, but they are clearly motivated by this situation.

They have been fueled by their anger over how their teammate was treated. Now, they will bring that extra fuel to their games every night; it will make them even stronger and more threatening than before.

The Nuggets messed with the wrong team. The Miami Heat face the Nuggets again on November 29.

They should be in for a real beatdown that day, because the Heat will absolutely be ready for that game, bringing all the passion and fury.