Michael Malone -- Facing Heat in Finals will be Nuggets' 'biggest challenge' - ESPN

DENVER — The Miami Heat are just the second eighth seed in history to reach the NBA Finals, but Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone told his players on Tuesday to throw the seeding out.

Malone says their meeting against the relentless Heat will be the greatest challenge the Nuggets have ever faced.

«You get to the NBA Finals, it's not about seeding anymore,» Malone said after practice. «And for those who are thinking that this is going to be an easy series, I don't even know what to say to you people.

»This is going to be the biggest challenge of our lives. This is the NBA Finals. You're trying to win the first NBA championship in franchise history, and it's going to be the hardest thing that we've ever done — which is the way it should be."

The Nuggets have not played since completing their sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals on May 22. But Tuesday was the first day they could focus their sights on the Heat and how to slow down Jimmy Butler.

After getting by Minnesota's Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns in the first round, Phoenix's Devin Booker and Kevin Durant in the second round and the Lakers' LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the conference finals, the Nuggets have to figure out how to contain Butler.

Butler is averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists and shooting 48.3% from the field. But Malone said Butler is so much more than just stats.

«When I look at Jimmy Butler, what separates him from most players is the drive — the competitive spirit within him, a relentless attack,» Malone said. «It was really cool seeing the press conference they showed from last year when they lost and how everything he talked about in that moment kind of came to fruition a year later, and