After going a combined 8-for-32 from 3-point range in the Nets’ seven-game, first-round win over the Raptors, Mirza Teletovic has caught fire against the Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals, going 11-for-19 (57.9 percent) from behind the arc through three games.
But whether Teletovic is making or missing shots, he’s never lacking in confidence. Asked before Monday’s morning shootaround about his confidence he has in his shooting stroke right now, Teletovic shook his head and smiled.
“Check my things on YouTube, man,” he said.
Armed with one of the quickest shots in the league, Teletovic rarely hesitates to let it fly from deep if he has even a fraction of space to shoot. If he’s made or missed five in a row, it won’t stop him from taking the sixth shot.
“For me, it’s important to make one shot,” he said. “Once I make one shot, then I know.”
Teletovic, who has been the star player for the Bosnian national team for years and spent several seasons starring in Spain before signing with the Nets in July 2012, has become a bit of a breakout player during these playoffs after playing just one minute in the playoffs a year ago.
His play has earned the respect of the Heat, including LeBron James.
“He can just flat-out shoot the ball,” James said Sunday. “There’s only a few guys in our league who can do that, and we have a guy like that on our team in James Jones who just comes in and if he touches the ball and lets it go, you believe it’s going in.
“You’ve got to try and get to him a lot quicker than a lot of guys in our league. A contest is just not enough. You’ve got to try do a little bit more.”