I think the Nuggets handle this and fairly easily. Gentleman's sweep. Miami has been on a fun run, but it ends here. Denver is too talented, too experienced, too big. Their starting 5 is the best in basketball. Its perfectly assembled. Jokic is surrounded by 4 guys that can all shoot, all finish, and all switch on defense. The bench shows up and shows out. Same 8 players every night, same results.
Too experienced? Who other than KCP on that team has been to the Finals? I know people are high on the Nuggets for sweeping the Lakers but y’all still underestimating Jimmy Butler…. who was just in the Finals just a few years ago you know he’s dying for another shot to win it all. Add in guys like Lowry and Love who each have a ring even though they’re ancient they know what it takes. In terms of coaching Spoelstra also has 2 Championships compared to Malone making his first Finals appearance. Heat may not be as talented player for player but all their guys know their roles and play the right way. They are a well oiled machine just like the Nuggets. If the Heat were good enough to take out Giannis and number 1 seed Bucks, MVP Embiid/Harden and Tatum’s deep Celtics team they’re certainly good enough to beat Jokic as well. I can’t agree with the sweep/gentleman sweep takes. I can see either team winning in 6 or 7.
Hope for an interesting series but almost coming back from 0-3 that was a good story for Boston and cannot easily be topped, who knows.
Kevin and Kyle have not been playing well. Sure Heat role players will show up, but they are going to have a tough time with Jokic. The Nuggets are a complete team and have been playing really well in these playoffs. These guys have also gotten to rest (I know it doesn't always work out in their favor). Talent wise, the Heat are outmatched. I know the Heat have had a really nice playoff run, but I definitely see their magic running out in the finals.
Biggest issue Miami is going to have is that Bam and Williams are way too small to bother Joker. Worst possible matchup for them. They're built to stop perimeter-oriented teams like Boston. Small ball 5 isn't going to work here.
It helped Miami that Giannis was injured and that the Celtics, despite being the way more talented team, played stupid. My father who is a die-hard Hawks fan says every day to me is that the Hawks beat the Heat in the play-in. The Nuggets are healthy and they aren’t going to play stupid like Boston…Nuggets in 5.
Heat need to split one of the first two. If Herro is back by game 3 and can ramp up his progress over the duration of the finals anything is possible. Bam can't be a no show. I think the Heat will cover Jokic 1 on 1 and stay at home on the shooters. Bam will likely get destroyed but I think that's Miami's best chance defensively. Let Jokic go for 50 but stay home on the perimeter players. Doubling him is useless. He'll just find the open shooter everytime. Maybe you double off of Gordon occasionally. If the Heat pull this off I wouldn't be upset about the Rockets 6th seed accomplishment. This would be much more impressive. They don't have a player in the same stratosphere as Dream. It would be the most impressive championship in the history of basketball.
I predict Herro a net negative. It's one thing to come from a long layoff to regular season game shape and be effective (usually at least several games), but in the intensity of the NBA finals? Just don't see it. Rooting for Nugs b/c Joker deserves it and b/c want Rox to keep lowest seed record, as many of you have mentioned.
Yes, then after that you can have a handful of posters here make 1000's of posts compare Sengun to a man that just won back to back mvp then won a title the 3rd year. I do hope Sengun has a career half as good though as Jokic. A lot to live up to....
IMHO the Serbs had the better players in NBA history. It is easier for Sengün to surpass someone like Turkoglu or Ilyasova or Okur. But Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic? Not to say all the other Balkan players. Rich history.
I have a futures ticket from the casino that I bought with my march madness winnings (Thanks UCONN) for Denver to win it all at 10-1 @ $20. so I'm all in. Go Nuggets!
The NBA did put him as one of the top 15 coaches just last year (alongside Doc ). That being said, Denver is on a mission this year.
