At the beginning of the 2022-23 NBA season
began, there quite a few teams with sexier profile and better A-list talent
that were projected to reach the league’s championship round this late spring. Some
prognosticators that had boys from the “Rockies” of Colorado representing the
Western Conference in The Finals. But they had their share of skeptics,
especially with how they closed out the regular season. Injuries and
inconsistency on offense had many downplaying the chances for the boys from
“South Beach” representing the Eastern Conference in The Finals. Both squads rose
their level of play during their respective runs the first three rounds of this
postseason and now will battle it out for the NBA title. Here is the J-Speaks
2023 NBA Finals Preview.
After a 7-10 mark to close the season, there
was plenty of skepticism of if the Denver Nuggets had the right stuff to make a
serious run in the postseason in the stacked Western Conference, despite being
the No. 1 Seed in the West, which that they have been since the middle of
December 2022.
The Nuggets took on their critics outside
their locker room by taking down the No. 8 Seeded Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1.
After splitting the first four games with the No. 4 Seeded Phoenix Suns, with
both teams protecting home court, the Nuggets won Game 5 (118-102) at home and
finished off the Suns emphatically in their gym (125-100) to win the series
4-2.
Then the boys from the “Rockies” slayed a
major dragon from postseasons past authoring their first 4-0 postseason series
sweep by taking down the No. 7 Seeded Los Angeles Lakers in Western Conference
Finals to earn their first trip to the NBA’s title round in their 47th
season of existence in “The Association.”
A season filled with injuries and ranking
in the bottom of “The Association” in scoring and three-point percentage had
many feeling that last season’s East runner-up in the Miami Heat’s postseason
run this spring would be a short one.
That nearly came to fruition when the Heat
blew their first chance to clinch a Playoff spot with a 116-105 loss versus the
Atlanta Hawks in their first contest in the East Play-In Tournament.
Those postseason hopes were on serious
life support two nights later versus the Chicago Bulls. But a strong finish in
the final period earned the Heat a 102-91 win versus the boys from the “Windy
City,” and the No. 8 Seed in the Eastern Conference and a date with the No. 1
Seed in the East in the Milwaukee Bucks.
The loss of perennial All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo in the early minutes of Game 1 of the opening-round gave the Heat life and they split the first two games of the series at the Bucks (won Game 1: 130-117; lost Game 2 138-122). Then won both games over the Bucks back in Miami (won Game 3: 121-99 and Game 4: 119-114) and closed the Bucks out in their gym (128-126) in overtime to win series 4-1.
In the sixth postseason chapter against
the No. 5 Seeded New York Knicks, the Heat quickly stole homecourt advantage
winning Game 1 (108-101), splitting the first two games at Knicks (lost Game 2:
111-105). The Heat took control of the series by winning Games 3 (105-86) and 4
(109-101) to go up 3-1. After dropping Game 5 at the Knicks (112-103), the Heat
closed out the Knicks back at home in a nail-biting drag-out win (96-92) to
take the series 4-2.
In their third tilt in the Eastern
Conference Finals in the last four years against the No. 2 Seeded Boston
Celtics, the Heat grabbed the series by the throat with both hands winning
Games 1 (123-116) and 2 (111-105) at the Celtics and them blew them out back
home (128-102) to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The Celtics roared right back into the
series with stellar wins in Games 4 (116-99), 5 (110-97), and 6 (104-103), with
Game 6 being the most painful because they overcame a 10-point deficit in the
fourth quarter only to lose on a follow score at the final buzzer to tie the
series 3-3.
The Heat, however put their trademark
resolve on full display with a dominant victory (103-84) in Game 7 at the
Celtics to win the series 4-3 and earn their seventh trip to the NBA Finals in
their franchise history, with all coming since 2006.
For both the Nuggets and Heat, reaching
this point where they stand just four wins away from a title is the result of
careful construction of their respective rosters. Finding the right head coach who
can get the very best out of their respective squad. Each squad’s best
player(s) bringing it each night to the hardwood, especially in the postseason.
Above all, both squads has used heartbreak
from postseason’s past to build the kind of resolve that has resulted in both reaching
the point where their goal of winning a title is within their sight.
For the Miami Heat, this will be their
seventh appearance in The Finals, all since 2006, with six of those seven
appearances under the stewardship of head coach Erik Spolestra.
The Heat’s first Finals appearance in 2006
came under Hall of Fame head coach Pat Riley, with Spoelstra as an assistant
coach.
That roster consisted of future Hall of
Famer Dwyane Wade, who the Heat drafted No. 5 overall out of Marquette
University. The supporting cast around Wade, which was assembled via trades and
free agency consisted of Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning,
who the Heat acquired when Riley first got to Miami via trade from the
Charlotte Hornets, and now works in the Heat’s front office. That team also had
Hall of Fame guard Gary Payton; former Celtic Antoine Walker, Jason Williams,
James Posey, Shandon Anderson, Derek Anderson, Michael Doleac, and Udonis
Haslem, the only member left from the Heat’s three title squads.
In the four seasons that followed, the
Heat struggled to regain that championship feeling losing in the opening-round
in three out of those next four seasons and the lone season they missed the
Playoffs in 2007-08, they won just 15 games.
After 2007-08 season, Coach Riley
re-signed as head coach but retained his title as team president and promoted
Spoelstra, Riley’s longtime assistant as his successor.
After falling in the opening-round of the
Playoffs in 2009 (4-3 to the Hawks) and 2010 (4-1 to the Celtics), the Heat knew
they had to upgrade the roster around Wade.
In the summer of 2010, they went star
hunting and used their war chest of salary cap space to sign now four-time Kia
MVP LeBron James and fellow perennial All-Star Chris Bosh to pair up with Wade.
That resulted in representing the East in
The Finals four straight times (2010-14) winning it all in 2012 and 2013.
Playing the supporting roles with James,
Wade, and Bosh during those four seasons were Mario Chalmers, current General
Manager of the Phoenix Suns James Jones; current Michigan University Men’s
Basketball head coach Juwan Howard, who also spent time with the Heat as an
assistant coach; Hall of Fame sharp-shooter Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Mike Miller,
Shane Battier, two-time All-Star Rashard Norris, Norris Cole, and Chris
Andersen.
After the departure of James, the initial
departure of Wade in free agency in summer of 2016, and the sudden retirement
of Bosh in 2017 due to blood clots, the Heat from 2014-19 missed the postseason
in three of those next five springs. They lost in seven games in the East Semis
to the eventual East runner-up in the Toronto Raptors and lost in the First
Round in the 2018 Playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Heat’s run back to The Finals this
spring began back in 2003 when Haslem, who over the past few seasons has been
more of a de facto assistant coach, signed as a free agent in the late summer
of 2003 after the University of Florida product played a year overseas.
In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Heat with the
No. 14 overall pick selected out of the University of Kentucky their current
starting center Bam Adebayo, who since becoming a full-time starter back in
2019-20 has been an All-Star selection in two out of the past four seasons
(2020 and 2023) and been on the All-Defensive Second Team the past four
seasons, including this one.
So far this postseason, Adebayo has been
solid with averages of 16.8 points and 9.2 boards on 49.2 percent from the
field, registering seven double-doubles and six games of 20 points or more.
Of those seven double-doubles Adebayo has
had this postseason, it includes a triple-double of 20 points, 10 rebounds and
10 assists in the Game 5 series clincher at the Bucks. His seventh
double-double came in the Game 7 clincher at the Celtics where Adebayo had 12
points and 10 rebounds with seven assists.
“I mean, we never thought it would be easy.
Going through these Playoffs. Going through this season. Ups and downs. Good,
bad. Through the adversity. Nobody let go of the rope,” Adebayo said in his
postgame presser after the Game 7 win. “The biggest thing for us is just keep
going.”
In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Heat hit the
jackpot again selecting at No. 13 again out of the University of Kentucky Tyler
Herro, who in 2022 won the Kia Sixth Man of the Year Award and ascended to a
starter role this season averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists
in 67 games played.
Unfortunately, Herro has been on the shelf
for during the Heat’s postseason run to The Finals because of broken hand
suffered late in the first half of Game 1 of the First Round at the Bucks.
Turner Sports and Yahoo! Sports’ Chris
Haynes reported at the start of this week that Herro could return during The
Finals, with Game 3 as the potential date for his return.
In the offseason of 2019, the Heat found
their headliner in six-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler, who they acquired
from the 76ers in a four-team deal.
While he built himself literally and
figuratively into one of the best two-way players in the NBA his first six
seasons, Butler’s in your face, take no prisoners, play hard, be about the team
personality did not always mesh well in his first three stops with the Chicago
Bulls, who drafted him with the final pick (No. 30 overall) in the First Round
in 2011, the Minnesota Timberwolves or
Philadelphia 76ers.
The marriage between Butler, Riley, and
Spoelstra and the Heat has been a match made in heaven, especially come Playoff
time where all Butler has done is raise his game the past four springs in
“South Beach.”
In the 2020 Playoffs in the restart in
Orlando, FL, Butler averaged 22.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and six assists on 48.8
percent from the floor.
Following a subpar 2021 postseason that
saw the Heat suffer a four-game sweep at the hands of the eventual NBA champion
Milwaukee Bucks, Butler, who averaged just 14.5 points, 7.5 boards and seven
assists on 29.7 percent from the floor redeemed himself with averages of 27.4
points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals on 50.6 percent from the
field in leading the Heat back to the East Finals.
In Game 7 versus the Celtics in last
season’s East Finals, the Butler had 35 points, but his go-ahead three-point
attempt in the closing seconds as the Heat overcame a 13-point deficit earlier
in the final period missed and the Celtics rebounded and closed the game out
with two free throws for the 100-96 win and a represented the East in 2022 NBA
Finals.
This postseason, Butler has lived up to
his so-called Playoff nickname “Playoff Jimmy” starting in the opening-round of
this postseason, where he averaged 37.6 points, six boards, 4.8 assists and two
steals on 59.7 percent from the floor in the opening-round series wins versus
the Bucks.
Butler scored 35-plus in three of the five
games, including a career-high and Heat single-game playoff record 56 points in
the Game 4 win with nine rebounds on a sparkling 19/28 from the field, which
included three made triples and 15/18 at the foul line.
In the Game 5 clincher at the Bucks,
Butler in the final seconds of regulation scored on an alley-oop pass out of
bounds that tied it and forced overtime. He finished Game 5 with 42 points,
eight rebounds and two steals on 17/33 shooting, with three more made
three-pointers.
To open the East Semis at the Knicks
Butler led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds but missed Game 2 due to an
ankle sprain suffered in the fourth quarter of Game 1.
Butler returned in Game 3 to post 28
points going 9/21 from the field and 10/11 at the charity stripe in the win and
followed that up with another double-double of 27 points and 10 assists with
six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in Game 4.
In the Game 6 clincher, Butler scored 24
and overcame a 7/22 night from the floor by going 10/11 at the foul line.
Butler had his fingerprints in the Heat’s
first two wins of the East Finals at the Celtics with 35 points, seven assists,
and five boards on 12/25 shooting and 9/10 at the line Game 1 and in Game 2 had
27 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks on again
12/25 shooting.
The next four games though were a struggle
for Butler where he averaged just 20.8 points on 37 percent from the field,
going 3/11 total from three and the Heat lost three of the next four games.
In Game 6 though, Butler, who had just
nine points on 2/16 from the field the first three quarters, scored 15 points
on 8/10 from the foul line in the fourth quarter, including making three
straight foul shots late in the final period following a foul on a right corner
three-point attempt by Celtics’ Al Horford that put the Heat up 103-102 with
three seconds left.
The Celtics though pulled out the win at
the final buzzer 104-103 when Derrick White followed up a three-point miss by
Marcus Smart that nodded the series 3-3 after the Heat led series 3-0.
After the game though, Butler in his
postgame presser made it clear that his rough shooting night, where he went
5/21 from the floor in Game 6 was just one of those rough games that you have
and that he vowed that his squad was going to go into Boston and take Game 7.
“Basketball at it’s finest. Very, very
entertaining. But that’s good basketball and I think, I believe as we all do,
you’re going to get the same test until you pass it. I swear,” Butler said referring
back to the Heat falling in Game 7 in 2022 East Finals and not closing out the
Celtics in Game 6 this East Finals. “We’re in the same position as last year
and we can do it. I know that we will do it. We’ve got to go on the road and do
something special. But we’ve got a special group.”
The Heat led by Butler take down the
Celtics in their gym 103-84 in Game 7 to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals
for the second time in the past four seasons.
Two other All-Stars that the Heat brought
in last season that were big parts in their run to The Finals a season ago in
Kyle Lowry and Victory Oladipo.
Oladipo, who was acquired from the Houston
Rockets on Mar. 25, 2021, has spent a great deal of time on the shelf because
of a knee injury. When he did play, especially last postseason, he provided
some serious offensive punch off the bench.
The former No. 2 overall pick by the
Orlando Magic in 2013 out of Indiana University was averaging 11.5 points on
52.6 percent from the field demolishing ended his season.
Lowry, who was acquired by the Heat on
Aug. 6, 2021 in exchange for youngster forward/center Precious Achiuwa and
veteran Goran Dragic brought a wealth of postseason experience that included
helping the Raptors win their first title in franchise history back in 2019.
Injuries have limited Lowry’s impact with
the Heat, especially this past regular season. When he returned from a knee
problem back in February, Coach Spoelstra decided that it was best to bring
Lowry off the bench to anchor the second unit and it has paid off in a big way.
Lowry really showed out in the Knicks
series with 18 points, six assists, five boards and four blocks, going 3/6 from
three in the Game 1 win. He had 14 points off the bench in Game 3 and 15 points
and five rebounds off the pine in Game 4. In the Game 6 clincher of the East
Semis versus the Knicks, Lowry had 11 points, nine assists, and three steals.
In the Game 2 victory at the Celtics,
Lowry had 12 of his 15 points in the second quarter.
While they have not played a great deal
this postseason, veteran addition back in the regular season in Kevin Love and
Cody Zeller have given the Heat something just as important since their
respective arrivals in “South Beach,” professionalism and in the case of Love
championship experience.
Love, who contract was bought out by the
Cavaliers, who he has been with since 2014 signed with the Heat on Feb. 20,
2023 is one of three players on the Heat that have won a championship (2016
with Cavs), joining the aforementioned Lowry (2019 with Raptors) and Haslem
(2006, 2012, and 2013 with Heat).
Love, a 15-year veteran in 21 games in the
regular season with the Heat averaged 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in under 20
minutes in 21 appearances in the regular season and has averaged 6.9 points and
5.8 rebounds in 18 minutes so far this postseason.
Zeller, who was also signed by the Heat on
Feb. 20 averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 boards in 14.4 minutes in 15 regular season
appearances. So far in 16 appearances in the postseason, the former No. 4
overall pick in 2013 out of Indiana University has averaged in 16 appearances
2.6 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Along with the drafting as well as signing
and trading for the right pieces to their championship puzzle, the Heat under
Riley’s watch since 1995 have struck gold in bringing in undrafted players and
develop them into key contributors.
Currently, the Heat have seven undrafted
players on their roster and three of them have played a major part in getting
them to The Finals for as mentioned seventh time.
Among those seven is Duncan Robinson, who
signed a two-way deal on July 10, 2018 and then signed a standard NBA deal on
Apr. 9, 2019.
The former University of Michigan product
turned his opportunity into a five-year, $90 million deal that he signed in
early August 2021.
Robinson though, fell out of the regular
rotation back in the regular season. Injuries to Oladipo and Herro opened the
door for Robinson and he has made the most of his minutes, averaging 9.3 points
on 46.9 percent from the floor and 44.6 percent from three so far this postseason.
In the Heat’s blowout win versus the Bucks
in Game 3 of the opening-round, Robinson had 20 points on 7/9 shooting,
including 5/6 on his threes off the bench.
Back in November of 2020, the Heat added
more perimeter shooting to their offensive attack with the signing of undrafted
forward Max Strus out of the University of DePaul, who had previously signed
two-way deals with the Celtics and Bulls.
Strus after having his deal converted to a
two-way in December 2020, he eventually earned a standard deal in August 2021
and after averaging 6.1 points on 45.5 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent
from three in 39 appearances in 2021, rose those averages in 10.6 points on
44.1 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three in 68 appearances (16 starts).
Strus raised his game to even greater heights this past regular season with a
new career-high of 11.5 points on 35 percent from three in 80 games (33
starts).
So far this postseason, Strus is averaging
10.3 points on 45.2 percent from the field, and 35.9 percent from three.
In the East Finals versus the Celtics,
Robinson scored in double-figures in four of the seven games, including a
22-point effort on 7/11 from the floor, including 5/7 from three in the blowout
win.
In the early part of January 2020, the
Heat signed undrafted guard Gabe Vincent out of the University of California
Santa Barbara to a two-way deal.
He played sparingly in the Heat’s run to
The Finals four seasons back but earned his way into the regular rotation the
past two seasons, which included starting half of the 68 games he played this
past regular season. He became a full-time starter this postseason and has been
magnificent with averages of 13.1 points on 39 percent on his triple tries and
89.3 percent from the charity stripe in 17 games played.
After solid outings of 15 and 16 points in
the first two games at the Bucks, making four triples in each contest,
Vincent’s grand entrance into this postseason came in the Game 5 clinching at
the Bucks with 22 points and six assists also making four triples.
In Game 1 of the East Semis at the Knicks,
Vincent chipped in with 20 points and five assists, going 5/12 on his threes.
Vincent had the game of his life in the
Heat’s Game 3 thrashing of the Celtics (128-102) with 29 points on a sparkling 11/14
from the field, including a career-high six made threes, going 6/9 from
distance.
“We’re just playing good basketball. Good
team basketball,” Vincent said after his career night to the “Inside the NBA”
on TNT crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal
in Game 3. “We know where the ball got to go and then we play from there. Guys
make plays.”
In the 2023 East Finals against the
Celtics, Vincent averaged 15.8 points on 48.5 percent from the field, and 51.6
percent from three (16/31 3-Pt.).
While Butler and Adebayo have gotten well
deserved praise for their play in helping the Heat reach The Finals and as
impressive as Vincent was in the East Finals, one major reason the Heat are
four wins away from their third title in franchise history was the play of
another undrafted free agent pickup, Caleb Martin.
Martin, who went undrafted out of the
University of Nevada in 2019, Martin began his NBA career on a 10-day contract
with the Charlotte Hornets, playing with his twin brother Cody Martin, who was
selected by the Hornets in the Second Round of that draft.
Caleb turned that 10-day deal into a
multi-year one. Two years later though, the Hornets waived Caleb and after not
getting any traction for a while on another NBA gig, he joined the Heat on a
two-way deal in September 2021 and then in February 2022 had his contract
changed to a standard deal before re-signing a three-year, $20 million deal in
early July 2022.
After averaging a career-highs of 9.6
points and 4.9 rebounds on 46.4 percent from the field and 35.6 percent on his
triples in the regular season, Martin has risen those averages to 14.1 points
and 5.7 boards on 56.6 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three.
In the opening-round versus the Bucks,
Martin was solid with averages of 11.2 points and 5.4 boards on a sparkling
63.3 percent from the floor and 43.7 percent from three. His best all-around
game of the series was his double-double performance 12 points and 11 rebounds
with two steals in Game 3 versus the Bucks. He followed up with 12 more points
and nine rebounds with two more steals.
In the East Semis against the Knicks,
Martin averaged 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds on 45.8 percent from the field and
35.7 percent from three. Without Butler in the Game 2 loss at the Knicks, Martin
helped the Heat be in position to win with a series-high of 22 points and eight
rebounds on 8/15 from the field, including 4/8 from three.
While Butler took home East Finals MVP
honors, Martin’s performance put him in prime position for that honor with
averages of 19.3 points and 6.4 boards on 60.2 percent from the field and 48.9
percent from three (22/45 3-Pt.).
Martin closed out the East Finals well
with back-to-back double-doubles with 21 points and 15 rebounds in the Game 5
loss and 26 points and 10 rebounds in the Game 6 series clinching victory.
Martin went 7/13 shooting, including 4/8 from three in Game 5 and 11/16 from
the floor and 4/6 from three in Game 6.
Most Points Per Game In Conference Finals Since 1983 (Minimum of
Three Games
Vinnie Johnson (DET) 21.0 PPG 1991
Mark Aguirre (DET) 19.3 PPG 1991
Caleb Martin (MIA) 19.3 PPG 2023
Tyler Herro (MIA) 19.2 PPG 2020
James Harden (PHI) 18.5 PPG 2012 w/Thunder
This moment for Martin came to fruition
thanks in large part to well-known when NBA on TNT’s Allie LaForce reported
during Game 2 of the East Finals that rapper J. Cole a week before the start of
training camp in 2021 called assistant coach Caron Butler that Martin is
available to be picked up.
Butler passed on the word to Coach Spoelstra
and asked Martin if he could come and be a part of the team’s scrimmage the
next day. Martin showed up and put on an impressive show in that scrimmage and
the rest is history.
The Heat’s Finals opponent in the Nuggets
will be making history when this championship round gets underway.
They will be the last team of the four
that entered the NBA in the 1976-77 NBA/ABA (American Basketball Association
merger).
The Spurs were the first NBA team
ironically enough to win an NBA title 24 years ago when they defeated the
previously mentioned Knicks in five games. It was the first of their five
titles won in seven appearances.
The Pacers made it to The Finals in 2000
led by Hall of Famer and current NBA on TNT color analyst Reggie Miller, Rik
Smiths, Dale Davis, NBA on ESPN/ABC television color analyst former head coach
of the Golden State Warriors Mark Jackson, and Hall of Famer Larry Bird.
The Brooklyn Nets (formerly the New
Jersey/New York) Nets led by Hall of Famer and current Dallas Mavericks head
coach Jason Kidd, former All-Star Kenyon Martin, Sr., current Nets television
color analyst and NBA color analyst Richard Jefferson reached The Finals in
2002 and 2003, falling to the Lakers and Spurs 4-0 and 4-2 respectably.
For the Nuggets, this will be their first
Finals appearance in their 47th NBA season, ending the fourth
longest active Finals drought.
Longest Active NBA Finals
Drought
Seasons Last Finals Appearance
Kings 73 1951
Hawks 63 1961
Clippers 53 yet to appear
To put how long it took the Nuggets to
earn their first appearance in the championship round into context, it took
them 94 wins in their postseason history, with 12 of those 94 victories coming
this spring before they made an appearance in The Finals.
Their first best chance of reaching The
Finals came in 1978 under Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown in 1978 where
they fell in that springs West Finals 4-2 to the then Seattle Supersonics (Oklahoma
City Thunder).
Their next chance did not come until 1985
under the winningest coach in franchise history in Doug Moe (432) but they went
down in five games to the eventual NBA champion “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers
led by Hall of Famers Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Coach
Riley 4-1.
It would be two-plus decades for the Nuggets
next crack at reaching The Finals in 2009 during the Carmelo Anthony and Hall
of Fame head coach George Karl era, but they came up short once again to the
eventual NBA champion Lakers led by Hall of Famers in the late Kobe Bryant, Pau
Gasol, and head coach Phil Jackson.
It took a decade-plus for the Nuggets got
their next shot at becoming Western Conference champions, but they lost again
to the eventual NBA champion Lakers, led this time by LeBron James and Anthony
Davis falling again 4-1.
Their fifth chance would be the charm as
the Nuggets finally slayed the Lakers in the West Finals for the first time in
four tries.
The difference this time around for the
Nuggets against the Lakers was that they had the better roster, and the better duo
in this case compared to seasons past.
The foundational players of the Nuggets
core came through the draft starting in 2014 with Nikola Jokic, No. 41 overall
in 2014.
When Jokic was drafted nine years ago, he
was asleep in his homeland in Sombor, Serbia and the Nuggets selection was
revealed on the broadcast here in the U.S. on ESPN’s ticker during a Taco Bell
commercial.
When Jokic first came to the Nuggets, he was a solid role player, playing behind center Jusuf Nurkic.
When Nurkic was traded to the Trail
Blazers in the middle of February 2018, and from that point forward, Jokic not
only established himself as not just the best player on the Nuggets but a Top
10 player in “The Association” winning Kia MVP the past two seasons and was in
the running for his third straight MVP honor this past regular season, which
was won this season by perennial All-Star Joel Embiid of the 76ers.
Nikola Jokic
Stats By Season
PPG RPG APG FG%
2015-16 10.0 7.0 2.4
51.2%
2016-17 16.7 9.8 4.9 57.7%
2017-18 18.5 10.7 6.1 50.0%
2018-19 20.1 10.8 7.3 51.1%
2019-20 19.9 9.7 7.0 52.8%
2020-21 26.4 10.8 8.3 56.6%
2021-22 27.1 13.8 7.9 58.3%
2022-23 24.5 11.8 9.8 63.2%
So far this postseason, Jokic has averaged
29.9 points, 13.3 boards, 10.3 assists on 53.8 percent from the field, 47.4
percent on his triple tries, registering a single-postseason career-high 13
double-doubles and eight of his 14 career postseason triple-doubles.
Jokic had five of those eight
triple-doubles this postseason have come in his last six games.
In the opening round versus the
Timberwolves averaged a solid 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists on
48.5 percent from the floor.
In the West Semis versus the Suns, Jokic
had the best postseason series of his career with averages of 34.5 points, 13.2
rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game on 59.4 percent from the field.
In the team’s 129-124 loss in Game 4
versus the Suns that notched the series 2-2, Jokic had a Playoff career-high 53
points with 11 assists on 20/30 from the field and 11/13 from the foul line.
The Nuggets began their current six-game
postseason winning streak led by Jokic triple-double of 29 points, 13 boards
and 12 assists on 12/20 shooting in the Game 5 win. He followed that up in the
Game 6 clincher at the Suns with another triple-double of 32 points, 10
rebounds and 12 assists on 13/18 from the field.
In the Game 6 clincher at the Suns, Jokic
had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists on 13/18 from the floor.
Most PPG While Averaging a Triple-Double
In Single Postseason Series NBA History
Round Year PPG Team
Russell Westbrook (LAC) 1st 2017
37.4 OKC
Nikola Jokic (DEN)
2nd 2023 34.5 DEN
LeBron James (LAL)
Finals 2017 33.6 CLE
Jokic picked right up where he left off in
the West Semis with third straight triple-double 34 points, 21 rebounds, 14
assists on 12/17 shooting, making all three of his triples in the Nuggets
132-126 win in Game 1 of West Finals versus the Lakers.
He had his fourth straight triple-double
in the Nuggets Game 2 win (108-103) versus the Lakers with 23 points, 17
rebounds and 12 assists with three steals.
Battling foul trouble in Game 3, Jokic
came alive scoring 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter in the 119-108 win
to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
In the Nuggets comeback win in the Game 4
clincher (113-111), Jokic had his eighth triple-double of this postseason with
30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists with three blocks on 11/24 from the
field, including 3/6 from three.
On the day that the Nuggets clinched their
as mentioned Finals appearance, future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony announced
his retirement from the NBA after 19 seasons, with the first eight with the
Nuggets.
When the Nuggets dealt Anthony to the
Knicks in February 2011 in a three-team deal, the Nuggets acquired the rights
to swap 2016 First-Round pick as a part of that deal.
Following the 2016 Draft Lottery, the
Knicks (32-50) following the 2015-16 were awarded the No. 7 overall pick and
the Nuggets (33-49) got the No. 9 overall pick. Both teams decided to exercise
that pick swap to move up to the No. 7 slot of 2016 Draft. That pick turned out
to be the team’s starting lead guard in Jamal Murray.
Murray became the Nuggets full-time
starter at point guard in his second season (2017-18) and over the next three
seasons averaged 16.7, 18.2 and 18.5 points on 45.1, 43.7, and 45.6 percent
respectably from the field and 37.8, 36.7, and 34.6 percent respectably from
three.
In the 2020 Playoffs, Murray was
incredible averaging 26.5 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds on 50.5 percent
shooting and 45.3 percent from three.
In 2020-21, Murray had a career season
averaging 21.2 points and for a third straight season 4.8 assists on 47.7
percent from the field and 40.8 percent from three.
Unfortunately, Murray’s career season was
cut short on Apr. 12, 2021 at the Warriors tearing his ACL in his left knee
that also kept him out the entire 2021-22 season.
Murray came back this regular season and
while it took him a while to get back to the form he was before, he found it
this postseason starting in the opening-round versus the Timberwolves averaging
27.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.6 boards on 47.1 percent shooting, and 42.9
percent from three.
In the Nuggets 122-113 win in Game 2,
Murray had 40 points on 13/22 from the field, including 6/10 on his triple
tries and 8/9 from the foul line. In the series clinching victory (112-109)
versus the Timberwolves in Game 5, Murray had 35 points and five assists on
12/23 from the floor and 5/9 from three.
He began the Semis versus the Suns in
grand fashion with Murray scoring 34 points with nine assists and five rebounds
on 13/24 from the floor, including 6/10 from three. In the Game 5 series
clinching win (125-100) at the Suns, Murray had 26 points and four steals
making 4/7 from three and 8/8 from the charity stripe.
The Nuggets in their as mentioned first
ever postseason series sweep in their history in taking down the Lakers 4-0
were led by their dynamic twosome of Jokic, who averaged a triple-double for
the second straight series with 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 11.8 assists on
50.6 percent shooting earning the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Finals MVP.
“For me to be honest, nothing. This trophy
is supposed to go to my teammates and coaches,” Jokic said to ESPN’s Lisa Salters
during the Western Conference trophy presentation postgame. “They put me in
this situation. I’m just first amongst the equals. I’m just happy that we’re
collectively getting wins and getting to make something.”
Murray was also sensation in the West
Finals, averaging 32.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on 52.7 percent
from the field and 40.5 percent from three.
That dominance in the West Finals was kicked
with 31 points, five assists and five rebounds in the aforementioned Game 1 victory,
on 12/20 from the floor and 4/8 on his threes.
After a struggle the first three quarters
of Game 2 versus the Lakers with just 14 points and 5/17 from the field,
including 2/9 on his threes, Murray exploded with 23 points on 6/7 from the
field, including 4/5 from three and 7/8 at the charity stripe in the 108-103
win. That fourth quarter was the exclamation point of double-double of 37
points, 10 rebounds, and five assists on 11/24 from the field, including 6/14
from three.
Murray followed that up by scoring 30 of
his 37 points in the opening half in the Game 3 win going 15/29 from the floor
and 5/11 from three with six assists and seven rebounds.
While Murray had another solid night offensively
with 25 points on 10/18 from the floor and five assists in the Game 4 clincher,
his standout play of the night was his strip of James on the final possession
on his drive to the hoop in the final seconds that sealed the win and clinched
the Nuggets first Finals berth.
“I’m just glad I put the work in during
the rehab so I can reflect on that moment. Not regret anything during the rehab.
So, I can come out here. Be here with my guys,” Murry said to Salters about his
journey back from the torn ACL. “To make it this far with everybody means a
lot.”
In 2018, the Nuggets got lucky in that
draft when top draft prospect Michael Porter, Jr. fell to them at No. 14
overall.
Entering that June’s draft, Porter, Jr.
from a talent standpoint was one of the best. The concern was the surgery he
had on his lower back that limited him to just three games in his lone season
at Missouri University before he declared for the draft. That surgery scared
away the first 13 teams in that draft and Nuggets pounced drafting Porter. Jr.
at No. 14.
Porter, Jr. sat out his entire rookie
season of 2017-18 following a second back surgery. He had a solid rookie season
in 2019-20 averaging 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 55 games (8 starts) on 50.9
percent from the floor and 42.2 percent from three.
In his second season, Porter, Jr. played
very well averaging 19 points and 7.3 rebounds on 54.2 percent from the floor
and 44.5 percent from three, and resulted in him signing a five-year, $172
million rookie extension, that would be raised to $207 million deal if he ever
makes any of the three All-NBA squads.
Last season though, Porter, Jr. missed all
but nine games after undergoing a third back surgery. He came back this regular
season strong averaging 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds on 48.8 percent from the
floor and 41.6 percent from three.
During the Nuggets postseason run back in
2020 restart in Orlando, FL, Porter, Jr. in the team’s West Semis versus the
Clippers during a postgame interview voiced his displeasure about his playing
time and his role in the offense.
This postseason, Porter, Jr. has found his
niche as a complimentary third well behind Jokic and Murray and has been very
solid. He also has gotten better defensively and as a rebounder.
So far this postseason, Porter, Jr. has
registered double-digit rebounds seven times, which includes six of his nine
postseason career double-doubles.
In the Nuggets Game 1 blowout of the
Timberwolves to start the 2023 Playoffs, Porter, Jr. had 18 points and 11
rebounds, going 4/9 from three. He had a near double-double in Game 3 at the
Timberwolves with 25 points and nine boards on 10/17 shooting, including 4/9
from three. While Porter, Jr. struggled offensively in the Game 5 clincher
versus the Timberwolves with eight points on 3/10 shooting, including 2/7 on
his threes, he had 10 rebounds and two steals.
Porter, Jr., whose averaged 14.6 points
and eight rebounds on 45.5 percent from the floor ad 40.8 percent from three
registered three of his six double-doubles in the West Finals against the
Lakers, including in Games 3 (14 pts, 10 rebs, six assists) and 4 (15 pts and
10 rebs).
Over the past two seasons, the Nuggets’
front office led by Kronke family, then GM Tim Connelly and now current GM
Calvin Booth have made solid moves in the players they acquired and signed in
free agency.
In late March 2021, the Nuggets acquired
forward Aaron Gordon from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Gary Harris, then
rookie R.J. Hampton and a First-Round pick in 2025 (Top 5 protected).
Best known for his throw downs in the
All-Star Saturday Night slam dunk contests in past seasons, Gordon has been a
solid starter since his arrival to the Nuggets, especially defensively. So far
in the 2023 Playoffs, Gordon has averaged 13 points and 5.5 rebounds on 49
percent from the floor and 35.1 percent on his triple tries.
In the Nuggets Game 1 win of the West
Semis versus the Suns, Gordon had a postseason-high 23 points and six rebounds
on 9/13 shooting, making three of his four triple tries.
In the West Finals clincher at the
aforementioned Lakers, Gordon had 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and two
blocks, including the game-ceiling block on James in the final seconds of Game
4.
Back in February 2015, the Nuggets
acquired from the Trail Blazers swingman Will Barton became. He along with
former Second Round pick in 2017 (No. 51 overall) in Monte Morris became major
parts in the Nuggets turnaround in becoming a postseason perennial.
Morris really showed his worth at the lead
guard spot in the absence of Murray in 2021-22.
Last offseason, Morris and Barton were
dealt to the Washington Wizards in early July in exchange for veteran two-way
guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who two-way ability and championship experience
have been a great fit. So far this postseason, Caldwell-Pope has averaged 11.7
points on 48.1 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from three.
The Nuggets saw the impact KCP can have in
their 2020 West Finals tilt with the Lakers, who won the title in the restart
in Orlando, FL. He has had that same impact with the Nuggets, who he helped to
end the Lakers season one round short of The Finals.
In the Nuggets 25-point win in the previously
mentioned Game 6 clincher at the Suns, Caldwell-Pope scored all 21 of his
points in the opening half in helping the Nuggets build a lead as high as 32
points in the first 24 minutes. He also had two steals in that win.
He also registered 21 points with two more
steals on 9/17 shooting, making three triples in the opening victory of the
West Finals versus the Lakers. He had 17 points in the Game 3 win at the Lakers
registering two steals again going 4/7 from three. In the Game 4 clincher,
Caldwell-Pope had 13 points making 3/7 from three.
Another key addition to the Nuggets
championship run came in the middle of July 2021 was veteran journeyman Jeff
Green, who is playing for his 11th team in his 15-year NBA career.
Green along with Caldwell-Pope and reserve
guard Reggie Jackson, who was claimed off waivers after being dealt at the
February 2023 trad deadline from the Clippers to the Hornets are the three
players that have Finals experience.
The most impactful addition for the
Nuggets has been Bruce Brown, who the Nuggets signed in free agency in early
July 2022.
So far this postseason, Brown is averaging
12.2 points and 3.9 boards off the bench on 53.1 percent from the field. He has
provided some serious versatility off bench for the Nuggets whether as a back
up guard, a screener or as a cutter for easy baskets.
In the Nuggets Game 5 win in the West
Semis versus the Suns, Brown had 25 points and five rebounds on 7/11 from the
field and 9/10 at the charity stripe. In the Game 3 victory in the West Finals
at the Lakers, Brown had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.
While he has not had a major impact off
the bench in terms of numbers as Brown has, rookie Christian Braun, the Nuggets
No. 1 draft choice (No. 21 overall) out of University of Kansas has played on
average 11.8 minutes in 14 of his 15 appearances this postseason. He has been
more of a positive in his minutes more than a negative, displaying his maturity
and poise in the post pressure time of the season.
The man who has been the leader of this
Nuggets run to The Finals has been Michael Malone, who the Nuggets hired to be
their sideline leader in the middle of June 2015.
Inheriting a Nuggets squad that won just
30 games in 2014-15, the Nuggets won 33 games in Malone’s first season
(2015-16) and 40 games in his second season (2016-17) just missing out on the
Playoffs. They won 46 games in Malone’s third season, missing out on the
Playoffs after falling in the regular season finale of 2016-17 at the
Timberwolves.
The Nuggets made the postseason after a
five-year absence winning 54 games in 2018-19 and took down the Spurs 4-3 in
the opening-round of the 2019 Playoffs but fell in the West Semis to the that
season’s West runner-up in the Trail Blazers.
The Nuggets 2020 Playoffs in the restart
in Orlando, FL saw the Nuggets overcome a 3-1 series deficit the first two
rounds to take down the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in seven games but
saw their season conclude in the West Finals again to the Lakers.
Without Murray the last two postseasons,
and the aforementioned Porter, Jr. last postseason the Nuggets made the
Playoffs because of his emergence as one of the 10 best players in “The
Association” winning as mentioned MVP the last two seasons. It was not enough in
the spring as the Nuggets in the 2021 West Semis to the Suns 4-0 and 4-1 in the
2022 West Quarterfinals to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
The returns of Murray and Porter, Jr.
alongside Jokic got the Nuggets back to the West Finals and this time they
broke through to The Finals.
The biggest difference with Nuggets this
postseason compared to postseasons past under Coach Malone has been their willingness
to play consistent defense and cohesiveness on offense.
The best example of this was displayed in
Game 5 clincher of the West Finals at the Lakers, where the Nuggets held the
homestanding Lakers to 38 points on 15/41 from the field and 1/9 from three in
the second half, wiping out a 15-point deficit at intermission, outscoring the
Lakers 55-38 in the second half, including 36-16 in the third quarter.
“I think for me, the most satisfying part
about this journey is who I am on the journey with. I have a tremendous
coaching staff. I have a tremendous front office. Great ownership and the 17
players behind me who came to work every day. Check their egos at the door for
something much bigger than themselves,” Coach Malone said to Salters during the
Western Conference trophy ceremony on the most satisfying part of this
postseason run.
“We have great players. We have tremendous
depth and we have a lot of character on this team and I love each and every one
of our players.”
During the regular season, the Nuggets won
both games, winning 124-119 versus the Heat on Dec. 30, 2022 and at the Heat
112-108 Feb. 13, 2023.
This series has many factors in what will
decide the outcome.
For starters, can the Heat win game at the
Nuggets, who have gone 8-0 so far this postseason at Ball Arena, the lone team
to not have a single loss at home so far in the 2023 Playoffs.
They also have defeated the Heat six straight
times in their gym dating back to the regular season. The Heat’s last win at
the Nuggets, Nov. 30, 2016 (106-98), where Jokic and Murray came off the bench
as they were in the infancy of their now budding NBA careers.
For the Heat, they have won six straight
Game 1s dating back to 2022 Playoffs, including winning Game 1 in all three
rounds in the 2023 Playoffs, stealing homecourt advantage right out of the
gates. That is how the Heat took down the Bucks, Knicks, and Celtics in five,
six, and seven games respectably.
“We’re a really good basketball team with
really good players and we just play together, and we play hard, which is a
good sign for us,” Butler said to ESPN Radio’s Ros Gold-Onwude after Game 7 win
at the Celtics.
Butler added about starting on the road at
the Nuggets, “We’re going to be alright. This is what we have to do. We like it
the hard way. We never want it easy. We’ve got to go get some in Denver.”
Then there is the question for the Heat of
can they contain down Jokic and Murray? For the Nuggets, can they contain
Butler.
Outside of Adebayo, the Heat really do not
have anyone to match up one-on-one with the two-time Kia MVP. If they throw a
double-team on him, that is going to open up backdoor cuts and spot ups from
the perimeter.
When asked by Zubin Mehenti, Nicole Briscoe,
and NBA analyst Tim Legler during the ESPN’s “Sportscenter” following the
Nuggets series clinching win at the Lakers back on May 23, Coach Malone said
that one of biggest improvements that Jokic has made in his game how he “challenges”
himself to get better every offseason.
Coach Malone added that while his star
center’s “IQ” on the floor is off the charts, his greatest skill that he possesses is his ability to make everyone around him better. That he “steps up” in big
moments. How he rises to the moment in the clutch.
More than anything, the biggest
improvement Jokic has made specifically this season is his command as a leader
and using his voice in practice, during film session or in the locker room.
That respect Jokic has from his teammates
comes from according to Coach Malone said to Mehenti the fact that they “love
him.” They “listen” to him and “respect him.”
In the case of Murray, the Heat can throw
a plethora of defenders from Butler, Lowry, and Vincent. That may not work
either because of Murray’s sudden ability to strike a match from the perimeter
or going to the hoop if he is overplayed.
Most 25-Point Games In Single Postseason
In Nuggets History
1985 Alex English 13
2009 Carmelo Anthony 11
2023 Nikola Jokic 10 and
counting
2023 Jamal Murray 10 and counting
2020 Nikola Jokic 10
2020 Jamal Murray 10
“It’s going to take us to be together. I
think that’s the main thing,” Murray said to Salters when asked on what it will
take to finish the task of winning a championship. “We can do anything
together. Soon as we start to separate, that’s when we struggle. So, once we do
that through the ups and downs, we’ll be fine.”
Other than Jokic, no one has risen their
game to the highest of levels in this postseason or in three of the past four
postseasons than Butler, who has registered eight games of at least 28 points
so far.
The Nuggets have a plethora of defenders
to throw in his direction from Gordon, Caldwell-Pope, Brown and maybe even
Braun. Perhaps the best thing the Nuggets can do to contain Butler is to resist
the urge to trash talk with him. Just ask the Celtics Grant Williams who Butler
worked over offensively in the fourth quarter of Game 2 after he spoke his mind
to Butler and that led to him being lit up at the defensive end in the final
period.
The other factor that will decide who wins
this series are the ancillary players from Lowry, Vincent, Strus, Robinson and
possibly Haywood Highsmith of the Heat and Gordon, Caldwell-Pope, Brown, and
Braun of the Nuggets.
So far this postseason, the Heat reserves
has averaged 35.6 points while the Nuggets reserves have averaged just 19.5
points.
Vincent, Strus, and Robinson have carried
the torch for overlooked players very well this postseason and if they do it
for one more series, their names will be touted even longer.
While Jokic and Murray been the headliners
for the Nuggets so far this postseason and deservedly so, they have reached
this point of being four wins away from their first title in their history
because of the play of their supporting cast of Porter, Jr., Brown,
Caldwell-Pope, Gordon, and Braun.
Malone said to Mehenti, Briscoe, and
Legler on the additions over the past couple of seasons that “no one can win a
championship by themselves.”
While Jokic has been special, especially this
spring in the postseason, the Nuggets are in this position because of the aforementioned
additions they made via trade and free agency under as mentioned Connelly and
now Booth.
“I’ve had the pleasure to work with
tremendous front office people who have made sure we added the right players to
the puzzle. And it’s not just about talent. Talent is a given in this business,”
Malone added. “It’s all about character and identifying guys that are going to
buy in to our system. Our best player [Jokic] is completely selfless. A huge
part of our culture and we have a lot of guys stepping up. This is not just on
one player.”
The ultimate factor in this series is who
can impose their will over the other.
The Heat’s biggest strength this
postseason has been their ability to turn their opponent over at a high rate
and converting those turnovers into points as they have averaged 19.3 points
off their opponent’s miscues so far this postseason. They also have unlike the
regular season hit their threes at a high clip at 39 percent.
The one thing that has carried over from
the regular season to the postseason for the Heat is their ability to pull out games
in the pressure cooker.
Only the Dallas Mavericks have played more
games within five points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter/overtime,
better known as “Clutch Time,” than the 54 such games played by the Heat in the
regular season. While the Mavericks went just 26-29 in that scenario, the Heat
produced a league-best 32 wins, compiling a 32-22 mark in clutch time. This
postseason, the Heat have gone 6-3 in clutch time.
When the Heat have been up by
double-digits this postseason, they have gone a sparkling 8-1.
The times they have trailed by double-digits,
the Heat have gone 6-5 (the only team with a winning record in this scenario)
so far this postseason. Three of those six victories overcoming a double-digit
deficit came in the fourth period, which is tied for the most in the NBA’s 27 seasons
in the play-by-play era.
For the Nuggets if they can protect the
ball, they could dominate the Heat in the paint as they have averaged 51.5
points so far in the restricted area this postseason. They have also made 39
percent of their triples.
The Nuggets also have gone 10-0 so far
this postseason when leading by double-digits. When they have trailed by double-digits
so far in the 2023 Playoffs, they are just 3-3. But are an NBA Playoff-best 7-3
in clutch time the first three rounds of these Playoffs.
Along with who can impose their will during this Finals series, this could come down to a war of nutrition between the Nuggets and Heat.
The Nuggets will be coming off 10 days of
not playing while the Heat will be back in action after just two days of rest
and preparation.
The Nuggets stayed busy during this 10-day
break before The Finals practicing. Doing drill work, getting treatment on their
bodies, and having film sessions to stay as Gordon put it “locked in the gym,
working diligently.”
In his media availability earlier this
week, Coach Malone made that this will be the biggest challenge the Nuggets
have faced this postseason, which makes the fact that they have used this time
wisely in preparation to take a determined Heat team that is after the same
goal as them, this year’s Larry O’Brien trophy.
“You get to the NBA Finals, it’s not about
seeding anymore, and for those who are thinking that this is going to be an
easy series, I don’t even know what to say,” Coach Malone said about taking on
the Heat. “This is going to be the biggest challenge of our lives. This is the
NBA Finals.”
When the 2023 NBA Playoffs began, very few
outside if Denver, CO believed the Denver Nuggets would break through and
represent the West in The Finals. There was hardly anyone that was on the
bandwagon of the Miami Heat that they would make it to The Finals.
Both teams, through their grit, focus, and
determination are here competing for the Larry O’Brien trophy, which get
underway Thursday night, June 1 at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. The Heat, after falling
short of reaching The Finals in spring of 2022 are in a quest for their fourth
title in their history, while the Nuggets are at the doorstep of their first
one.
“Sometimes you have to suffer for the
thing you really want,” Coach Spoelstra said in his postgame pressure following
Game 7 win at the Celtics. “This group has fortitude, when there are inevitable
letdowns and failures, to have that perseverance to pick yourself up, to have that
collective spirit to keep on forging ahead until you get to accomplish what you
want to.”
“Last year was extremely painful,” Coach
Spoelstra added about the Game 7 loss in the 2022 East Finals versus the
Celtics. “We thought about it all season long. And if you don’t have an
opponent like that [Celtics] to bring you to a different level, sometimes you
don’t get there.”
The Nuggets though have the best player in
this series, Nikola Jokic. They have the more loaded team and they are hungry
to finish what they did not in 1985, 2009, and 2020.
“Our guys have believed along the whole journey that we’ve been on. But as I’ve mentioned our players are hungry. They’re not satisfied and they understand whether it’s Miami or Boston we have much more work to do,” Coach Malone said to Mehenti, Briscoe, and Legler about the challenge of winning four more games to become NBA champions.
He added by to that by saying to Salters
beforehand, “The guys behind me they believed since the start of training camp.
They believed coming into tonight. We have a special group and you’ve heard all
series long Lisa, ‘We’re not satisfied.’ We’ve got four more (wins) to go. But
love this group. Let’s go Nuggets nation.”
Prediction:
Nuggets in seven games.
Information, statistics, and quotations are
courtesy of 5/19/2023 8:30 p.m. “Heat vs. Celtics” 2023 Eastern Conference
Finals 2023 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel on TNT, presented by
AT&T 5G With Kevin Harlan, Stan Van Gundy, Reggie Miller, and Allie
LaForce; 5/21/2023 11 p.m. “Inside the NBA,” presented by Kia TNT With Ernie Johnson,
Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 5/23/2023 8:30 p.m. “Nuggets
vs. Lakers” Game 4 of 2023 Western Conference Finals, 2023 NBA Playoffs,
presented by Google Pixel, ESPN, presented by AT&T 5G With Mike Breen, Jeff
Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters; 5/23/2023 7:30 p.m. TNT “NBA Tip-Off,”
presented by Carmax With Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille
O’Neal, Allie LaForce, Kevin Harlan, Stan Van Gundy, Reggie Miller; 5/23/2023
11 p.m. ESPN’s news crawl and “Sportscenter” With Zubin Mehenti, Nicole Briscoe,
Tim Legler, with reports from Mike Greenberg, Stephen A. Smith, Jalen Rose, and
Michael Wilbon; 5/30/2023 www.nba.com story, “How
The 2023 NBA Finals Rosters Were Built: Miami Heat” By Brian Martin; 5/31/2023 www.nba.com story, “NBA Finals Numbers Preview:
Key Stats That Could Define Nuggets-Heat,” By John Schuhmann; 5/31/2023 www.nba.com story, “2023 NBA Finals Preview: Nuggets,
Heat Take Unique Paths To Finals Stage,” By Shaun Powell; 5/31/2023 https://sports.yahoo.com
story, “NBA Finals: Will Nuggets’ Long Layoff Be A Major Factor In Game 1?” By
Dan Devine; 6/1/2023 www.nba.com story, “How
The 2023 NBA Finals Rosters Were Built: Denver Nuggets” By Brian Martin; www.nba.com/game/mia-vs-den--0042200401;
https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-traditional?SeasonType+Regular%2022-23;
www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA;
www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/;
https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameid/401547678;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Heat#;
and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Nuggets.
