We are now down to two teams vying to call themselves World Champions. The Miami Heat represent the Eastern Conference and enter as the 8th seed. The Denver Nuggets represent the Western Conference and they’re the top seed entering this series. Miami is the first team in the short history of the play-in to reach the NBA Finals. Of course, they fell to Atlanta and then defeated Chicago to snag the 8th seed. They defeated the Milwaukee Bucks and then the New York Knicks to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. After going up 3-0, they let the Celtics come back and even the series at 3. Miami defeated Boston in Game 7 on the road to the advance to the NBA Finals. Last year, the Heat and Celtics went seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals with Boston winning. Can Miami do the impossible and bring home the championship?
The Denver Nuggets entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference. They entered the playoffs not playing their best basketball so many people soured on them. After defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round they didn’t expect to advance. In the series against Phoenix, many people had the Suns taking out the Nuggets. I’ll be honest, I’m one of those people as the Suns were my pick to defeat the Nuggets and go to the Western Conference Finals. They took down the Suns and moved on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers were playing their best basketball and once again, the experts and myself included pegged the Lakers as NBA Finals bound. Denver not only beat the Los Angeles, but they swept the Lakers. Can Denver finally win their first NBA championship?
We all know about Nikola Jokic and the greatness he brings to the game. Jokic can beat you many ways and he’s a walking triple double. He makes everyone around him better with the way he sees the court. Jamal Murray has been excellent during these playoffs. Murray had a 30-point half against the Lakers and he’s a great scorer as anyone in the league. Many thought I was crazy by saying he was a great scorer on par with Devin Booker in that Suns series. While Murray and Jokic get a ton of praise and deservedly so, the supporting cast is well put together. The Nuggets have four other guys that’s averaging double figures in these playoffs. Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Bruce Brown, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is averaging at least 11 points. Can the Nuggets continue their stellar play and win their first championship?
Jimmy Butler is the leader of this team as he’s had a remarkable playoff run. Miami almost didn’t make it to this point after being forced to a Game 7 after being up 3-0. The Heat went to Boston for a Game 7 and dominated the Celtics on their way to their 2nd Finals appearance in four years. Bam Adebayo had his moments and will need to play a huge role on both ends of this series. Miami had five players averaging double figures and that doesn’t include injured stars Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo. Herro could return in this series after breaking his hand in the first game of the playoffs. They have had significant contributions from others in his absence. Caleb Martin was the star in the Eastern Conference Finals. Can Jimmy Butler finally get that elusive NBA championship?
Who Wins the 2023 NBA Championship?
It’s crazy that the Miami Heat is an 8th seed. Denver and Miami are similar in how they approach games. They both have guys besides their stars that can step up at any given time. Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson, and Max Strus can get hot anytime and score in streaks. Jimmy Butler will need to play out of this world for one more series. Bam Adebayo will need to be aggressive on both ends of the floor. We know what we are getting with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Those guys can carry this Nuggets team alone. KCP, Bruce Brown, and Michael Porter Jr. will need to continue to hit key shots for this team. Aaron Gordon will be a factor on both ends of the floor. This should be an amazing series and it could go seven games with the Nuggets winning.
Denver Nuggets Defeat the Miami Heat 4-3 to win their first championship.
