NBA Finals Preview: Heat vs Nuggets

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 31, 2023: Jimmy Butler, an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat, attend the semifinal match at 2023 Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky via Shutterstock

By: Joshua Martin

We may not have arrived to the Finals matchup we expected but it's definitely the one we deserved. The two best players in this year’s playoffs lead two squads who are polar opposites in almost every spectrum. 

You have Jimmy Butler who, with the combined forces of excellent coaching by Coach Eric Spoelstra and timely shot making from undrafted vets, helped propel a squad without its second leading scorer back to the championship round for the second time in 4 years. It's truly a David vs. Goliath scenario. So has been the journey for the Heat the entire way it seems. Starting in the play-in tournament, eventually becoming an 8th seed. No one had the Heat in this position.   

Then there’s Nikola Jokic, two time MVP, undisputed leader of the best team in the western conference all year long, leading a squad that's incredibly deep, consistently brilliant offensively and poised to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time in its franchise’s history. Jamal Murray and Jokic have been historically good this postseason and the Nuggets are finally healthy at the right time. 

The Journey

The Nuggets haven’t been tested much this postseason if we're being honest. Jokic dominated a brittle Lakers team with a flurry of triple doubles, sweeping them in the Western Finals. Murray turned back the hands of time and gave us a taste of what we saw from him in the bubble against the Suns, lifting them to a 4-2 series victory. The Timberwolves stole a game but it’s called a “gentleman's sweep”, emphasis on the word sweep, for a reason. 

The Heat on the other hand lost its first game of the play-in tournament but bounced back to secure an unfavorable first round matchup against. Unfavorable until Giannis sustained a back injury. The Heat handled the Bucks in 4-1 series thumping. Kept that same energy against the Knicks, reaching 4 wins in 6 games. Though pushed to a game 7, the Heat's supporting cast stepped up again led by Caleb Martin's deadly stroke from deep, becoming the first 8th seed since 1999 to reach the NBA Finals.  

Heat X factor - Caleb Martin - averaged 19.3 points per game in the east finals, along with shooting 60 percent from the floor and 49% from three.

X-Factors

Stars like Jokic, Butler and Jamal Murray will definitely have their say so on how this series will unfold but like most cases, the championship series is usually won between the margins, X-factors making timely shots and crucial decisions made by coaches in pivotal situations.

For the Heat, their fairing in this matchup hinges largely, in my opinion, on the health of Tyler Herro. After averaging 20.1 ppg for the Heat during the regular season, Herro has played only 19 minutes this postseason after suffering a broken hand in game 1 of the Bucks series. Herro isn't known for his defensive prowess but he is a capable scorer. For the Heat to have a legitimate chance in this series, they need all the firepower they can get to keep pace with the Nuggets. Shortly after Game 7, Senior NBA analyst for TNT, Chris Haynes, reported that Tyler is on course to return very soon.   

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (hand fracture) is ramping up workouts and is expected to make his return at some point during NBA Finals with Game 3 being the likely target, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 30, 2023

The Nuggets have a number of players to pinpoint in this section. Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon. All are solid choices but the former number 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft may be the key to securing a title. Over the past few seasons, MPJ has thoroughly bought into being a role player but there are still plenty of moments when his pedigree shines through. Standing at 6’10”, once Porter Jr. gets going it's easy to see where the Klay Thompson comparisons come from. At his size, he will be able to simply shoot over or dribble past many of Miami’s defenders. If MPJ is involved and hitting his shots, he could be a nightmare matchup for the Heat. 

Final Verdict

I've been totally wrong this entire playoffs. I initially thought the Bucks would represent the East with the Suns coming out of the West in a possible 2021 finals rematch. Both teams eventually fell by the wayside after sustaining crucial injuries and facing scorching hot teams who couldn’t miss from the field. But this is about the present, the here and now. And honestly, I believe the Heat will win. I know the Nuggets have a better deeper team, so did the Celtics. I know the Nuggets have a dominant MVP big man, so did the Bucks. The Nuggets faithful don't tend to reach the heights of some of your more delusional Knicks fans but I'm pretty sure Ball Arena will be in a raucous frenzy. With all that being said, this year’s playoffs have shown me that my gut is no longer reliable. Whatever I know, I truly don’t. 

Heat in 6. 

NBA Finals Schedule

Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat

Game 1: At Denver, 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday (ABC)
Game 2: At Denver, 8 p.m. ET Sunday (ABC)
Game 3: At Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET June 7 (ABC)
Game 4: At Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET June 9 (ABC)
*Game 5: At Denver, 8:30 p.m. ET June 12 (ABC)
*Game 6: At Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET June 15 (ABC)
*Game 7: At Denver, 8 p.m. ET June 18 (ABC)

* - if necessary

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Previewing the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament

Jimmy Butler

via Sports Illustrated

By: Joshua Martin

Finally!! 

The 2022-2023 NBA regular season is officially in the books and now 20 teams have the opportunity to compete for the prestigious Larry O’Brien Trophy. With so much chaos down the stretch, we now have a complete look at the playoffs and play-in tournament.

NBA Playoff Picture 2023 by NBA.com

The final day of the regular season saw several teams jockeying for playoff position in the uber competitive Western Conference. 

The Los Angeles Lakers faced somewhat of a test against the Utah Jazz, who were playing without its regular rotation of players but Lebron James flexed his stroke from deep draining 8 of 14 threes and totaling 36 points as the Lakers locked in their position in the play-in tournament.

LEBRON HIT THE CROWN CELLY AFTER THE DAGGER THREE 👑 pic.twitter.com/LVHBtWzPzY

— ESPN (@espn) April 9, 2023

The T-Wolves and Pelicans were also in a bout that had significant playoff ramifications but unfortunately a heated exchange between Rudy Gobert and Kyle Anderson stole the headlines. 

Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gobert had to be held back after Gobert swung at Anderson in HEATED exchange 😳 pic.twitter.com/jvB9xawHNn

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 9, 2023

Minnesota eventually won securing their position in the play-in but lost a key contributor in Jaden McDaniels, fracturing his hand after punching a wall on his way to the locker room.

After sending Rudy Gobert home for punching a teammate, Jaden McDaniels fractured his hand punching a wall.

Timberwolves are playoff ready. pic.twitter.com/MvZBMUqC2P

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 9, 2023

The Eastern Conference wasn't as exciting with playoff positions set in stone. Four of the top six seeds suffered losses with the majority of them resting starters to prepare for the playoff push. 

2023 NBA Play-In Tournament matchup schedule

Play-In Game 1: (8) Atlanta at (7 Miami)

No one mucks up an opposing team's game plan like the Miami Heat. Both teams were inconsistent for the majority of the season but “Playoff Jimmy” is real. I like the Heat to advance. Sorry Trae…

Play-In Game 2: (8) Minnesota at (7) LA Lakers

No Rudy? No problem… The Lakers definitely caught a break with the Timberwolves unforeseen inner turmoil and with the three time Defensive player of the year facing a 1 game suspension imposed by the team, The Lakers win easily…

Play-In Game 3: (10) Chicago at (9) Toronto

Two veteran laden teams that undoubtedly had higher expectations heading into the season. This might be the most competitive out of the four games during the play-in. I'm a personal fan of great guard play and defense. Raptors in a close one. 

Play-In Game 4: (10) Oklahoma City at (9) New Orleans

Oklahoma City may be the biggest surprise this season. Yes they have talent but they are also super young and inexperienced. Despite numerous injuries, The Pelicans somehow won enough games to make it in but unfortunately their postseason will end Wednesday night. Shai and the endless supply of Williams at the Thunder’s disposal will advance to the next round.

The Playoffs are where legends are made and after an eventful regular season I'm pretty sure this year’s Playoff run will be filled with even more unforgettable moments.

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Power to the Player: How Athletes Are Taking Back Their Agency

By: Prince Hakeem

Since ancient Greco-Roman times, athletes have been some of the most admired members of society. From Koroibos in the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. to LeBron James playing at an elite level in 2021, athletes have long enamored spectators with their god-like abilities and accomplishments.

These physical feats have garnered them riches, influence, and celebrity status. As a result, the concept of the athlete has grown as well. They've gone from being human marvels to the driving force behind today's sports business. More than anything else, the modern athlete has become a symbol—a representation of teams, countries, communities, and traditions. However, what happens when the people who embody these symbols become forgotten and their autonomy diminished.

Ironically enough, the same platform which grants privilege, success, and visibility often becomes their prison—turning them into prisoners of lofty expectations and coerced groupthink. In an increasingly individualistic American society, the line between "team first" vs. the athlete's goals and overall health is becoming blurrier. There's always been this tightrope within sports, especially with social media bringing it more into focus.

From player empowerment, tough contract negotiations, social justice advocacy, ownership amongst athletes, and more, we're witnessing a shift in sports culture. It's no longer "shut up and play ." Better yet, athletes have more control of their narratives and destinies than ever before. They now realize that the sports business model cannot function without them. It's led to more advocacy for radical approaches to the game, compensation, mental health, and legacy. You do not have to look far to find examples of this change.

For starters, look at the developments surrounding tennis star Naomi Osaka. Known for her shy demeanor, Osaka garnered a lot of attention back in June when she announced that she would not participate in press events ahead of the French Open. The 23-year-old cited mental health struggles as her reasoning. 

"I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes' mental health, and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one," she wrote in a Notes post. "We're often sat there and asked questions that we've been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds, and I'm just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me."

Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open after refusing to attend press conferences. Osaka says she suffers from depression and experiences, "huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world's media."

TPN/Getty Images

This, however, did not stop controversy within tennis and the media from arising. Osaka was labeled "selfish" and "entitled" by several media members and old-guard veterans of the sport. The French Open organization hit her with a $15,000 fine and  threatened "further and greater consequences if she continued to decline her media obligations." In response, Naomi took matters into her own hands, withdrawing from the tournament altogether.

Instead of giving any further explanation, she advocated for her well-being. Osaka leveraged her power and pulled out of Wimbledon as well. On a bigger scale, the major tournament groups missed an incredible moment. The French Open could have used the opportunity to send a message of support and compassion. It certainly would garner positive publicity, positioning the sport as progressive. They instead opted to "flex" their muscles of tradition to prove a point. Now Naomi sits in a better light-publicly- all because she chose to do what's best for her, sending a  message for others to do the same.

The ability to act with agency is more feasible for some athletes to do than others. Someone like Naomi would have an easier time doing this due to the individual nature of their sport. An athlete making personal decisions within team sports is challenging. None more so than in football. 

Football is a cultural focal point within American society. The sport has served as the vehicle for racial and social integrations, celebrating the ideals of community and teamwork. It is one of the last and oldest institutions where subordinating one's individual goals for a collective objective is essential. Altruistic-yes-realistic, not so much. Today's football is more about commercial success rather than small-town virtues and values. And when it comes to business, everyone with a stake in the game moves accordingly- in their best interest. 

This form of advocacy can be seen with today's NFL stars. There is a multitude of reasons which explain why. It all starts with the NBA's LeBron James. The kid from Akron changed the sports landscape with his infamous "Decision" to join the Miami Heat. Since then, the league has transformed into a player and star-driven commodity. Superteams are the norm, and players leverage their skills to have a say in front office decisions. This influence has crept its way into the NFL.

Despite not having fully guaranteed contracts, players are more empowered in today's game. Thanks to tougher agents, higher standard salaries, the players union, and a stronger CBA, NFL stars can disrupt the system in their favor. Quarterback Tom Brady is a clear example of this. Towards the end of 20 years with the New England Patriots, Brady wanted to help provide some personnel decisions. He wanted the team to surround him with better offensive talent. By the fifth Super Bowl ring, he had more than earned that luxury.

However, he was met with disrespect and even multiple attempts to move on from him. Brady, in the end, had enough of begging the Patriots and went to an organization that respected his word. He leveraged his winning experience for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get every receiver he needed for a seventh Super Bowl ring.  

Coming off an MVP season, Aaron Rodgers is fighting for his career and legacy. The 37-year-old  quarterback is currently in a stalemate with the Green Bay Packers. After years of keeping the organization competitive, Rodgers has had enough of general manager Brian Gutekunst and the front office's dismissive attitude towards him. The tension has been brewing for a while, most notably since the Packers' decision to draft Utah State's Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft. An MVP season including 4299 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and back-to-back trips to the NFC Championship game is what Rodgers has as a bargaining chip. And even that could not garner Rodgers enough cache to have input in offensive personnel decisions. So now he is using his status as a player to send a message to his team. He has gone on record claiming that he loves his teammates, coaches, and the fanbase. It is not about money or wanting his ego stroked. For Rodgers, it is about legacy and respect for his contributions to the game.

Additionally, athletes are now the source, thanks to social media. They hold their own press conferences on Instagram, make career announcements on Twitter, and dictate negotiations with just a "Like" button. Times have changed, probably for the better. These instances demonstrate how a shift in agency and power is good for the individual athlete and necessary for sports as a whole. It sends a message that doing what's best for oneself should be the norm, not a spectacle.

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