Game Thread NBA Playoffs Thread - 2023 CHAMPIONSHIP! Nuggets vs Heat!

I don't have an antenna for local channels (though I should). So it'll have to be streaming free or on one of my packages.

But it looks like it should be.

 

Why? Do you think he could help us get GP2 back?

 

They are subjective for sure. Just my opinion with no basis to substantiate it.

 

And same for me really. Haha

 

Not sure how a true basketball fan can miss watching Jokic.

All those year of watching a selfish ball hog Kobe, but you don't want to watch the most skilled big man since Bill Walton?

 

I think the league has both way more parity than it used to plus currently no dominant teams.

 

I dont see how Miami is competitive in this series. Will be a Nuggets sweep most likely, maybe they have an off night and it goes 5.

Unlikely Jokic gets hurt in only 4 or 5 games but that's probably Miami most realistic chance.

The East was super weak this year. Phoenix or the Lakers probably beat Miami/ Boston/etc too.

 

Told ya about denver years ago

 

This is very true!

 

I think you are missing the point here but yes Butler missed a game due to an ankle injury and the Knicks took advantage of that immediately. Hats off to Butler for taking care of that injury during the three days he had off for it and getting back on the court.
I'm simply saying that I don't feel they would have got past the Bucks had Giannis been healthy and yes i consider it missing three games beings he only played 11 minutes in one of them. I also don't think they would have beat the Celtics had Tatum been healthy in Game 7. The very look of the play that he got injured on makes me think that. Instead of settling for a jumper he was being aggressive and drove to the hoop which is exactly what was beating the Heat.

As was stated in another post these things are completely subjective as there is no way to prove or disprove it. My overall point is more about "Make the Playoffs!" Even a 6-8 seed can make some noise even if everyone feels it will be a 4 game sweep as many assumed would happen to not only the Heat but also the Lakers. Pretty sure a number of people thought the lakers were done going against the Warriors. I can also find comments Sacramento beating the Warriors.

 

It would be "Fairly" funny no?

 

Heat in 5

 

4-1 Gentleman's sweep. Denver.

 

Actually, in the season, the Bucks, Sixers, and Celtics were the strongest teams in the league. Every West seriously struggled for a substantial stretch at some point in the season. Including the Nuggets.

 

The west also beat up on each other more with stronger teams all the way from the top down to 6th and 7th seeds such as the Warriors/Lakers. Thats why the Nuggets had 53 wins as a #1 seed - one of the lowest marks ever.

Bucks were a very strong team and if healthy could've matched any western team. The 6ers/Celtics/Heat just don't have the talent to contend with Nuggets/Suns/Lakers if all these teams are playing well.

 

Crazy stat someone posted that the West hasn't had a non Cali/Texas team win the title since the Sonics in 1979 - 43 years ago. Here are the west teams that made the finals in the timespan but all lost - followed by the east champ;

2021 Phoenix Suns (Bucks)
2012 OKC Thunder (Heat)
1998 Utah Jazz (Bulls)
1997 Utah Jazz (Bulls)
1996 Seattle SuperSonics (Bulls)
1993 Phoenix Suns (Bulls)
1992 Portland TrailBlazers (Bulls)

So 7 west teams - but 5 of whom were sacrificial lambs against the Bulls. Bulls won every series 4-2. Suns lost 2-4 as well, and Thunder 1-4.

 

I definitely disagree with that but we’ll never know.