The teams
The Denver Nuggets, appearing in the finals for the first time, squaring off with the Miami Heat, NBA champion in 2006 (Dwyane Wade and Shaq), 2012 and 2013 (D-Wade, LeBron, Chris Bosh).
Was this expected?
That would be no. In fact, no times several hundred. The Nuggets were indeed a No 1-ranked team going into the playoffs. They finished with a 53-29 record before playoff series wins over the Timberwolves (4-1), the Suns (4-2) and the Lakers ( a 4-0 sweep). But the Heat is on the verge of a 2015 Leicester-like (or 2023 Highlanders-like?) fairytale.
Miami had a solid 44-38 season but only entered the playoffs as an eighth seed. The Heat then pumped the No 1 Milwaukee Bucks 4-1, beat the Knicks 4-2, and withstood a fierce Celtics comeback to win the Eastern Conference finals 4-1. Nobody picked this match-up.
Star men
Denver looks to the great Nikola Jokic — like every Serbian sportsman, it seems, he is known as The Joker — to absolutely dominate in the paint. He will average a triple-double. The Nuggets also lean on Jamal Murray, averaging nearly 28 points in these playoffs.
Miami has a decent centre in Bam Adebayo and some under-rated players in Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin, but the Heat is all about the man known as ‘‘Jimmy Buckets’’. Jimmy Butler is a lethal weapon and is capable of anything.
Who will win?
The Heat is a heck of a story, and Butler must never be counted out. But the Nuggets win in five. Otago and Denver basketball rules the world.
Schedule
All noon or 12.30pm NZT: Game 1, today; game 2, Monday; game 3, Thursday; game 4, June 10; games 5 (June 13), 6 (June 16) and 7 (game 19) if needed.
