NBA Finals Denver Nuggets v Miami Heat

[SamH]

Discuss.

[massiveridersfan]

Hard one to predict but I favour Nuggets to take the title.

[D44]

Miami have loads more depth and a more experienced playoff coach but can't see anything but a pretty easy Nuggets win providing Joker and Murray stay fit throughout.

[milehigh]

Nuggets have the stronger 8 man rotation, that all play team basketball, they have had a week to prepare and are fully acclimatised to the high altitude in Denver.

I think it will be Nuggets in 5 with Jokic as the series, and play offs, MVP.

[SamH]

Also Denver hasn't lost at home since March. The only advantage I give Miami is that they're more experienced at this stage in the playoffs. Finalists 3 years ago in the bubble and a game away last year. They're not a typical 8 seed at all, which is usually an up and coming young team thats squeaked in for its first appearance.

So give the Heat a slight edge there and they've also overcome the tougher journey to the finals by a mile.

Im still going Denver but im going to say in 6. Which does mean winning on the road but i think the teams split games 1-4 then Denver takes 5 and 6.

I actually fancy Miami in game 1. Too much rest = too much rust for the Nugs.

[SamH]

Nuggets take game 1. I thought that was the opportunity for Miami to steal one while Denver might have been rusty. Having missed that opportunity, it is very difficult to see a way back now because i don't see them winning game 2 either. My prediction was a split of games 1 and 2, then another split in games 3 and 4.

I'll probably be wrong again but im now revising my prediction to Nuggets in 5!

[spacejammer]

Just watched Game 1 today and to be honest I'm a little disappointed in the UK coverage.
Last year when watching Warriors vs Celtics in the finals they had the NBA UK guys travel over there live and do commentary stuff during timeouts.

This year I tuned in expecting the same pre game build up and half time show but they didn't have it this time.
I know in the UK basketball gets little attention but when it comes to the NBA particularly the NBA finals.
I would have thought they'd be doing a little more I order to get viewers invested into this.
Especially when the football season has now finished and there's not as much on.

[milehigh]

I don't bother with UK coverage of American sports, it's easy to use a VPN and watch the live domestic market stream of the games. It also allows me to chose what games I watch, as all NBA, MLB and NFL etc games are shown live.

[SamH]

I have league pass but think this will be my last year of it. I don't watch enough throughout the season, and the highlight packages they have of games are available easily online anyway. I'll probably just subscribe for the playoffs at the cheaper rate next season.

I think bbc1 are showing one of the games, probably game 4 as its on Friday night?

[milehigh]

My VPN subscription is a lot cheaper than the NBA pass and It allows me to watch other sports too, so god value.

[SamH]

I have a vpn, which US sites offer free streaming though?

[milehigh]

That would be telling :-)

[dandayr]

Jun 4, 2023 19:18:18 GMT SamH said:

I have league pass but think this will be my last year of it. I don't watch enough throughout the season, and the highlight packages they have of games are available easily online anyway. I'll probably just subscribe for the playoffs at the cheaper rate next season.

I think bbc1 are showing one of the games, probably game 4 as its on Friday night?

if BBC only showing one game - you've missed it.
Game 1 is available to watch on iplayer till friday

[SamH]

And sure enough I was wrong about game 2! Now we have a series, great. Hope it goes at least 6 games! The Heat just keep defying expectations!

[massiveridersfan]

It was tight though. However, a win away is invaluable for Miami. Somehow, Butler appears to have gone off the boil somewhat. If he can hit his best form then Heat have a chance of winning the series.

[SamH]

Interesting discussion on PTI around certain stats - when Jokic scores 40+ in the playoffs, Denver is 0-3. When he has more than 6 assists, they are 37-1 for the season, he only had 4 in game 2. So his passing rather than scoring seems to be the key. Also they pointed out the Heat support players were 2/23 in game 1, and 17/30 in game 2 so that was a big difference.

Fun fact - the Heat have a bench player, don't think he's actually played yet, called Nikola Jovic. Be funny to see him line up against the Joker!

[SamH]

Jun 4, 2023 21:59:05 GMT milehigh said:

That would be telling :-)

Yes it would! although I guess you have to watch them live? Which I hardly ever do unless the game is on earlier than usual...

[dandayr]

Jun 6, 2023 11:25:23 GMT SamH said:

Interesting discussion on PTI around certain stats - when Jokic scores 40+ in the playoffs, Denver is 0-3. When he has more than 6 assists, they are 37-1 for the season, he only had 4 in game 2. So his passing rather than scoring seems to be the key. Also they pointed out the Heat support players were 2/23 in game 1, and 17/30 in game 2 so that was a big difference.

Fun fact - the Heat have a bench player, don't think he's actually played yet, called Nikola Jovic. Be funny to see him line up against the Joker!

 more fun fact - if he does get court time, can add to the list of UK born players to get minutes in the NBA playoff finals

[hayesboy]

He briefly came on at the end of G1. They made specific mention of it in the commentary. Apparently Joker had taken him to dinner the night before.

[Stephen Abootman]

Got on the floor for 30 seconds in game 1 and has played minor minutes in various other blowouts during these playoffs. Had no idea he was born in England or that his dad apparently played for Riders.