The Miami Heat have outclassed every team in the Eastern Conference so far. They have one obstacle left which is the Denver Nuggets. For all we know, the NBA Finals is going to be of high intensity. Both teams have been dominating the court with every ounce of strength they have. Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic are on pace to make history regardless of the outcome of the series.
Miami made history by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, which had the best record in the NBA this season. While the Bucks were thriving, Miami was struggling to stay afloat. They are the first 8th seed to reach the NBA Finals since 1999. The Boston Celtics almost had a comeback after winning three games after a 3-0 deficit. Miami used its best resources and fought every punch thrown their way.
NUGGETS. HEAT. THE NBA FINALS STAGE IS SET 🏆
WHO IS BRINGING HOME THE TROPHY? pic.twitter.com/nXxqx0sHDR
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 30, 2023
Denver’s rise to the top has been a little controversial among the fans. Some believe that the Nuggets had it a bit easier than the Miami Heat as they had faced weaker teams or ones going through a dry spell. However, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have both been averaging MVP-worthy numbers leading the Nuggets to the finals. Here are the expected starting lineups for Game 1.
Miami Heat Expected Lineup
• Gabe Vincent
• Max Strus
• Jimmy Butler
• Caleb Martin
• Bam Adebayo
Denver Nuggets Expected Lineup
• Jamal Murray
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
• Michael Porter Jr.
• Aaron Gordon
• Nikola Jokic
Will the Miami Heat stun the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals?
The Miami Heat have been through the deepest trenches in the playoffs so far. To say they won’t battle it through this series will be an underestimation of their capabilities. Butler has put up 28.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in the post-season so far.
However, with Caleb Martin’s recent emergence, his consistency will be key to their success in Game 1. The Heat is unsure whether Tyler Herro will return until later this series which is why Martin is a deciding factor.
We are all aware of Jokic’s outstanding numbers but people aren’t paying attention to Murray’s form at the moment. He has been averaging 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game beside Jokic’s 29.9 points and 13.3 rebounds. Their role players have also been producing winning numbers.
Miami has a losing record against the Nuggets which is a point of concern. They lost both games against Denver during the regular season. In a total of 72 regular season games, Denver has won 38 while the Heat won 34 games. The Nuggets may take away Game 1 as they seem much stronger statistically.