The 2023 NBA Playoffs are turning out to be an enthralling contest among the beat and underdogs. It is a fairytale for the Miami Heat, who are on a course of joining an elite club. The Heat were the last team anybody picked in hopes of reaching the NBA Finals. With many deserving teams in the playoffs, it is sure a surprise to see the Heat making it this far. Even so, Miami is just 1 win away from reaching the NBA Finals.
With any team playing as an eighth seed, they are likely to face elimination in the first round. They are also handed a lower draft pick. With all things against them, it is rare to see an eighth seed going past the Conference Finals, let alone the first round. This time around Los Angeles Lakers and the Heat entered the Playoffs as the 7th and 8th seeds respectively. However, both teams in different Conferences are putting on a show.
HEAT TAKE A 3-0 LEAD ON THE CELTICS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/C4NaCejYx3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2023
The Lakers are on the brink of elimination, as the Denver Nuggets take a 3-0 lead in the WCF. As for the Heat, they continue to impress, with one win away from booking their spot in the NBA Finals. It will be their second NBA Final appearance in 5 years. Many expected the Celtics to beat the team from Miami, however, it is turning out to be a near-impossible task for them.
The New York Knicks is the only 8th-seed team to reach the NBA Finals
Only one team has managed to reach the NBA Finals as an 8th seed in the NBA. It was the New York Knicks, who had a terrific shot at the title back in the 1998-99 season. The Knicks grabbed the 8th seed with a record of 27-23 in the East.
The last time an 8th seed reached the NBA Finals was almost 2 decades ago. However, there has never been an 8th seed to win the title. The Knicks managed to reach the Finals in 1998 but were left heartbroken by the No.1, San Antonio Spurs. It would be the first of five NBA titles for Tim Duncan and Greg Popovich in the next 15 seasons.
The Spurs put the series to bed after winning the series in 5 games. It was enough for the Spurs to see out the Knicks 4-1 in the series. Despite all the heroics from the Knicks, they couldn’t handle the pressure from the Spurs. They were destined to win the title right from the start of the playoffs. The Heat have a genuine chance to win the title, at the pace that they are playing.
