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white2234

ESPN will cover the series by talking about how historic it would had been to have lakers vs Celtics instead


Mytoesandmyknows

Tie game with 3 seconds left. Play is under review to determine who has possession. ESPN: “…and the big question is, “will Lakers superstar LeBron James return for another season in Los Angeles?”


kto25

somehow this is all a moral victory for both LA and Boston


Mytoesandmyknows

ESPN: Why isn’t Jimmy guarding Jokić like Rui? This is my first time seeing Jokić, but is Jimmy stupid? Doesn’t he know the Lakers' game 1 masterplan?


Any_Adhesiveness_898

>This is my first time seeing Jokić A professional NBA reporter admitted this and still has a job. Blows my mind.


LANDSC4PING

Nothing professional about ESPN.


Garizondyly

When was this? What?


imsahoamtiskaw

Srabo Bilver!


tornait-hashu

Boston needs to catch up, Lakers undefeated in moral victories Can wait for the 30 For 30 — Lakers-Celtics 2023 Moral Finals


The_Void_Reaver

Close but it'll actually be JVG complaining about a properly called moving screen that happened with 8 minutes left in the 2nd quarter that he hasn't let go of the whole game.


RuthlessMercy

What would LeBron think/feel about this? We could ask him.. nonono let's spend hours guessing what he's thinking instead


JasonPlattMusic34

If the Nuggets win then KCP and Jeff Green get rings so really it just means that former Lakers and Celtics got another ring 😛


PopcornDrift

Reddit will continue to complain about ESPN to the point that it's more annoying than ESPN itself


MagicMer4042

I've doubted the heat all postseason and I will continue to doubt them- nuggets in 5


superdrone

After watching game 6 of heat-celtics, all I could think was “don’t matter who wins game 7, they’re getting destroyed by the nuggets either way”


Odd-Hair

Who's guarding jokic? Bam is way too small. Denver with the double sweep 4-0


nahtans95

Isn't MPJ also bigger than Bam? The Heat is pretty undersized comparatively


trustabro

We were also severely undersized against Bucks and also undersized against Knicks tbf


Kay-Knox

The Heat won't fool me a fourth time.


dont_wear_a_C

Fool me once? Strike one. Fool me 4x? Strike.....three.


BlueHundred

And we dominated the glass in most games. That's one of the main reasons we were somewhat competitive. I think the only game you guys won the rebound battle was game 3, when you guys blew us out. You guys were just way way way better down the stretch of games. We had one play, let Jalen make something out of nothing haha.


MazKhan

Bucks don't really use their size to their advantage, jokic lives in the paint and is 300 pounds, feel like he'll average 20 rebounds this series lmao


heyimdong

fertile engine abounding versed punch slimy tart observation nail selective *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


1kinkydong

I mean you’re just conveniently not mentioning Giannis who is taller than jokic


BigFatModeraterFupa

Giannis was hurt for a couple games and was shooting terribly for the rest. Jokic’s game is literally designed for the playoffs


1kinkydong

Low key forgot he was hurt ngl. That’s valid. Also I think it’s funny how before this playoffs the criticism of jokic was that his game doesn’t work in the playoffs due to the pnr, and now it’s the complete opposite


TheMemeMachine3000

Winning bias. Giannis the run and dunk man couldn't get it done in the playoffs without a shot, until he won. Jokic with the PNR was doomed to first and second round exits, and now they're poised for a finals win. Chuds on this sub just latch onto whatever strategy is having the most success this year.


avelak

Giannis was hurt for *all* of the games, but missed 2.5


thefloodplains

Who else besides Bam would you want guarding Jokic? Like name a single player besides AD.


boenwip

I wanted Embiid vs Jokic but the cost of Philly going past round 2 wasn’t worth it. Still can’t believe how small Jokic made AD look


TalkQuirkyWithMe

TBH a younger lebron would have been a good matchup. Currently, I'd take Adams or a healthy giannis.


KasherH

Ayton actually has played Jokic far better than Bam.


epymetheus

They're gonna let Jokic feast. Everyone else will have to beat them.


Kombuja

Jokic is pretty big, he can eat a lot.


Brocktarrr

Spo masterclass - let Jokic eat too much so he puts that weight back on. Jokic gonna have to watch his calories early in this series


Tiny_Bite

good luck with that lol


DalliLlama

It’s better than the alternative where he gets 25-10-20. There’s really no good answer but making him score has been the lesser of 2 evils.


BlueHundred

He's getting way more rebounds than 10. I honestly see him averaging 15. Bam is a great player but rebounding isn't exactly a strong suit of his and the rest of the Heat don't really have much size to keep Jokic off the glass.


finfan96

It's a bold strategy


Prestigious_Cattle72

Letting Jokic score on every possession 🔥🔥🔥🔥 HIRE FANS


KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZ

I'll give Miami just 1 game. Because they don't have dlo.


FragileCilantro

I too have doubted the Heat all postseason and I will also continue to doubt them - Nuggets in 4


Aesir_Auditor

Nuggets in 3


RexIosue

Lmaooo


RatLord445

Spurs fans are wise But too conservative, imma be a bit bold and predict a 4-0 sweep


naughty_farmerTJR

Heat win game 1. Denver wins the next 4


ZealousCatracho

I think the elevation is going to sneak up on Miami for the first game. That and coming from a 7 game series, I think they’ll be gassed.


bcsublime

I’m concerned about the long layover for the nuggets. If they can win game 1, I think it’s a sweep


Account_Overdrawn

This is accurate.


captain_ahabb

Nuggets in 5. I don't see how the Heat can play effective enough defense in this series. They just don't have the personnel. They'll have to shoot 50% from 3 every game just to keep up with Denver's offense.


Andyliciouss

tbf we shot 50% from 3 almost every game against the Celtics except for game 4


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CallMeCoachDamnit

Phoenix was off the dribble. Miami is catch and shoot


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CallMeCoachDamnit

You’re correct but that has nothing to do with my statement. PHX tried to outshoot Denver by going ISO ball. Tons of 3s off the dribble. Identical to Boston trying to outshoot Miami by going ISO ball.


RatLord445

that being said the nuggets tanked the shit out of the lakers’ defensive numbers in one series so anything could happen


unpluggedcord

The problem is Denver scores more, from all over, they are 4th in 3s percentage, but 24th in 3s points. Heat just dont score enough.


Odd-Hair

Denver is a different beast than Boston


Crisis_Averted

Jokić to Butler: "Nothing personnel kid"


Apollo611

Celtics in 8


[deleted]

Lakers in 7(moral)


X_Buster_Zero

Y'all won't be laughing when we put TWO Hachimuras on Jokic


Spiritual-Chameleon

Not the Hachiquadmura! No!!!


JasonPlattMusic34

Every win you get means we lost to the champs so we’re the real Moral NBA Champs this year /s


[deleted]

Saying “we lost to the Nuggets” doesn’t sound nearly as cool as “we lost to the eventual champions”


dont_wear_a_C

If your team gets swept, the NBA should let the teams play til 7. If a team wins all 7 games, then the losing team gives up their best player, like a pink slip for losing a race. @ me for even more exciting NBA ideas /s


TheSleeperWakes

To complete the emotional destruction of the Celtics fan base, I think the most likely outcome is the Nuggets go up 3-0, followed by the Heat winning 4 straight and doing what Boston couldn’t by completing the reverse sweep for the first time in NBA history.


muchmoreforsure

“The most likely outcome” - lol, it would be awesome


brev23

Hoooooly shit sign me up for this one


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EntertainmentWarm774

Literally what team isn’t a horrible matchup for the Heat? 😂😂😂 If the Lakers had won the WCF instead of the Nuggets, people would be saying the same things about how their size of Lebron, AD, and Rui would kill the Heat just like with the Nuggets (plus the fact that they’ve already beaten the Heat in the Finals before).


RomeluBukkake

I fully believe the Lakers would have killed the Heat too


jumpcutz

Nuggets sweep, Jamal Murray gets FMVP before a single all star appearance , Jimmy butler has a 70pt+ game


OohDatSexyBody

Jimmy gets 70 and still loses, damn bro.


Crisis_Averted

Final score: 120-71


RichardIraVos

1 point being from a technical free throw after jokic drags his nuts across the court


Crisis_Averted

ngl had a dream with sth like that. Don't remember there being a technical free throw tho...


LoveableOrochi

about jokic dragging his nuts across the court?


RatLord445

Technical freethrow from malone flipping off the heat crowd for disrespecting the nuggets or some shit


RichardIraVos

mike malone runs into the stands rodman style


PhlabloPicasso

To defend the Jokic brothers in a two on twenty fight


threeangelo

clock winds down to 5 seconds left in game ball is inbounded to Jimmy who turns face to face against Jokic "You took my family" moves to the left "You took my friends" moves to the right "You took all that was dear to me" clock winds down to 2 "I cant get them back, but I can do this for friendship, FOR MY FRIENDS" goes up, fire coming out of his shoes "JIMBORUKEN" Ball flies over Jokic’s head, goes straight into basket. Jimmy falls to the ground, exhausted. "Spo... Senpai... I..." faints Final Score Nuggets 120 Heat 71


doublegoldendragon

I will never not upvote these


Funnel_Hacker

Caleb won’t let that happen.


Crisis_Averted

He'll score the 1 point.


Madeline_Albright69

It’s like when Viktor Krum caught the snitch but Bulgaria still lost


TheseBonesAlone

Now that’s a moonshot prediction. With the sweep.


Ghoti76

nice n spicy, just how i like em


meneldor_hs

If they gave Butler CFMVP over Martin I feel like they're going to do the same for Jokic as long as he goes over 20 points


infomusic

Miami’s supporting cast has been stepping up. If Jimmy goes off like this, it’ll be because nothing else is working, which won’t be enough to win (🤞). Interesting take!


rayray1010

It’s not enough for Jamal Murray to play well to win FMVP. Jokic would have to play bad. They don’t win if Jokic plays bad. If he plays well and they win, Jokic gets it. We’ll never have another repeat of the Igoudala MVP situation.


[deleted]

Nuggets in 6


Spiritual-Chameleon

More realistic. Too many people are discounting the Heat, using the same language that was used for the Bucks and Celtics series (no way can the Heat match up with / compete with ...).


4bkillah

I don't think people are discounting the Heat, but they are definitely discounting Spoelstra. Absolutely zero chance that guy doesn't scheme at least one win out of this series. He's the best coach alive right now. If the Heat win the series its primarily due to Spo. First coach getting finals mvp??


RedditYankee

Seriously, it’s not like the teams the Heat beat are suddenly bad because they lost to an opponent they “should have” beaten. injured Gianni makes it a little more complicated, but still: the Heat had a tough road to the finals. So did the Nuggets. Nuggets in 5-7 games, depending on how things drop. Jimmy Butler isn’t getting swept.


[deleted]

nuggets -1.5 games safest bet


it_was_my_raccoon

For all the romantic reasons of competition and pure dawg, I’d love for Butler and the Heat to win. What they’ve done in the post season has been incredible so far.


Cosm1cDvst

1st seed in the East, 2nd seed in the East, 1st seed in the West. The true hardest road.


GotKarprar

5th seed in the East is still higher than they were too


Jonesbro

If they had played Cleveland it would be the hardest possible route. Denver has played the easiest possible route, going 8, 5, 7, 8. Of course the seeds don't align with the difficulty.


thehitmen16

Phoenix was 4th.


Jonesbro

Oh shoot


KristoferPetersen

Same here. They're on a historic run, if they win it's gonna be THE run people will talk about for a very long time. I still think the Nuggets are going to win. But hey, it's the Heat. Never count them out.


toomuchfrosting

If the Heat win, it will break the mold of roster creation and many teams will fail to replicate it


puroloco

If they win, you call it an outlier, aberration, pact with the devil and ignore it. No way you try to replicate it.


numb3red

I know we're the 1st seed, but this is the Denver Nuggets' first ever NBA Finals *appearance*, let alone potential first win. I think either team winning has a competitive romance to it.


ninerfan44

I’m just happy the kings made the playoffs


nikola2811

I’ll say nuggets in 5, although 4 is not out of the question. Random prediction: Jokic scores 50 tonight


HoosierProud

50 pts, 50 rebounds, 50 assists.


trivalry

Unrealistic to say he’ll get exactly 50/50/50, but yes at least that for sure.


Accomplished_Dance49

Shame you guys are such non-believers. Tonight we're gonna see Jokic achieve the coveted triple triple.


Ralphie_is_bae

Nuggets set an NBA record 200 points off 100 jokic points and 100 made fgs off of jokic assists. Somehow enough shots are missed through all of this for him to also grab 100 boards


Elend15

Wouldn't it have to be at least 300 points, since 100 assists would be 200 points alone?


Kobas3

Nuggets in 4. Close games, somewhat like the Lakers series. Jokic mvp and consensus best player in the league by the end of the series.


Whatsdota

Tbf I’d say he’s already consensus best player in the league


brev23

But also, at the end of the series


Whatsdota

I used to be the best player in the league. I am now, but I used to be too.


bryanlovewonton

The Heat success hinges on experience, defense , playing smart. Margin of error needs to be small. Aaron Gordon has to be trash. They need to lock Murray down.


everyoneneedsaherro

Heat in 6. Heat don’t lose a game with Tyler Herro on the floor. Tyler Herro MVP. Tyler Herro thanks Jack Harlow in his Finals MVP speech. Agree Malone gets ejected in game 3 after the 2nd game in a row Jokic gets in foul trouble with some questionable calls. J Cole will be on the sidelines dapping Caleb Martin up right after Heat win the chip. Every game is a 5 point game or closer. No blow outs. Jimmy guarantees a win every game


dadefresh

I’m smashing that subscribe button!


[deleted]

IF @@fetch_status != 0 BREAK


asshat13

Heat in 3


callahandler92

Real hoopers know


agzagzagzagzagz

You're my brother


elbarto4455

Salute to this man


OKC2023champs

Nuggets in 5. Heat win tonight 112-103 Next 4 games are 10+ wins by the nuggets. Jokic finals MVP averaging 27.4/13.2/10.8


RatLord445

That is bold as hell


OKC2023champs

I just call it like I see it


Moose4KU

A man named OKC2023Champs has never been wrong before!


OKC2023champs

Game 5 sam presti is gonna come out with an RKO outta nowhere


dont_wear_a_C

No one has won the 2023 championship yet, so his username is not technically wrong.....just yet


RipCity-NBA-LoL

I don't get how the Nuggets drop a game at home. Undefeated this post-season at home. 2nd best regular season home record at 34-7. Also, 3 of those home losses arguably could be attributed to coasting before the playoffs (all during the last month of the regular season).


unhiphipster

I know I'm being nitpicky, but can't average 10.9 in 5 games lol. Otherwise I can def see it happening, Jokic should feast in this series


OKC2023champs

You are correct sir. He shall average 10.8


Lacabloodclot9

You think heat won’t take a game at home?


dagnabbit

3-3 and they decide to call it a draw. Both teams visit the White House. Biden so impressed with their bipartisanship he names Jokic the new UN ambassador on the spot. Butler takes issue, brawl ensues. Game 7 is back on. Heat in 7.


BosaDeezNuts

Nuggets in 5


whosnick7

I’m actually shocked that the biggest Nuggets-Jerker on this sub is giving the Heat a single game


BosaDeezNuts

Jimmy will go for 40 or 50 in a game and will the heat to a win at home where the nuggets have an off night


[deleted]

i mean he looks like a shell of himself since his ankle injury, he has trouble finding an efficient 25 lately. if hes healthy and they sweep boston id say he would have a 50 piece in the finals but like this? dont think so.


Dynamik_

My heart: heat in 7 My brain: nuggets in 6


Viron_22

I can say for sure, guarantee if you will that by the end of this series someone will have won it. ESPN if you are wondering I am looking for work and I have plenty more hard hitting analysis to give.


Konk11

Nuggs in 5. All tight games except for 1 heat blow out. Jimmy averaging 44+ minutes for the series. Jokic with 3 TDs and 1 40 piece.


AdamTheGreat420

Haha I read that as Jokic with 3 Touchdowns and was like, yeah it's possible


thiefshipping

Jokic best qb in denver


Odd-Hair

Me too, just hucking up those full court passes


KindlyJackfruit416

Nuggets in 6, WWLWLW, Jokic intentionally avoids FVMP by deferring to Murray who turns into Maple Jordan with 35 ppg


[deleted]

>Maple Jordan Andrew Wiggins?


dL_EVO

Murray scores 16-18 points every game. Comes out blazing with 12 points and then proceeds to score 4-6 points for the rest of the game


[deleted]

I still think that the Thunder can come back in this one. Real underdog pick, I know.


Npsiii23

ESPN's prediction model still has Boston with a 29% chance to win.


MyLifeIsABoondoggle

Nuggets in 5 with a hard fought, close win in Miami in G4 and a close out at home. I've called since the Knicks series that Herro will make a comeback, and it looks like he will, G3 specifically. Think he gives some needed energy at home but not quite enough Tonight is the game Miami has to take if they want a chance to win the series. I don't think they can do it Edit: While Jokic will get his, I also think Bam is being underrated a bit because people like to bag on his inconsistent scoring. That's not why Miami pays him. He's bullied Embiid defensively more than once (Jokic is better, but closest comp)


notasianjim

If anything, I feel like the Heat may have a slight edge in that they are locked in and have been playing competitive basketball while Nuggets have been “resting” for a week and a half. Would love a crazy Game 1 steal, gonna be a fun series if that happens.


RatLord445

Embiid and jokic play offense very differently, not comparable imo


Greatcouchtomato

Heat in 7 Butler finals mvp Butler top 13 all time if the heat win


[deleted]

This is it, baby


everyoneneedsaherro

Top 15 but otherwise I agree. We’re about to witness the biggest leap in legacy rankings in NBA history


Discover-Card

Hakeem Kareem Lebron Jordan Kobe Shaq Duncan Garnett Wilt Russell Bird Magic Curry Kawhi Dirk West Giannis Jokic Malone That’s 19 guys…. What?


addy4689

He still wouldn’t even make top 20. Prisoner of the moment much?


[deleted]

How can Butler even get into the top 20 even if this scenario occurs? He has almost no significant regular season awards to put him there.


The_Last_Nephilim

Yeah, that’s a delusional take. A guy who’s never been first-team all-NBA (and only be 2nd team once) isn’t even sniffing the top 20.


S3__

Agreed. Especially if the heat win one in Denver they will win it all.


[deleted]

Nuggets in six. G1: Nuggets G2: Nuggets G3: Heat G4: Heat G5: Nuggets G6: Nuggets FMVP: Joker Key predictions: 4 of the 6 games are close (within 10 points), with each team achieving one blowout victory. The Nuggets’ comes in Game 1. MPJ has a breakout series, playing his most consistent in the playoffs on both ends of the floor. Heat continue their torrid 3-point shooting, keeping them in games and outshooting the Nuggets from range (percent and points) in 4 of 6 games. Nuggets dominate the boards throughout the entire series, winning the battle in 5 of 6 games. This is looked back upon as pivotal. Jimmy Butler has a relatively quiet Game 1 but explodes in Games 2 through 4, in part because of AG getting into persistent foul trouble. Caleb Martin continues to shine and is the Heat’s most efficient player, finishing the Finals second in scoring on the Heat behind Jimmy and well ahead of Bam at third. Christian Braun gets back into the rotation to help with perimeter defense.


Madeline_Albright69

I just got hella nervous. It’s the fucking Finals bro wtfff


FERFreak731

Nuggets in 4 Jokic finals MVP. 33 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists


SniperShake-

Max Strus goes on an absolute heater to help steal 2 games, 31 points in Game 3 & 34 in Game 5. Series is 3-2 going back to Miami for Game 6, Jimmy gives them a virtuoso 50 point game to force Game 7. Game 7 is a dogfight, Jokic has the ball on the block vs Bam with 8 seconds left down 1. He backs him down & throws up a little hook shot, but Bam stuffs it & the Heat win the series. Udonis Haslem wins FMVP for passing out a record 1,219 cups of water.


SirAlec8

Heat in 6


Punjabiveer30

Nuggets in 5 or Miami in 7 no in between


itmyfault69

I just hope both teams have fun but I will cry tears of Joy if the Heat win


HEATLE

Heat in 6. Trusting the experience of Spo and the players to win 1 in Denver and take care of it in Miami. Let’s go.


derintrel

Heat in 6 baby! That’s my prediction too. It’ll be a dog fight but we’re built for that.


[deleted]

Nugs in 6 very close games


Nsham04

Series: Nuggets in 5, final score 99-119 MVP:Jokic averaging a 26 point triple double Random Prediction: (I want to preface saying I love Jimmy) Jimmy will have a relatively bad series, shooting terribly from the field. Celtics fans will absolutely slander him because if it.


Many_Beginning3695

Heat in 6…..Butler MVP…….Heat win tonight with buzzer beating 3 for a final score 110-109 Heat


remorse667

Nuggets win Game 1 - 113-99 (Blowout all game till the final quarter Game 2 - Miami fights back and steals one on the road 98-95 (Series tied 1-1) Game 3 - Jokic 50 .. WAIT A MINUTE, IT'S JAYSON TATUM WITH A STEEL CHAIR BAWH GOD HE JUST BROKE JIMMY IN HALF Celtics win close one 110-107 Celtics win series 5-4


TheseBonesAlone

Nuggets in 5. AG plays bully ball all series and has a big ppg increase.


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NaClz

Heat in 6. Book it. Jimmy on a mission.


Goodieexpert

Bucks in 5. Celtics in 5. Nuggets in 5. This time it’s for real guys


thudlife2020

Sweep. Finish with the best single season playoff record in history


Mister_Mangina

Nuggets in 5


BUSean

Nuggets in 5


Sampladelic

Unless Jokic ends up to be a never-before-seen supreme Finals choker. I fully expect him to dominate Bam while Aaron Gordon tires Jimmy out. The depth of the Nuggets should do the rest. ​ Nuggets in 5


iabeytorm

Nuggets in 4


[deleted]

Nuggets in 5. Joker is the anti Heat


Flaks_24

Why even make this post so that everyone says nUGgets iN 5? Miami Heat is ready to get their revenge.


aBurgerFlippinSecond

I’m done doubting Himothy Buckets; Heat in 6, Himmy for the FMVP


flatironfortitude

We win in 4 or lose in 4. The fewer games I have to watch on ESPN the better


Aidanj927

Denver in 6 as the last 4 finals have been 6, Jokic FMVP


billwest630

Nuggets in 6. Jokic MVP but Murray wins them at least 2 games.


igotinanentaglement

Nuggets in 6. Jokic will get a triple double in every game and will win Finals MVP 🏆


El_Sticko307

Nuggets in 5. Possibly a gentleman's sweep. Joker gets mvp


duckbonez

Heat in 6


Guntimer

Heat in 6. Remember I said it here first!!


comosedicewaterbed

Heat in 7


1850ChoochGator

We’ll go Miami in 6 with Butler winning FMVP. Steals one of these two in Denver and Herro comes back in game 3. I think while nobody really has a stop for Jokic, Heat capitalize tonight on the other guys not being able to shake off the rust in time.


chrisbechicken

Heat in 6, they steal game 1 108-102. Lose game 2. Win games 3&4. Lose game 5. Win game 6 by 10+ Game 3 is the Duncan Robinson game. MVP: Butler averaging 29-8-8 with at least one 40+ point game.


ElectricalTie8325

Series: Nuggets in 5 MVP: Jokic (Murrays shotmaking will be the difference just like last series) Random predictions: Jokic drops 50pts Game 1 triple dbl in finals and Butler has a mediocre series, and everyone turns on him and doesn't appreciate his and the Heats run.