Series Thread: 2023 NBA Finals: Heat vs. Nuggets

[trojanfan12]

This was just an unusual year.

The seeds in the West didnt matter this year in the least. This year the difference between the #3 seed and the #10 seed in the West was 6 wins. The Wolves, Lakers & Suns were a tougher road than a 8, 4, 7 in any other season. In most other seasons the difference between #3 and #10 is going to be 10-15 wins.

And Miami was a fluke 8 seed too. They had the most wins in the East just last year with basically the exact same roster. Their run was mildly surprising but certainly not a complete shock.

....

The Nuggets didnt have to top a powerhouse to get the title that is for sure. But that is really mostly due to a new level of parity in the league. Been like that for a good 5 years now too. Basically when Durant and Thompson both got hurt in what I think was back to back games IIRC started a new era of NBA basketball that continues to this day which is mostly defined by for lack of a better word parity (it's such a dirty word in sports right now that I dont want to use it).

Yeah, folks using the "easy path" argument either haven't been paying attention, are casuals who don't know basketball or they're just trying to diminish the Nuggets title.

The Lakers were not a normal 7 seed. They had the 2nd best record in the league after the All-Star break. If they have the same roster all season, they are likely in the hunt for the #1 seed. The Heat weren't a normal 8 seed either.

While their rankings said 7th and 8th...the quality of those 2 teams was much higher.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Yeah, folks using the "easy path" argument either haven't been paying attention, are casuals who don't know basketball or they're just trying to diminish the Nuggets title.

The Lakers were not a normal 7 seed. They had the 2nd best record in the league after the All-Star break. If they have the same roster all season, they are likely in the hunt for the #1 seed. The Heat weren't a normal 8 seed either.

While their rankings said 7th and 8th...the quality of those 2 teams was much higher.

Lakers were 3-3 vs the East from 2/9 the day of the trade deadline. It was a weak West this year. It doesn’t take anything away from the Nuggets great season. They left no doubt. But it’s also fair that they’re not likely to ever see a path like this one again.

 

[trojanfan12]

Lakers were 3-3 vs the East from 2/9 the day of the trade deadline. It was a weak West this year. It doesn’t take anything away from the Nuggets great season. They left no doubt. But it’s also fair that they’re not likely to ever see a path like this one again.

lol

Claiming it was an easy path is taking away from the season they had. It's the definition of taking away from their season.

It's like saying "No offense" before saying something offensive...saying "no offense" doesn't make what they said not offensive.

 

[fightinfunbags]

lol

Claiming it was an easy path is taking away from the season they had. It's the definition of taking away from their season.

It's like saying "No offense" before saying something offensive...saying "no offense" doesn't make what they said not offensive.

No, not at all. The Nuggets have nothing to do with injuries in the West or underachievers in the West or poorly constructed rosters in the West or a crazy kid in Memphis who blew his team up trying to play Bloods and Crypts. But a spade is a spade. The West wasn’t very good at all. The Nuggets did what they should and completely dominated on a 16-4 run. Two things can be true. The Nuggets can be great and the best team in the league and the West was subpar this year. I didn’t know this was some sort of big reveal or a hot take.

 

[trojanfan12]

No, not at all. The Nuggets have nothing to do with injuries in the West or underachievers in the West or poorly constructed rosters in the West or a crazy kid in Memphis who blew his team up trying to play Bloods and Crypts. But a spade is a spade. The West wasn’t very good at all. The Nuggets did what they should and completely dominated on a 16-4 run. Two things can be true. The Nuggets can be great and the best team in the league and the West was subpar this year. I didn’t know this was some sort of big reveal or a hot take.

Didn't say it was big reveal. I said it was taking away from the Nuggets season because well...that's exactly what it did. You just tried to disguise it by saying "No offense" first.

 

[broncosmitty]

Was my favorite playoffs in a long time.

My only gripe is ESPNs pregame, halftime and postgame. It stinks and I hate it.

 

[bksballer89]

Was my favorite playoffs in a long time.

My only gripe is ESPNs pregame, halftime and postgame. It stinks and I hate it.

Best decision i made was to almost completely avoid espn pregame/halftime shows almost all playoffs

 

[fightinfunbags]

Didn't say it was big reveal. I said it was taking away from the Nuggets season because well...that's exactly what it did. You just tried to disguise it by saying "No offense" first.

I have no control over how you want to manipulate what was said. Both things were true. Nuggets were the best team in the NBA this season and the West was subpar. If there was any doubt, I’ve clarified it now multiple times. Do you at this point.

 

[bksballer89]

Season done and we still fighting

 

[broncosmitty]

Best decision i made was to almost completely avoid espn pregame/halftime shows almost all playoffs

I did really well at that until the finals.

Was easy for seven weeks or whatever to flip channels every other day when it wasn’t game action. But they got to me this last week and a half.

Wilbon is the only one I don’t yell at. Lol. Feel guilty saying it, as Jalen is a childhood hero of mine, buts he’s awful.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Season done and we still fighting

I didn’t even know what I said was controversial haha.

 

[bksballer89]

I did really well at that until the finals.

Was easy for seven weeks or whatever to flip channels every other day when it wasn’t game action. But they got to me this last week and a half.

Wilbon is the only one I don’t yell at. Lol. Feel guilty saying it, as Jalen is a childhood hero of mine, buts he’s awful.

With the heat being in the finals it made it easier to avoid because i hate the national media coverage of miami because it is usually a lot of nonsense. Had Miami not been in the finals then i would have probably attempted to watch the pregame shows a few times

 

[broncosmitty]

With the heat being in the finals it made it easier to avoid because i hate the national media coverage of miami because it is usually a lot of nonsense. Had Miami not been in the finals then i would have probably attempted to watch the pregame shows a few times

I’ve forgotten what national media coverage of my team is even like.

Draft, the rookie game and back to the draft. Think they may have mentioned KCP and Brown being Pistons picks during the Finals. Maybe that counts.

 

[bksballer89]

The playoffs are so long when your team is in the finals that the Jimmy Butler legendary game 4 performance vs Milwaukee feels like it happened a year ago lol

 

[bksballer89]

Almost forgot the cavs even made the playoffs with how fast the knicks packed they ass up

 

[raptorlife4]

And then there isnthe NHL and injuries

 

[bksballer89]

And then there isnthe NHL and injuries

Lol don't get your point. Imagine trying to guard a tatum level or any good guard/forward that isn't a one dimensional player on a broken foot. Completely different sports

Just like in the nfl you can play with a broken hand if you are on the line but cant in the nba

 

[broncosmitty]

Lol don't get your point. Imagine trying to guard a tatum level or any good guard/forward that isn't a one dimensional player on a broken foot. Completely different sports

Just like in the nfl you can play with a broken hand if you are on the line but cant in the nba

And guys miss a week with a blister in baseball.

Some things you can’t just grind out in sports. Respect to all the guys that try though.

You can’t go Ronnie Lott style in basketball. You just can’t.

 

[broncosmitty]

And then there isnthe NHL and injuries

The broken sternum is crazy.

I’ve never broken a foot. Almost seems like it’d hurt less to skate with one than walk on one. Not that I wouldn’t pass on an invite to go skating if I had a broken foot. For sure I’d pass.

 

[trojanfan12]

I have no control over how you want to manipulate what was said. Both things were true. Nuggets were the best team in the NBA this season and the West was subpar. If there was any doubt, I’ve clarified it now multiple times. Do you at this point.

Do I what? Know how to give a team credit for their season without taking anything away from it?

Yes.