The 2023 NBA Finals are here and feature an unlikely matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat.
While Denver was always a strong candidate to make it this far after finishing the regular season first in the Western Conference, Miami pulled off a series of upsets to reach the title round as an eighth-seed.
Now, Jimmy Butler and company are hoping to stun the world once more as huge underdogs in the series.
The Nuggets have an edge on the court with a deep roster that features two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, but Miami has the coaching edge with two-time champion Erik Spoelstra. So, which side will win out?
Our brilliant staff dives into it.
Winner and Series Length
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Prince: Nuggets in 6
My mind is telling me the Nuggets get it done a lot sooner than six games — they’re playing with a focus and purpose I haven’t seen from any other team this postseason, including Miami, and the odds favor a five-game series. But the Heat keep outperforming my expectations, so I’ll assume they surprise me once more and force an extra game.
Blake Schuster: Nuggets in 6
I like the odds of a longer series — especially after the long rest both teams are getting — but I just don’t think Miami has enough left in the tank to finish the job. The Nuggets are by far the toughest matchup the Heat will face this postseason and not even Jimmy Butler playing 40 minutes of hero ball each night is enough to sway me towards picking Miami.
Robert Zeglinski: Nuggets in 5
The Heat have proven to be unflappable this postseason. One could make the argument they didn’t have more talent than any of the three Eastern Conference powers they beat. Miami starts the engine and never stops revving it. But the Nuggets are a different animal. The Nuggets also play all 48 minutes. The Nuggets are also well-coached and disciplined and can win with a variety of different styles and lineups. The only major difference is that they’re more talented than the Heat, and it will matter this time around. Denver has been the NBA’s best team all year. They’ll show it during this series in a quick but contested romp.
Bryan Kalbrosky: Heat in 7
Candidly, I felt prepared to write an excerpt about how we should trust the numbers and remember that Denver absolutely destroyed teams all season long. But then I saw that all of my brilliant colleagues made that argument for me, and let me tell you: This isn’t a unanimous race. Miami has a real chance to make some noise in this series and I could see the Heat taking this one in seven games.
Charles Curtis: Nuggets in 6
I wrote that the other day and therefore I have to stick to it. But would I be shocked to see the Heat surprise us all and win with this group that’s jelled so well? Nope.
MVP
Prince: Nikola Jokic
Jokic impacts the game in so many ways that he could win MVP without leading Denver in scoring. But I don’t think he’ll have to worry about that. Miami doesn’t have the bodies to keep him from dominating the paint. I expect Jokic to dominate often in this series and average close to a 30-point triple-double.
Blake: Jamal Murray
Jokic is the guy you can’t let beat you if you’re Miami. Murray is the guy who steps up to get it done when Jokic is getting attacked. The big man is the safe pick here, but the value on Murray’s line is too much to turn down.
Robert: Nikola Jokic
The Heat are far too small to stop Jokic from dominating as a scorer, which will force them to defend him as an all-knowing facilitator — the “Joker’s” bread and butter. All that to say, Jokic is the best basketball player in the world, and he can take over any game with seemingly minimal effort. He’ll cap one of the better three-year individual stretches in league history with a deserved title and MVP crown.
Bryan: Jimmy Butler
His name is Jimmy Frickin’ Butler. Remember what happened last time this dude went to the championship series? Butler became one of three players in league history to ever record a 40-point triple-double in the NBA Finals. He has the heart of a champ, and he’s not the kind of guy I like betting against in the playoffs.
Charles: Jamal Murray
Yeah, yeah, it’ll probably be Jokic, who might seriously end up with four triple-doubles in this series. But if we’re talking odds and X-factors: Murray has been really, REALLY good. I bet he’ll be even better in this series.
