to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
The Denver Nuggets are on the verge of winning its first-ever NBA title! With 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his able partner, Jamal Murray, leading the way, the Nuggets are just 1 win away from the coveted crown. The Heat will have to find a solution to the Nuggets’ seemingly unstoppable 2-man game if they are to survive to fight another day.
You better believe it. The Miami Heat are actually THAT good. Period. All those naysayers who have been banking on the seedings must by now realize that the Heat’s winning run against the top-seed Milwaukee Bucks, the bigger New York Knicks and the defending East champs Boston Celtics was no fluke. This is a strong, solid, though underrated team. The fact that they went in front 3-0 against the Celtics, the fact that they have been routinely cutting down double-digit last quarter leads, the fact that they are minus 2 solid performers in Herro and Oladipo – all these point to the fact that these naysayers simply had it all wrong.
In the battle between the well-rested against the well-tested, the fresh-as-daisies Denver Nuggets mowed down the fresh-from-mayhem Miami Heat to take Game 1 of this year’s NBA Finals 104-93. The Nuggets were coming from a 9-day lull in the cage wars as they upended the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 for the Western Conference title way back in May 22. The Heat, on the other hand, had to go through a wringer, having barely survived their physically, mentally and psychologically-draining duel with the equally tough-as-nails Boston Celtics 4-3 to win the Eastern Conference title.
All roads lead to Boston, so it seems. But sometimes, the gods could play a joke on the favored ones. After that gut-wrenching miracle shot the gods gifted the Celtics to save their season, what ending will they cook up next to top that? Which team will they honor tomorrow?
This will be a battle of the stars, the Heat’s Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, and the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Whichever duo will show up, and impose their will on the other, will win the eastern conference crown.
This NBA playoffs has by far exceeded expectations with its surprising twists and turns, its upset wins and sorry losses. Each series has been as exciting and as unpredictable as the weather out there. Each team has a great chance to win. But each win will have to be earned the hard way. Each move in each game will have to be studied ever so seriously. Like a chess match, these 2 series will be determined by whoever reacts fast enough against the offensive and defensive ploys of the other.
Color My World 