The NBA Finals of the 2022-23 season were defined after the elimination of the Boston Celtics and therefore the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat They will battle for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a best-of-seven series.
The Nuggets reached the Finals for the first time in franchise history.in his 47th season, while the Heat did it for the second time in the last four seasons.
The path of the two teams to the Finals was very different. Denver did it as the number one seed in the West and Miami had to go through the two play-in games before entering the postseason in the eighth position in the East..
The Ball Arena has been an impenetrable stronghold for the Nuggets. The team led by Michael Malone records 8-0 record at home. No team has won more than 10 home games in a single postseason and those that have made ten have been champions: Blazers (1977), Celtics (1986), Lakers (1987) and Bulls (1996).
During the regular season, the teams met twice and the Nuggets won both games. The first took place on December 30, 2022 in Denver with a score of 124-119. The visit to Miami, dated February 13, 2023, resulted in a victory by a score of 112-108. The games were so close that the difference was only three points in the last three minutes.
Are here The players to watch for the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Nikola Jokic | C | Denver Nuggets
The Serbian center was MVP in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, so a championship would close a stage of three spectacular years. Besides, Jokic registers averages of 29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists in these playoffs. Also, he is the favorite to win the Bill Russell trophy for Most Valuable Player in the Finals.
Jokic records eight triple-doubles in this postseason, something that no other player had achieved in NBA history. The giant from Sombor, Serbia is the most important man in Denver’s offense since he his usage rate rose from 26.3% in the regular season to 30.6% in the playoffs.
Jimmy Butler | SF | Miami Heat
In the first media appearance of the Finals, Jimmy Butler stated that he wants to retire as a Miami player. After stints with the Chicago Bulls, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers, the six-time All-Star found a place where he is a respected figure for his leadership and talent.
His performance in this postseason has been spectacular, to the point that he was named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals. Butler has played in 17 of Miami’s 18 playoff games and he posts averages of 28.5 points, 7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.1 steals in 39.4 minutes per game.
Jamal Murray | PG | Denver Nuggets
Many doubted Jamal Murray’s ability after missing nearly two years with a knee injury. However, the Canadian point guard has made a triumphant comeback with 27.7 points in the postseasonan increase of 7.7 compared to the regular season.
The most effective play for the Nuggets is Murray’s pick & roll with any big man. According to Synergy, the point guard has scored 1.25 points per possession when he has the ball in his hands and receives a direct block. In addition, he has the best free throw percentage among those who record 50+ attempts with 62 of 67 shots.
Caleb Martin | SG | Miami Heat
Miami’s undrafted players have been a constant theme this postseason. And the one who best exemplifies what it is to work hard to secure a place in the NBA of the seven participants in the Finals is Caleb Martin. If not for the intervention of rapper J.Cole, Martin would not be part of the Eastern Conference Champion.
Martin, a North Carolina native, was vital as Miami beat Boston in Game 7 with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Even four of the nine votes for the MVP of the Conference Final went to him. the eave He has stood out as a good triple shooter since he has hit 32 of the 61 catch-and-shoots who has tried in the postseason.
Aaron Gordon| FAQ | Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets power forward is primarily remembered for his 2016 Slam Dunk Contest loss against Zach LaVine. However, in this playoff run has shone as Denver’s defensive specialist. In the first round he was tasked with doing the dirty work on Karl-Anthony Towns, in the semifinals he was the main defender for Kevin Durant and in the Conference Final he constantly guarded LeBron James.
Besides, Gordon has proven to be a good option for 3-pointers from the corners.. The PF has hit 19 of the 36 shots he has attempted from that area. In total, the inmate averaged 13 points and 5.5 recovered boards in these playoffs.
Bam Adebayo | C | Miami Heat
bam Adebayo is Miami’s inside defender par excellence, but he has been left behind offensively. of the game as he went from 20.4 points in the regular season to 16.8 in the playoffs. One of his problems in the postseason is his inability to complete pull ups two points, since it is the worst in that area
The Heat’s most frequent starting five is made up of Adebayo, Butler, Martin, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent. The four outside players will frequently switch defensive responsibilities, but the Nigerian center will have to limit Jokic for extended stretches of the series.