***Official 2022-2023 NBA Thread***

[dirk digler]

Can't believe the regular season starts tonight. Just seemed like the Finals ended a couple weeks ago.



Philly vs Celtics: 6:30PM CST TNT

GSW vs Lakers: 9:00PM CST TNT

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

They absolutely stole it. They’re not better than that team and Denver outplayed them for the majority of the game.

That’s the kind of road win that can change the entire trajectory of a series though. Denver can’t lose that.

Since the turn of the millennium, do you want to guess how many teams have been swept in the Finals?

It's pretty ****ing hard to sweep a team, much less this late in the post-season.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

They absolutely stole it. They’re not better than that team and Denver outplayed them for the majority of the game.

That’s the kind of road win that can change the entire trajectory of a series though. Denver can’t lose that.

Perhaps our definition stealing it differs. I think we can both agree Denver is the better team, but far too many games are won/lost in the fourth quarter (football included) where one team takes over. The previous 3 quarters are all forgotten about. A great example is SB 54. I will agree that this was a game that Denver shouldn’t have lost. It will be interesting to see how they recover.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Since the turn of the millennium, do you want to guess how many teams have been swept in the Finals?

It's pretty ****ing hard to sweep a team, much less this late in the post-season.

Miami is still likely the weakest team since the 1999 Knicks to make the Finals. They were certainly a candidate for it but Denver just didn’t show up in the 4th.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by tredadda

They didn’t steal it. They flat out dominated Denver in the fourth quarter. They took away everyone but Jokic until Murray started hitting shots when it was too late.

I guess one could make the argument they stole that game. Miami played well though. Draining those 3’s helps immensely. Miami did go into the lane pretty often in the 4th for big buckets late.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Miami is still likely the weakest team since the 1999 Knicks to make the Finals. They were certainly a candidate for it but Denver just didn’t show up in the 4th.

2007 and 2018 Cavs seem way worse to me as an overall team.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

It was bad but I don’t feel bad. Denver should sweep this team. Hell, they outplayed them for 40+ minutes in this one. Miami just sort of hung around and stole it.

And gee, we haven't ever seen Miami do that ever before now...

Have we???

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by tredadda

Perhaps our definition stealing it differs. I think we can both agree Denver is the better team, but far too many games are won/lost in the fourth quarter (football included) where one team takes over. The previous 3 quarters are all forgotten about. A great example is SB 54. I will agree that this was a game that Denver shouldn’t have lost. It will be interesting to see how they recover.

It also really just felt in watching it that Denver just blew this one the way they controlled it throughout and the way Butler played (for most of it). Maybe that isn’t quite fair to the Heat because Miami did play a great 4th Q admittedly but that wasn’t the same Nuggets team in that quarter either.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

2007 and 2018 Cavs seem way worse to me as an overall team.

From an overall roster perspective those Cavs teams were worse, but they had the GOAT playing at an extremely high level (especially in 2018, that was still in LeBron’s peak). The Heat don’t have that level of player.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

And gee, we haven't ever seen Miami do that ever before now...

Have we???

It’s becoming a pattern for sure…

[KC_Connection]

Former Denver Broncos great Terrell Davis found himself in the middle of this celebration from Miami Heat fans. ������ pic.twitter.com/QtRdpKHCHU

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 5, 2023

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

It also really just felt in watching it that Denver just blew this one the way they controlled it throughout and the way Butler played (for most of it). Maybe that isn’t quite fair to the Heat because Miami did play a great 4th Q admittedly but that wasn’t the same Nuggets team in that quarter either.

They got hit with that zone press and just couldn’t figure it out quick enough They got going again in the last 3 minutes. But they had a 5 minute stretch where Miami took them completely out of their game. Maybe 8 minutes to the 2:30 mark.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

From an overall roster perspective those Cavs teams were worse, but they had the GOAT playing at an extremely high level (especially in 2018, that was still in LeBron’s peak). The Heat don’t have that level of player.

The Heat don't have LeBron, but the 2007 and 2018 Cavs team had such a shit supporting cast (it's a miracle what LeBron did to win in Game 7 in Boston in 2018 in the ECF).

One player does not make an entire team.

[Sassy Squatch]

Maybe it's not statistically backed, but you'd think Denver would have the altitude advantage the longer games go but they've been outscored by double digits in both fourth quarters.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

It was bad but I don’t feel bad. Denver should sweep this team. Hell, they outplayed them for 40+ minutes in this one. Miami just sort of hung around and stole it.

Miami had a great first quarter too! So no on the 40+ minutes. 1st and 4th for Miami. 2nd and 3rd for Denver.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Maybe it's not statistically backed, but you'd think Denver would have the altitude advantage the longer games go but they've been outscored by double digits in both fourth quarters.

The heat feel like a different animal than the other teams Denver has faced. They seem way better conditioned to handle it and spoelstra is excellent with his rotations. They also force Denver to work harder. Im sure Denver would love not to throw jokic kn the floor for 40+ minutes. Denver's been brutalizing opponents in the second half at home but I wonder if in this series they have a little bit of a home disadvantage