2022-23 NBA Season Thread

[WilyWestbrook0]

I know you can't really blame him since he is the reason why the Heat are where they are but ever since guaranteeing that victory against the Celtics Jimmy Butler has been noticeably quiet. Is he hurt? Or is he just running out of gas?

Not sure. I think he did tweak his ankle a bit a few games ago, but he can still play on it, so he's gotta play through it. This is his best chance to get a ring at his age and with this team, so it's probably now or never -- have to endure

[WilyWestbrook0]

Heat surprise everyone by stealing a game in Denver, handing the Nuggets their FIRST home playoff loss!

Spo made a big adjustment putting one of my favs, K Love, in the starting lineup. And while Love didn't shoot well, he had a huge game in the plus/minus department, playing great defense (of all things!), getting key steals, passing the ball well, and grabbing 10 rebounds in just 22 minutes.

Amazingly, they pulled this win out despite Butler going just 7/19. Adebayo and Vincent were again excellent, and thankfully Strus finally hit his shots, giving them a big lift in the first quarter. Robinson and Lowry also did well off the bench, particularly in the second half.

Just when it seems Miami can't possibly pull out any more magic, they do. Just loving the grit of this Heat team!

[pwaldo]

Amazingly, they pulled this win out despite Butler going just 7/19.

Told you he has been playing like poo poo recently

The Nuggets lost a pretty big game here. If they won and went up 2-0 this series was over. It just would have been how many games do the Nuggets win the championship in. Now the series is 1-1 and I don't really see them winning more than 1 game in Miami so this thing could get real dicey for them. Both teams not really playing too dominant. Just seems like the role players and teammates on the Heat are putting 100% effort into this thing while Denver is playing like they already won and this is a forgone conclusion after beating the Lakers. And that's why I think these teams now would get crushed by classic teams of the past because those guys gave a 100% effort all the time and now unless you are an UFA playing on Miami you play with a lackadaisical approach all the time even in the NBA Finals.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Well this game 3 was competitive for the first half, but then Jokic just TOOK OVER the 3rd and schooled the Heat. What a performance, a 30/20/10 triple double. Murray was also outstanding, getting a triple double himself, and Braun provided a big bench spark.

Nuggets up 2-1, both teams have won road games already.