I guess it was inevitable. A gentleman’s sweep for the Miami Heat at the hands of the most dominant NBA championship team seen in recent years.
While I predicted the Denver Nuggets to emerge victorious in six games, my heart was at all times with the gallant Miami Heat.
They were smaller, less talented, and were not even expected to be participating in the NBA Finals. But what they lacked in physical stature they made up for it in determination and grit.
Even when they were short handed in terms of talent, they fought for every loose ball, every rebound and exhibited hard-nosed defense on Denver’s stars.
In the end, Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra could only carry them as far as they went and ultimately had to succumb to a deeply talented team who also played with equal heart and tenacity.
NUGGETS. But I must admit, the Nuggets are starting to grow on me. And I will brazenly guess that I am not alone on this. There are so many things to love about this team.
First off, Nikola Jokic is simply awesome. That he is so self-effacing and hardly concerns himself with personal achievements only endears him more to basketball fans.
He is a refreshing break from other current superstars who think of themselves as a product with a platform, egomaniacs intent on pursuing personal agendas and achievements at the expense of the team.
I am also partial to Aaron Gordon who I thought was robbed twice of the slam dunk throne. That he was able to move on from those personal setbacks to become a vital cog in a championship team is stuff for a documentary of its own.
And of course, there’s Jamal Murray, the talented Canadian point guard who had to make a tough grueling comeback from an ACL tear that sidelined him for one season.
So many things and reasons to love this Nuggets team. I wouldn’t mind if they repeat next year.
VERBATIM. “Basketball is not the main thing in my life. It’s something that I’m good at. - Nikola Jokic. (via Hoops Hype)
LAST ROUND. It’s on June Anne Horteza of the MTCC Branch 2 Talisay City who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!