Agencies, teams, and NBA scouts have their own set of preferences. Some players are not that good but they have high potential to develop while there are already good already but they do not have more room for growth. There are too many very good players around the world and there are only 60 of them that will be drafted in the NBA. And there are also coaches like Popovich and Spoelstra that can turn ordinary players into something really good in their systems.
Occurrences like this should cause NBA team execs to rethink their talent scouting approach. The Lakers also uncovered a gem in the rough with Austin Reaves, or earlier Caruso. With all the focus on the draft the players left on the outside are a perhaps underappreciated talent pool.
Win or lose against Denver Nuggets, they are already in the history books. A bunch of undrafted players with an extraordinary coach and Jimmy Buckets...
Win or lose against Denver Nuggets, they are already in the history books. A bunch of undrafted players with an extraordinary coach and Jimmy Buckets. This Miami Heat team needs to get under so much pressure first in order to activate its X-factor thing. They are supposed to be the #7 but lost to Atlanta in the play-ins that they still need to beat Chicago just to join this season's playoff. And after a surprising 2-0 win in Boston, they lost 3 straight games which was so unusual that they really have to undergo a very tough situation in TD Garden for a chance to be in the finals.
I say, what a journey for the Miami Heat before heading into the finals. And let's not forget that they are missing some key players due to injuries. But somehow they beat the #1 seed in the whole NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the championship favorite Boston Celtics.
The journey to the final has certainly been very interesting so far. I hope the final is also going to be as interesting as that. I would really like to see a very competitive match. At the same time, I know people are predicting that the Denver Nuggets are going to be the winner, But I would actually like to see the Miami Heat be the winner of this final. I have always been a fan of watching those teams win which are actually the underdogs. Actually, I don't know if they can be called the underdogs, to be honest. After all the way they have reached the finals has been nothing but thrilling. I have high hopes for the Miami Heat.
Both teams deserved to become the champion but there can only be one. I am a fan of both although generally, I am more of an NBA fan first before teams and specific players. I just always want all the teams to become very competitive and I am glad that most of the teams nowadays are capable of entering the playoffs. And just like you, I am also a fan of the underdogs, not just in basketball.
But if I were to pick a team, I would side with the Denver Nuggets. They are the #1 in the west and proved it by reaching the finals. And kudos to Denver's management for bringing very good role players into the team to help Jokic who always gives his best without much complaining while the other superstars are always pressuring their teams to provide another superstars and capable role players. So the team management is the big difference IMO. Miami is always contending in the east despite being short-handed with players only because their coach is just super good and flexible and Jimmy Butler's extraordinary leadership.