2023 NBA Finals Odds: Miami Won't Play Dead in Denver So Nuggets Must Do This
The NBA Finals are essentially over, right? A done deal, yes? Duh, you say?
Well, hang on. We’ve seen crazy comebacks before from the Miami Heat, a tough bunch that refuses to go away.
Dylan Thomas wrote: “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
There won’t be any quit in Eric Spoelstra’s bunch, especially not a Jimmy Butler-led squad of determined dudes who won’t back down, not even in front of a seriously miles-high amped crowd in Denver.
We all knew it was going this way, but I’m certain the pressure is off Miami now and is squarely on Denver.
Why? Because the Nuggets have to win the Finals to claim its first NBA championship, or it will go down as one of the biggest chokes in sports history.
Only the 2016 LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers have rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the title – in the history of the NBA.
But this has a similar feeling … or does it?
Denver is a 9-point favorite in Game 5 (June 12) which is silly; they’ll cover that.
Miami may get a boost with the possible return of Tyler Herro, who’s been sidelined for eight weeks since undergoing surgery on his broken right hand.
The 23-year-old shooter was the Heat’s third-leading scorer during the regular season.
The Heat players firmly believe that if they can win Game 5 to bring the series back to Miami, they’ll win Game 6 and force a pressure-packed Game 7 on Father's Day (Sunday, June 18).
Nuggets coach Michael Malone has it right by imploring his Nuggets squad to play Game 5 like they’re down 3-1.
It’s a smart mind-game to play with his team because you never want any doubt to creep back into your mind when it looks like you’re a lock to win this whole thing.
Let’s take a look at the latest odds to win the title per FanDuel, one of our favorite gambling sites out there along with BetMGM, DraftKings, and many more, the odds look like this:
2023 NBA Champions
Denver Nuggets -6000
Miami Heat +2400
Wow. Those odds are double what the Cavs were to beat the mighty Warriors down 3-1 in 2016 (Cleveland +1100). But it makes sense considering what the Nuggets have done the last couple of games.
Plus, the Heat need to win two in Denver. Doable? Yeah, but unlikely.
Still, at those odds, maybe throw a tiny sprinkle at the Heat just in case Miami pulls off the impossible.
Remember nobody thought Miami had a chance to win Game 7 in Boston.
This is a taller task by a ton, but this season, ya never know.
