The Perfect Match: Road to the NBA Finals...

 Ahhhh… Here we are, at the final four teams aiming to win four more games to have an opportunity to hoist the Larry O’Brien golden orb set on a pedestal net, carving their way into the record books. Professional sports have been the penultimate reality television for fans all over the world amazed by athletic feats the ordinary wish they could accomplish. Since the Kardashians and Bachelor franchises, populations present on our planet have become addicted to reality TV. Is it the envy of perfect looking people, and knowing they have arguments and issues just like the rest of us? Is it ‘thee’ heavily influenced by producers' trainwreck moments on dating shows we stream week after week from The Bachelor to Love Is Blind? Producers have definitely repeated their winning formula time after time as globalization and social media expand across our sidewalks and buroughs. Has there been inside influences when it comes to our ultimate unscripted athletic entertainment?  From  national media sports analysts and journalists alike, they quietly (or not so quietly) have been nodding towards potential NBA league influence to create the ‘Perfect Match Up’ when it comes to who the final two teams the globe will be watching come June 1st. One seasoned writer expressed his input earlier this week, quipping ‘“ It would be great to see the Nuggets versus the Heat in The Finals…” Said no NBA official ever…’ Which brings me to beg the question, are the Lakers versus the Celtics the perfect match?

We are down to the Western and Eastern NBA Championship series with the winners (of course) advancing one step closer to a championship ring. Every team involved has a telling storyline of how their squad would make the best feature of reaching the summit of what is touted as the world’s greatest professional basketball league, hence considered a ‘World Champion’. The Denver Nuggets have a compelling story playing for an opportunity at firsts for their club. Since their history of joining the NBA back in 1976, they have never been to an NBA final. On top of that, the Nuggets have a franchise winning percentage of .510, the best in the NBA without a championship. Will the giant, lanky, uncoordinated-looking yet effective Nikola Jokic, the supporting role players, and his untraditional straight-shooter coach, Michael Malone be able to finally break the ‘never have I ever’ streak for the mile-high team striking gold? The long shot, and eighth seed out of one of the most glamorous neon beach side resort cities in the southeastern most points in the USA, the Miami Heat, are seeking their first NBA title since King James decided to transfer his talents back to Ohio, in 2013, ten years ago. The Miami Heat have been led by Jimmy Butler throughout the Heat’s playoff run, with the other main impact player, Tyler Herro being sidelined with a hand fracture. The remainder of the Heat’s roster has definitely stepped up their game supporting head coach Spoelstra on his game plan and assisting Butler in dividing the load. What’s impressive with this Miami squad is Butler and Herro are the only drafted players on the roster; majority of the remaining ten teammates were un-drafted, earning their spots with true grit, consistency and stamina. If this isn’t a great storyline from zero to hero, I don’t know what you would have in mind to top that?!!! 

And that takes us to the two remaining tried and true favorites on US’s opposite coasts. There’s the Black Mamba’s Lala Lakers, and their generation after generation east coast brownstone rivals, Boston Celtics. Since the 1960’s, the Lakers have faced the Celtics a record 12 times in the NBA Finals. Of course, this classic rivalry is a media-darling favorite, where it would make an assuming splash in all media markets. What are their compelling story lines? If we look at the Los Angeles Lakers, outside of winning the NBA title in ‘The Bubble’ year (2020), L.A. hasn’t seen a parade since 2010 under the late great MVP Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson! That’s quite the drought for the top western league winning franchise. Will Lebron James and Anthony Davis be able to come back from being 0-2 down to go back and play for an All-NBA leading 18th title for Los Angeles? And then there's Hollywood land’s nemesis, the Boston Celtics vying to win their 18th NBA league-leading title. Boston Garden has to be one of the most intimidating arenas for opposing teams to play in with the rich history of the perfectly polished parquet floors packed with a fan base that will not hesitate to taunt and rip on the opposing team. What is the compelling angle for Boston? Boston has one of the youngest leaders, Jason Tatum attempting to make his mark, along with a significant veteran role player, Al Horford returning to the Celtics in hopes of winning that elusive NBA world championship ring.  

Between Lebron seeking another title with his third team and each storied franchise (Boston and Los Angeles) wanting to break the tie of most championships in the league, they’ll both have to battle back from an 0-2 deficit against their viable opponents. Will we see a sweep? Will the old adage clubs have the fortitude to withstand another six-seven game series?  Will Nikola Jokic be the big man to finally lead Denver to their first NBA title? Will the ultimate underdog in the fight Jimmy Butler finally sweep the favorite as he leads the eighth seeded Heat to another Larry O’Brien to place in the trophy case? NBA fans across the time zones are tuning in to see who will prevail. The perfect match always depends on the vantage point, and eyes of the beholder. Regardless of seemingly intentional or unintentional influences, we are all rooting for the best teams, and match up to prevail. The outcome and teams vying in June may surprise us, and put on quite the reality athletic feat for all the fans!