NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals underway
It took a while, but the match-ups for the 2023 National Basketball Association Finals and the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals got set earlier this week.
It took a while, but the match-ups for the 2023 National Basketball Association Finals and the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals got set earlier this week.
Thanks to the Miami Heat’s seven-game Eastern Conference finals win over the Boston Celtics, the Denver Nuggets finally got to know who their NBA Finals opponent will be.
It will be the first-ever NBA Finals appearance for the Nuggets, who should be well rested since they haven’t played since sweeping LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals last week.
On the other hand, since the Heat have been playing for about a week longer than the Nuggets, might Jimmy Butler’s team be fresher than Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets? Time will tell.
For the record, I would like to see Denver win it, since the Nuggets have never been to the NBA Finals.
Now, from the hardwood to the ice. After the Vegas Golden Knights pummeled the Dallas Stars in Game 6 Monday night at American Airlines Center, the Florida Panthers finally got to know who their Stanley Cup Finals opponent will be.
This will be the first Stanley Cup Finals appearance for the Panthers since being swept by Joe Sakic’s Colorado Avalanche in four games in 1996.
On the other hand, the Golden Knights will be in their second-ever battle to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup after losing in 2018 to Alexander Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals 4 games to 1.
One thing is for certain — whoever wins this series will win its first-ever Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Did you all notice the one similarity in both championship series? One of the two combatants in each championship series hail from Miami.
The Heat’s home is Kaseya Center, formerly known as American Airlines Arena, in Miami, while the Panthers call FLA Live Arena their home, which is located in Sunrise, Fla.
To say Miami is buzzing right now is an understatement.
No matter who wins this series, it will be their respective first-ever Stanley Cup Finals victory.
All I can say is, “Let the games begin.”
Seeley is sports editor for Your TIMES. He can be reached by calling 918-775-4433 or emailing him at davids@cookson.news.
