As the island continues to recover from the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar, the NBA Finals will be played on June 2nd, Guam Time, between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat.
Regardless of who wins this year, it will be a first title of its kind. Should Denver win, it will be their first championship in franchise history. If Miami wins, they will be the first 8th seed to win the title.
Local basketball community notables chimed in with GSPN on who they favor. The basketball community seems to side with the underdog, the Miami Heat.
Miami won three in a row just to make the playoffs. Led Jimmy Butler, the Heat, are a team that has defied the odds. Despite having two key players out due to injury (Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo), the Heat stamped their ticket to the big show thanks to what Butler calls "teammates rather than role players".
Denver is led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, a walking triple-double. Jokic is surrounded by talented teammates who can score at will. According to Vegas odds, the Nuggets are a heavy 3-1 favorite.
Here is what some of our local national team players and coaching staff predict:
Danny Payumo: I think Miami in 7! They've been there before and are hungrier than ever. Plus, they have Eric Spoelstra and Pat Riley. Jimmy Butler will win the MVP.
Jin Han: I think Denver comes out on top. The Joker will create problems. He is a match-up nightmare. He basically averaged a triple double vs. AD (Anthony Davis), and Miami will have a tough time defending him 1-on-1.
I think the series goes 5, possibly 6. Jokic got robbed of the league MVP, so he will show the world who the real MVP is on the biggest stage.
E.J. Calvo: Miami in 7. Team defense is elite. The Heat has threats at all 3 levels of scoring. I believe Jimmy Butler appears Jordan-esque and wins the MVP.
Guam National coaches Danny Payumo, Jin Han and E.J. Calvo make their picks for the 2023 NBA Finals
Jericho Cruz: Underdog's mentality. They got nothing to lose. 'Jimmy Buckets' is the key, probably Miami will win in 7!
Guam National team player and PBA star Jericho Cruz is taking Miami in 7
Arleen Mad: Miami in six because they have the scoring pieces to keep up with the Nuggets. In Adebayo, you have someone who can body up Jokic. Playoff Butler is built different. While the teams are pretty even, I think Miami's bench will be more consistent and that will be the difference.
Women's National head coach Arleen Mad is also going with the Heat
Jimmy Yi: Let's go with Denver on this one. They will win because they have lots of pieces and the big guy. Nuggets Win in 6 and Nikola Jokic will be the MVP.
Coach Jimmy Yi is going with the Vegas favorite Nuggets.
Watch the big game live if you have both cable and power, on ABC 7 at 10:30 am.
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