Miami Heat Becomes the First Five Seed to Make the NBA Finals in NBA History

Miami Heat made history yesterday, becoming the first #5 seed in NBA history to make the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat face their most formidable challenge of the playoffs, going against a LeBron James lead team and a dominant player in Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers. 

LeBron James accounted for two of three championships in Miami history; it’s a perfect storyline to play against the team. He won his first NBA championship and went against his former Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. 

Miami Heat lives for the underdog title and love taking down teams no one expected them to beat, such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics.

If you think the Los Angeles Lakers will have an easy walk into a championship win, you haven’t watched the Miami Heat play this year; they play gritty and with a chip on their shoulder. 

Jimmy Butler is the epitome of what the culture is with the Miami Heat a hardworking and leave it all on the court type player. Butler has been averaging 20.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 1.9 steals per game. Butler will need to average a little more then 20 points if he wants the Heat to pull the major upset over the Lakers. 

The young nucleus for the Heat has been the main reason for their late playoff run. Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson have played phenomenal. 

Tyler Herro has been a huge boost off the bench and will be a significant factor in the NBA Finals due to the scarcity of depth to the Lakers bench. Andre Iguodala will be another key off the bench; they need his championship pedigree to have the young guys ready for the bright lights since he is the only one on the team with championship pedigree outside of Udonis Harlem, but he doesn’t play. This is Igudola's sixth straight NBA Finals. 

Bam Adebayo has played phenomenal in the playoffs finishing last night game with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists in an elimination game. He will need to come close to those numbers as he prepares to go up against the best Power Forward in the league in Anthony Davis.

The Heat's wildcard is Goran Dragic; if he plays in the NBA Finals as he did in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Lakers, who are suspect at best at the guard position, the Heat will give the Lakers all they can handle. 

Game 1 will be this Wednesday at 9 PM ET on ABC. 

I predict the series to go seven games, with the Los Angles Lakers winning the 2020 NBA Finals. 

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NBA Christmas Games Breakdown and Predictions

Today there will be five NBA games being played and broadcasted on TV today. The  Boston Celtics vs. the Toronto Raptors tip-off the NBA Christmas games at 12 noon ET. Next, the Milwaukee Bucks will play the Philadelphia 76ers at 2:30 PM ET. Houston Rockets will play the Golden State Warriors at 6 PM ET. The battle of the West will be played at 8 PM ET between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The final game will be between the New Orleans Pelicans vs the Denver Nuggets at 10:30 PM.

Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors
Both teams are playing well above expectations thus far this season. Everyone thought the Raptors would take several steps backward, once Kawhi left LA in the summer for free agency. People also thought the Celtics would take a step back when Kyrie Irving left for Brooklyn in the summer for free agency.

But with the addition of Kemba Walker in free agency, the Celtics looks stronger than they did with Kyrie Irving. Jayson Tatum turned back to the star we saw when Kyrie Irving & Gordon Hayward went down with injuries and took LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum is currently averaging 21.6 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game this season. Kemba Walker is averaging 22.6 points per game and 5.4 assists per game this season.

On the other side, Pascal Siakam continues to show the world last season was not a fluke. Siakam has even improved his numbers from last year. He currently averages 25.1 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, and one block per game. Kyle Lowry is also averaging 20.7 points per game and 7.6 assists per game.

However, the Toronto Raptors don't have Marc Gasol today who is still recovering from a left hamstring injury. My predictions are the Boston Celtics will continue their win streak to four straight as they beat the Toronto Raptors 100-90.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

This game will be the battle of the East today, both teams were projected to be in the Eastern Conference Finals this year before the season started. The Bucks have lived up to those predictions, however, the 76ers have not.

The Philadelphia 76ers are still trying to figure out the chemistry with new players being added in the offseason such as Josh Richardson, Al Horford, and rookie Matisse Thybulle.

Ben Simmons is still afraid to shoot three-point shots or a jump shot at all, which has had teams play a 2-3 zone, yes you read that right teams are playing 2-3 zone in the NBA. Ben Simmons currently is averaging 14.4 points per game, 8.5 assists per game, and 7 rebounds per game this season.

Joel Embiid is still being consistent, he currently averages 23 points per game, 12.6 rebounds per game,  and 1.4 blocks per game this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has shown he has been in the lab this summer perfecting his craft, he currently is shooting 34 percent from the three-point line. Giannis currently averages 31.0 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game, and 5.6 assists per game this season. Khris Middleton currently averages 18 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. Milwaukee has one of the deepest bench scoring-wise in the NBA they average an eighth best with 41.9 points per game.

My prediction is the Philadelphia 76ers will beat the Milwaukee Bucks 110-101.

Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors

There isn't that much to say here a talented Houston Rockets plays against a banged-up Golden State Warriors teams.

This might be the time to pop in a Christmas movie to watch with the family to kill time. James Harden and Russell Westbrook will give the Warriors guards nightmares tonight. James Harden averages 38.6 points per game and 7.4 assists per game this season. Russell Westbrook averages 23.9 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, 7.2 assists per game this season.

Surprisingly the Golden State Warriors are on a two-game win streak but it ends tonight. D'Angelo Russell averages 22.4 points per game and 6.2 assists per game. Rookie Eric Paschall has been a pleasant surprise for the Warriors, he currently averages 15.2 points per gamed 4.8 rebounds per game this season. Alec Burks has averaged 15.9 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Houston Rockets will beat the Golden State Warriors 117-90.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Both teams players and fans have had this date marked on their calendar since the 2019-20 NBA schedule was released.

This is the battle of the West game. This is a statement game for both teams tonight.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis wants to show the Clippers they still run LA. Clippers want to show the NBA they're the team to beat in the West if you want to make it to the NBA Finals.

LeBron James and Anthony are banged up but they're expected to play tonight.

LeBron James averages 25.8 points per game, 10.6 assists per game, and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. Anthony Davis averages 27.9 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocks per game this season.

Kawhi Leonard averages 25.5 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game,  5.1 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game this season. Paul George averages 24.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, and 1.8 steals per game this season. Lou Williams averages 19.5 points per game and 6.1 assists per game this season. Montrezl Harrell averages 19 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 1.2 blocks per game this season. Also, you can't forget about Patrick Beverley who averages 7.9 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, and 1.4 steals per game this season. Patrick Beverley is the heart and soul of the Clippers defense he irritates the opposing team's top scorers each game.

The Clippers bench averages 51.3 points per game which is a league-best, whereas the Lakers bench averages 34.3 points per game.

My prediction is the Clippers will beat the Lakers 107-101.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Denver Nuggets

This game might have held some weight if Zion Williams was playing but unfortunately, he isn't. Honestly, this game wouldn't have been close game even if Zion was playing the Nuggets are just too strong.

Jamal Murray averages 17.8 points per game this season. Nikola Jokic averaged 17.4 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, 6.9 assists per game, and 1 steal per game this season. Will Barton averages 14.6 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 1.2 steals per game this season. Paul Millsap averages 12.9 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game this season. Gary Harris averages 11.2 points per game this season. Jerami Grant averages 9.6 points per game this season.

Brandon Ingram one of the few bright spots for the Pelicans this season averages 25 points per game, and 7.1 rebounds per game this season. Another bright spot for the Pelicans is Jrue Holiday, he averages 19.7 points per game, 6.5 assists per game, and 1.7 steals per game this season. JJ Redick averages 15.9 points per game this season. Josh Hart averages 11.1 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game and 1 steal per game this season.

New Orleans Pelicans bench averages 36.9 points per game. Denver Nuggets bench averages 34.8 points per game.

Denver Nuggets will beat the New Orleans Pelicans 120-102.