How Does NBA Twitter Feel About a Potential Miami Heat versus Denver Nuggets NBA Finals?

Basketball fans are bracing for a matchup between Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets and Jimmy Butler’s Miami Heat.

A few weeks ago, many anticipated the NBA Finals would feature an old school rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

Right now, that does not look like it will come to fruition. Instead, the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat are the best bets to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy after Denver went up 3-0 and Miami won both their away games. Apparently, that’s the matchup many on social media say they’d prefer.

Nuggets vs Heat finals would save the NBA? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/2vcDP2SZrq

— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) May 20, 2023

Heat-Nuggets finals would be fucking great for hoops

Bitw Vs Jimmy Jordan
Jokic Vs Bam matchup
41st pick Vs 30th pick superstars
2 intense coaches
Playoff Murray Vs Playoff Jimmy
Bruce Brown Vs Caleb Martin
KCP Vs Strus
2 great home teams

Sorry y’all care about bad storylines

— 🔥 (@BigFaceMerchant) May 19, 2023

A Lakers-Celtics Finals would be entertaining, but some fans want new teams and different storylines.

The Nuggets are competing for their first championship in franchise history, while the Heat are becoming arguably the greatest No. 8 seed in NBA postseason history. The underdogs typically capture the hearts of sports fans, and what better storyline than having the Nuggets or Jimmy Butler win their first Finals?

While diehard fans seem to love this matchup, analytics may not. A battle between the Lakers and Celtics for the 18th banner would bring in older viewers and those outside the primary NBA fanbase.

NBA thinking about a Heat-Nuggets Finals pic.twitter.com/H0ClDA5UId

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 20, 2023

Adam Silver trying to explain a Denver Nuggets & Miami Heat Finals to the networks pic.twitter.com/qs74WWRpwd

— Jay Thompson (@jameekaB15) May 20, 2023

Then again, some say this is the media’s fault for trying to chase high viewership.

“This whole ‘ratings will suck if the Heat and Nuggets are in the Finals’ thing is squarely ESPN’s fault,” user FiveReasonsSports said. “Jimmy Butler is the most interesting person left in the playoffs. Nikola Jokic has become the league’s best player. Both coaches are excellent. Bring it on.”

This whole “ratings will suck if the Heat and Nuggets are in the Finals” thing is squarely ESPN’s fault.

Jimmy Butler is the most interesting person left in the playoffs.

Nikola Jokic has become the league’s best player.

Both coaches are excellent.

Bring it on.

— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) May 19, 2023

IF the finals is Heat vs. Nuggets the entire pregame show before game one would be “what do the lakers and Celtics need this off-season to get them to the finals?” https://t.co/6KEBEujQQ3

— Sweep The Leg (@SweepTheLeg337) May 19, 2023

The work isn’t done, but both teams are in good positions. The Nuggets look to close in Los Angeles Monday night. The Heat are up 2-0 and go back to Miami, where they are undefeated in the playoffs.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.