MANILA, Philippines—The Miami Heat will open as heavy underdogs against the

Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals, which tip off on Friday (Manila time) in
Denver, Colorado.
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That’s been the case for the Heat all season long after barely making the playoffs as
the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Just a month ago, the Heat were five minutes away from elimination against
the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament.
Hard to believe they’re now only four wins away from a seemingly improbable
championship run after finally putting away the Boston Celtics in Game 7 on the road
in a series where they were only given a three percent chance of winning.
The path to get to the NBA Finals, however, was a steep climb from where the Heat
began.
DEFYING ODDS
The Miami Heat pose with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Boston Celtics 103-84 in game seven of the Eastern
Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 29, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. – Adam Glanzman/Getty Images/AFP

The Heat were also written off and counted out heading into their first round series
against the Milwaukee Bucks, who were the best team in the league and the consensus
favorite to win the title.
But the Heat couldn’t care any less about what the skeptics thought and what the
spread looked like.
“Playoff Jimmy” wasn’t a myth as Jimmy Butler’s herculean effort carried the
shorthanded Heat past the Bucks in five games.

Read more: https://sports.inquirer.net/512380/miami-heat-anatomy-of-an-
underdog#ixzz83N4ONWCy
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