As a Miami Heat fan, it was a long summer for me.
Things started out with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets taking us out in five games to win their first NBA championship in franchise history, which then led into the stretched-out dramatic saga of our pursuit of Damian Lillard, which literally lasted the entire offseason.
As we all know, that chase ultimately ended in us NOT getting “Ice Cold,” and come to find out, we were never close — we never even had any legitimate discussions with those fools in Portland. Even Dame admitted it in a recent interview … the Trail Blazers were NEVER intending on sending him to South Beach, which he labels as “irritating.”
Damian Lillard says the Blazers went against everything he wanted
“It was anything to go against what I would have wanted. That part was irritating. Just based off how it was happening, I knew (it wouldn’t be Miami)…(The Blazers) hadn’t talked to Miami. So once it started… pic.twitter.com/bzH65QXSNw
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 23, 2023
Now heading into the new season, I don’t have the highest expectations for my Heat, which you would think would result in me not having much interest in the new campaign — WRONG!
Because despite it being a little cool in South Florida right now (at least in regards to the hype), the NBA is bringing straight HEAT!
And yes, the pun is completely intended. I’m not very happy with Pat Riley & Co. right now.
But though I’d prefer him to be in Miami, Damian Lillard pairing up with Giannis Anteotokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks is certainly a sexy headline. You just know those two are going to be lethal together (or will they?). And in other storylines, you’ve got Chris Paul now with the Golden State Warriors and James Harden still trying to get traded away from the Philadelphia 76ers — we don’t even know the next time that man is gonna play. (RELATED: This Is Pretty Bad: Miami Dolphins Get Screwed Over So Horrendously That It Makes You Think The NFL Is Outright Rigged)
Of course, we still have LeBron James in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers, which always provides some kind of interesting content, whether it be good or bad — and with the self-proclaimed “king,” it’s all over the place.
And then on top of all that, we have the rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama to watch down in San Antonio with the Spurs.
Not the best circumstances as a Miami Heat fan, but as an overall NBA fan … I’m golden, per usual.
Thank you, Adam Silver. NOT you, Micky Arison.
ANDREW POWELL’S 2023-24 NBA SEASON PREDICTIONS
- Eastern Conference Playoff Teams (Last 4 — Play-In Tournament): 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Boston Celtics, 3. New York Knicks, 4. Philadelphia 76ers, 5. Cleveland Cavaliers, 6. Miami Heat, 7. Toronto Raptors, 8 Chicago Bulls, 9. Atlanta Hawks, 10. Indiana Pacers
- Western Conference Playoff Teams (Last 4 — Play-In Tournament): 1. Denver Nuggets, 2. Golden State Warriors, 3. Phoenix Suns, 4. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5. Sacramento Kings, 6. Los Angeles Lakers, 7. Los Angeles Clippers, 8. Memphis Grizzlies, 9. New Orleans Pelicans, 10. Dallas Mavericks
- Eastern Conference Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics
- Western Conference Finals: Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors
- NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Denver Nuggets
- Champions: Denver Nuggets
- MVP: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- Sixth Man of the Year: Derrick White, Boston Celtics
- Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
- Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Most Improved Player of the Year: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
- Coach of the Year: Mike Malone, Denver Nuggets
- Executive of the Year: Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks