The hunt for the Larry O'Brien Trophy comes to a conclusion... The Joker vs. Himmy Buckets

Dude…

It all comes down to this. We started with 16 teams battling it out for the chance to call themselves champions. We’ve seen highlight reel dunks, insane no-look passes, turnovers that made you want to rip your hair out *cough* Boston in game 7 *cough*, and teams fell one by one until there were only two remaining teams left to battle it out for the Larry O’Brien trophy. Two teams will duke it out as another David vs. Goliath battle surfaces from the ashes of their defeated enemies as the top-seeded Denver Nuggets, who SWEPT Lebron and the Lakers, take on the Miami Heat as they deny the Boston Celtics history in a pretty unimpressive game 7. As these two teams come together for the final series of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, let’s take a moment to walk through each team's run to the finals. Don’t worry we will have your playoff prediction shortly after.

DENVER is known for its high altitude, snowy slopes, and big mountains. It is also home to one of the baddest villains ever. A man who is not only good with gathering rebounds like any other big-time center. He is the facilitator, scorer, rebounder, and the center of all things Nuggets. That’s right… I’m talking about The Joker. Nikola Jokic was a back-to-back MVP and was the runner-up of this year's voting. However, The Joker is a selfless teammate who gives you Bill Russell vibes. He’s a team man, and he can carry the team when it is needed. The Nuggets were the #1 seed in the west, the Nuggets played against the two big men who never seemed to take the leap the T-Wolves were hoping for. Even with two above-average big men standing in his way, The Joker sliced and diced his way through the defense. He did play with his food and allowed Anthony Edwards one shot at glory. He missed and the Nuggets cruised to the game 5 victory to ice the series over. As soon as the ice storm seemed to take over, a heat wave and the Phoenix Suns came glistening into town. The Nuggets were the better team, however, they seemed like underdogs. The Suns had the dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. As both teams won on their home floors, the game shifted to Denver, in hopes of going up 3-2 in the series. The Joker never loses in his hometown as he takes over to convincingly beat the Suns and go up 3-2. The game went back into the desert and we wanted to see a good old fashion Western battle to see who would move on to the Western Conference Finals, but we didn't get that. We got the Joker swiping away KDs title hopes as the Nuggets ANNIHILATE the Suns by 30. So the villain finds himself at the final battle. Against his true nemesis and protector of the Finals. He is a King, and Lebron James was The Joker’s final test to see if his team had what it took to make it to the Finals. As The King looked down upon the Joker, the Joker didn’t just play a dirty trick to win games. He Destroyed Lebron’s Team. Lebron is thinking about retiring because of this series. The Joker and his team had some huge contributors (shout out Jamal Murray, he looks like his old self before the injury). The Joker has finally made his way to the top. Beating out foes that people thought were better than his squad. As he rises over the top to see his opponent for the covenant Larry O’Brien Trophy, he sees he’s the first to arrive. He waits. And waits. And waits. Finally, an opponent rises from the other side, beaten and battered. However, it is an unlikely foe who rises. A demon slayer, with a hunger to strike down another gladiator, looks to finish the quest he had started so long ago.

Who is this demon slayer…

Miami is home to the demon slayer. Palm trees, beaches, and spring breakers roam throughout the city. But at night, the demon slayer Mr. Himmy Buckets comes out to take over on the basketball court. The Miami Heat found themselves in the play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks. Fighting for the 7th seed, the Hawks outdueled the Heat to win the game, sending Miami to a do-or-die game against the Chicago Bulls. Jimmy found himself in that game to help the Heat advance as the #8 seed. The Heat would face off against the heavily favored Milwaukee Bucks, who had their own giant in The Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo. This is where the demon slayer was formed. The Bucks were supposed to win this series easily, but it didn’t happen. Instead, the Heat made Giannis shoot more and had no control in the lane. The Heat dismantled the Bucks as Jimmy Butler proved that he was him, giving him the nickname Himmy Buckets. The Heat found themselves as the underdog going into NY to face the Knicks. Himmy once again proved that he was out for blood. The Heat beat Jalen Brunson and bum-ass Julius Randle in six games. Going into the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat were playing the team they were supposed to play in the first round if Ice Trae Young hadn’t beaten them in the play-in game. The Boston Celtics. The Celtics were favored to win the series 97% to 3%. Jimmy, who continued to be counted out, led his team to a 3-0 lead in the series. The teammates of Himmy, the undrafted, discarded NBA players BALLED OUT. With the series looking to be wrapped up, the Heat took the foot off the gas a little. Jason Tatum found his groove and helped the Celtics to come all the way back to tie the series up 3-3. Derrick White had a hustle play at the buzzer to help the Celtics win game 6 in Miami. For those young hoopers out there, go look at that play. The game is never over until the final buzzer. Game 7. In TD Garden. The Celtics are looking to become the first team ever to come back down 3-0 in a series. Himmy smiled and said the team was still confident that they were going to win. Himmy Buckets and Co (shout out to Caleb Martin, he BALLLLLLLEEEEDDD OUT!!!) extinguished the Celtics hopes and dreams and beat the Celtics by 20 in game 7 to advance to the Finals. As the demon slayer slowly makes his way to the top, he finds The Joker sitting there, waiting for him patiently.

So we have our two gladiators ready to duke it out. Will the jack of all trades, the villain, and the two-time MVP place his first ring on his finger? Or will Himmy Buckets finally cement himself as an all-time great, and take care of one more demon to finally lift that NBA Championship trophy? It all comes down to role players. If Bam, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin, and Max Strus can play well, then the Heat have a legit shot. If they don’t, look for quick work from The Joker and Jamal. I’m no expert, and I certainly haven’t gotten my predictions right at all throughout the playoffs. However, I want to see the demon slayer slay one more foe and finally win that ring. I'm taking the Heat in 7.