The NBA Finals are finally here, occurring inside the NBA’s Orlando Bubble. After 3 months of seeding and playoff games trapped at Disneyworld, this year’s finals will be played between the Jimmy Butler led Heat and Lebron James led Los Angeles Lakers. Other stars on display this series will be L.A.’s big man Anthony Davis, and Miami’s young stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Both teams have been absolutely dominating this postseason, as they each have a 12-3 record in the playoffs against worthy opponents. 

To say the least, the Miami Heat’s success in the NBA restart has been a shock to almost everyone. Coming out of the 5th seed in the east, expectations are not a championship. The Heat have embraced the “underdog” mindset and used it to their advantage. They swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round, then were supposed to have their toughest opponent yet, the back to back MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, the best team in the NBA. The Heat rolled through the Bucks, winning 4-1, shut every critic up, and showed the world who they really are. They proved themselves as the real deal and took care of a stacked Boston Celtics team in the Eastern Conference Finals. This team, constructed by their president Pat Riley, and their championship resume head coach Erick Spoelstra, looks to take down one of the greatest Miami Heat players of all time, Lebron James.

The Heat’s opponent is the new and vastly improved Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakeshow is back and is looking to bring its 17th championship to L.A. After rolling through the Portland Trailblazers, the Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets, who overcame two 3-1 comebacks against the Jazz and Clippers, L.A. is on the verge of being a city of champions once again.

The storyline for the Lakers this year has been one of great joy and heartbreak. Starting with the blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis, and the signing of great role players like Dwight Howard, Danny Green, and Rajon Rondo, the season started off on a high note. Just as the team was hitting their stride, the tragic news surrounding the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the other passengers on that helicopter, hit the organization and the rest of the world. Pain and sadness lasted for weeks, which led to a sense of unity as a team.

Many believe that grief is the leading reason they have been propelled to this spot. They end every team meeting with the chant, “Mamba!” and Kobe’s presence is evident whenever they hit the hardwood. Lebron looks to continue dominating in the playoffs, capture his 4th ring in the past 10 years, and move up on the all-time greats list. His partner in crime, Anthony Davis, arguably his best teammate ever, looks to gain his first ring to add to what could be an incredible career.

With the NFL regular season coming in and MLB playoffs starting, the entire O’Dowd community should watch the series, as it will be one they will never forget.