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NBA Finals: Key questions and predictions for Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat

By Daniel Lubofsky

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers guards Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena on December 13, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers guards Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena on December 13, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Though not the NBA Finals we expected, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat are sure to cap off this bubble experience with a thrilling series.

It’s taken over a calendar year since the start of training camp to get to this point, but we finally have our matchup to determine a champion for the 2019-20 season.

This is the spot the Los Angeles Lakers expected to be in from the moment the Anthony Davis trade was made official. Many within the media didn’t feel the same way early on. The early weeks of the bubble did little to build momentum heading into the postseason, where intense shooting struggles became the norm.

Once there, LA needed no more than five games to dispatch its three playoff opponents, relying on a tethered defensive effort and its star of stars to reach the Finals for the first time since 2010.

The Miami Heat provide a different journey, though hardly less captivating if not more. They were the hard-nosed bunch heading into the playoffs, the opponent no foe wanted to have to go through due to a balanced two-way attack that could lean more either way when needed.

Did the bubble’s removal of homecourt advantage even the playing field enough for Miami to snake through the Eastern Conference on its way to the Finals? Maybe. But a sixth appearance this century speaks more to the #HeatCulture putting them in a position to capitalize on an opportunity available to all eight conference playoff teams.

LA took both regular-season meetings, but that was back when factors like homecourt and travel schedules were calculated into predictions. Avery Bradley was a starter. Jae Crowder was a Memphis Grizzlie. Andre Iguodala was golfing. Tyler Herro wasn’t even halfway into a rookie season that’s now seen him rise to Miami’s fourth-leading scorer in these playoffs.

As if the bubble hasn’t provided enough unpredictable theatrics, the NBA Finals is sure to be a worthy conclusion.

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