Lakers, Heat begin NBA bubble title quest

Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James are expected to lead their respective squads in the 2019-2020 NBA Finals beginning Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines). YAHOO SPORTS
Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler and Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James are expected to lead their respective squads in the 2019-2020 NBA Finals beginning Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines). YAHOO SPORTS

THE Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat commence their quest for the 2019-2020 NBA championship on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) at the Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, United States.

The Lakers is chasing its 17th NBA championship, first since winning it in 2010 in a seven grueling series with rival Boston Celtics behind the late Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace.

The Heat, on the other hand, is after its fourth NBA chip, first since then Heat star and now Lakers veteran LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh defeated San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the 2013 finale.

Despite having James and Anthony Davis at his disposal, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel still refused to take the Heat lightly following the latter’s success in the NBA playoffs so far.

“They’ve got a lot of ways that they can beat you,” Vogel said. “I’m very impressed with what they’ve been able to accomplish, beating three teams convincingly that were on pace. There’s no surprise that they’ve had such a successful postseason run.”

“You got to be focused and locked in,” he added. “We feel good about attacking whatever defense they throw out there. We’re familiar with the different looks they like to show. And we have a plan on attacking each of them.”

For James, it does not matter for him facing his former team, his former head coach Eric Spoelstra, but he is motivated to finish the job and lead the Lakers to one of a kind NBA bubble championship.

“My mindset was if I’m going to be here, make the most of it and lock on what the main thing is. And the main thing is for us to finish the season and compete for a championship,” James said.

“No extra meaning to win a championship no matter who you’re playing against. It’s already hard enough to reach the Finals. If you’re able to become victorious in the Finals, it doesn’t matter who it’s against,” he added.

Heat guard Jimmy Butler, on the other hand, believes that they are not the underdogs in the best-of-seven finale but admitted that he and fellow first timers in the NBA last dance are feeling nervous.

“The Lakers are a really good team, that’s it. A really good team. Not going to say that we’re any better than anybody else, but I just don’t think that we’re underdogs. I don’t,” Butler said.

“This is the first time being here, so I just want to make sure that everybody is comfortable. We’ve been playing a certain way this entire year. I think that’s winning basketball for us, me making sure that everybody is involved,” he added.

“I think that’s part of my role on this team, so we’ll take it as the game goes, and well figure it out,” he said. “But, I’m sure before the game, [Udonis Haslem], [Andre Iguodala], [Spoelstra], they’ll definitely tell me what to look for and how to start, I guess.”

The Lakers reached the best-of-seven finals series by defeating Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals in five games, while the Heat ousted Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference in six matches./PN

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