This year has been odd for the NBA season. The league had a break-up point in the middle of the season because of COVID, and once the season resumed, teams had to play in a playoff bubble with no fans in Orlando. The season will end Wednesday, Sept. 30, after Lebron James and the LA Lakers go up against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in a best of seven series. 

The Lakers’ path to the finals had a few turns, but ultimately, they won 4-1 in all of their series. Their first series was up against the red-hot Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers. After that, the Lakers had to face the Houston Rockets with Russell Westbrook and James Harden in the second round. In the Conference Finals, they faced the gritty Denver Nuggets, who played a full seven-game series back to back to make it to the Conference Finals. After facing all of these teams, Lebron and his Lakers made it back to the finals.

The Heat took more time in their series, being the lowest seed to ever make it to the NBA Finals. In round one, they swept the Indiana Pacers 4-0. In the second round, they went on to defeat the back to back MVP Giannis Anteotokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1. In the Conference Finals, they went on to play against a deep Celtics team and beat them, winning the series 4-2. 

With both teams making it this far, the Lakers are the favorites to win easily as they have one of the best players in the world on their team, Lebron James.

“I think the Lakers will win this series because of the fact that they have Lebron on their team and they have the best chemistry in the league. I think that they will be the Heat 4-2,” senior Nikita Goncharov said. 

The Lakers having Lebron on their team is a huge advantage. This is Lebron’s 10th finals appearance, and having that previous experience will be helpful. While the Heat does have a young core with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, they also have two players who have previously played in the finals: Udonis Haslem and former finals MVP Andre Iguodala. 

Seeing who comes out on top at this year’s NBA Finals will be huge for these two teams. With the Lebron wanting to chase his 4th Finals win to solidify his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. The Heat wanting to prove all of their haters and doubters wrong about Jimmy Butler, and how they are unable to compete for a championship. With the Lakers making it to the finals with not much resistance and the Heat having to fight their way into making the Finals. Many people have already written the Heat out for not being ranked high enough in the playoffs, and having to go through a tough road where no one believed they could make it and win the Finals.

“For the Heat to win the series they have to slow down Lebron and/or Anthony Davis. As for the Lakers, their key to win[ning] this series is the exact opposite–win through Lebron and Davis,” senior Michael Czekaj said. 

With Lebron wanting his place atop of the greatest of all-time debate and the Heat having this underdog mentality, this best of seven will mean a lot to both teams and we will see who is able to come out on top.