Game 1 of the NBA Finals will tip-off on Thursday night, and the Denver Nuggets will have had plenty of rest. Overall, the Nuggets had nine days off, the third most ever behind ten days for the 2003 New Jersey Nets and 11 days for the 1982 Los Angeles Lakers.
Most days off before Game 1 of the NBA Finals in NBA history 👀
1982 Lakers (11 days) — Won the title
2003 Nets (10 days) — Lost the Finals
2023 Nuggets (9 days) — TBD pic.twitter.com/bde8hKARoK— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 1, 2023
Despite the rest, it is no indication of what will happen for the Nuggets in the NBA Finals vs. the Miami Heat. The 11 days off proved advantageous for the 1982 Lakers, however the ten days off did not result in a championship for the 2003 Nets. With nine days to prepare, pretty much all will go out the window once Game 1 tips on Thursday night.
The Heat will probably be the toughest opponent the Nuggets have faced so far in the postseason; they cruised through the Western Conference, but have not faced a team as gritty and cohesive as the Heat. Entering the 2023 NBA Playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference almost proved an advantage for the Heat, as they have played like a team brimming with effortless confidence and nothing to lose.
In terms of the rest, there is a massive disparity between the two teams given that the Heat just finished off the Boston Celtics in Game 7 on Monday night. With the increased altitude in Denver, it would be no surprise if the Heat looked slightly more fatigued in Game 1 than the Denver Nuggets.
It remains to be seen if the rest will play any role in helping the Nuggets win the NBA Finals. If they do win, it will most likely be because they have the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic leading them triumphantly.
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