NBA Championship – Page 4

South Florida’s Heat and Panthers Chase N.B.A. And N.H.L. Titles

It is rare for teams from one market to play in the Stanley Cup and N.B.A. Finals in the same year, and a first for southern franchises, but it was bound to happen.

By Ken Belson

Basketball Boeheim, Jim Denver Nuggets Jokic, Nikola (1995- ) Lowry, Kyle (1986- ) Miami Heat Murray, Jamal (1997- ) NBA Championship Playoff Games Spoelstra, Erik Strus, Max Vincent, Gabe (1996- )

The Miami Heat’s Secret Weapon for a Title? Zone Defense.

The odds are against the Heat in their N.B.A. finals matchup with the Denver Nuggets. But the maligned zone defense may be their secret weapon.

By Scott Cacciola

Basketball Butler, Jimmy Denver Nuggets Executives and Management (Theory) Jokic, Nikola (1995- ) Miami Heat National Basketball Assn NBA Championship

Jimmy Butler and Nikola Jokic Led Their Teams to the NBA Finals in Very Different Ways

Experts in leadership say the differing styles of Miami’s Jimmy Butler and Denver’s Nikola Jokic show there’s no one right way to be a leader.

By Tania Ganguli

Basketball Butler, Jimmy Denver Nuggets Gordon, Aaron (1995- ) Jokic, Nikola (1995- ) Love, Kevin Malone, Michael (1971- ) Miami Heat Murray, Jamal (1997- ) National Basketball Assn NBA Championship Playoff Games Porter, Michael Jr (1998- ) Spoelstra, Erik Strus, Max

The Heat, a Long Shot in the Playoffs, Pull Even with Long Shots

Miami, usually outgunned by the Denver offense, made 17 3-pointers to even the N.B.A. Finals series at one game apiece.

By Sopan Deb