Skip Bayless tips the underdog Miami Heat to beat Denver in six in the NBA Finals… as he hails ‘MVP’ Caleb Martin for his 26-point display in Game 7 win over Celtics
Skip Bayless has done what he does best; delivering another bold take against the grain.
Before the dust had settled on Miami’s blowout 103-84 Game 7 win on the road in Boston Monday night, Bayless had predicted the Heat would go on to be NBA champions.
‘Heat in 6 in the Finals,’ Bayless tweeted. The FS1 personality also joined in on a wave of praise for Caleb Martin, who was one vote shy of being anointed Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
Jimmy Butler won by five votes to Martin’s four. Undrafted out of Nevada, Martin has shone these playoffs, putting himself in a prime position for an enormous raise in the imminent future.
‘Happy for Jimmy Butler. But man, Caleb Martin was my MVP,’ Bayless tweeted.
Caleb Martin & the Heat moved on to the NBA Finals where they will face the Nuggets Thursday
Skip Bayless boldly predicted the Heat’s fairytale run will continue before hailing Caleb Martin
Jimmy Butler won NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP after winning Game 7 vs the Celtics
Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets have thrived amidst a lack of acclamation this season
As the Heat blew the doors off Boston, Martin scored 26 points on 11-16 shooting, in addition to 4-of-6 from three.
The 27-year-old also grabbed 10 rebounds and added three assists in 45 minutes.
For the series, Martin averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Meanwhile, Butler averaged 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists as the Heat became the second No. 8 seed to ever make the NBA Finals.
While Bayless’ prediction will not come to fruition or otherwise for some time, Game 1 is approaching – and fast.
Given Denver’s No. 1 seeding, Miami will travel to the Rockies for Game 1 Thursday before staying in Colorado for Sunday’s game before the Heat host G3 and G4.