Why NBA Fans Are Praying for a Thunder-Heat NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a spot reserved in the NBA Finals, and the Boston Celtics are a win away from joining them.

But is this the finals matchup that NBA fans (outside of Boston) want to see?

While I’m personally a fan of seeing the aging Celtics try to defy the odds against the young Thunder, most other NBA fans are likely wishing to see a Miami Heat-Oklahoma City finals matchup.

Based on the stories involved, it’s probably a little more intriguing than the Old vs. Youth story we will get to see play out if Boston advances.

In Miami vs. Oklahoma City, fans get treated to the classic Good vs. Evil matchup.

It would make for compelling television for sure with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade playing the role of The Joker and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook being cast as Batman.

Use any analogy you wish, but the team most of America is behind is the Thunder while most of America would like to see the Heat fail. More importantly, Durant is seen in many eyes as the anti-LeBron and is a guy fans can root for, especially in a series against James.

Oh yeah, this potential series would also feature the best two basketball players in the NBA in Durant and LeBron, both looking for their first championship.

Another storyline Heat vs. Thunder would provide is the Big Guy vs. The Little Guy.

By that I’m referring to the size of the towns. Miami is the big market while Oklahoma City has a small town feel to it. Essentially, it will have the feel that the Thunder will be fighting for the little people in the world.

It’s not quite David vs. Goliath, but it could have that type of feel.

That brings me to the networks, which almost are certainly hoping for a Heat-Thunder matchup. Ratings will be through the roof, especially if it would turn out to be a lengthy series.

As for storylines, this potential series could turn out to be pretty compelling, even for the casual NBA fan.

But the biggest factor is that the majority of NBA fans would love to see James come so close to that ring but ultimately fall short again.

As important as it is for NBA fans to have someone to root for, it’s just as important to have someone to root against.

Wishing for a Heat-Thunder finals matchup gives the world at least four more games to boo LeBron.