\n<\/p>\n
The Miami Heat would be the first to assess their path to this late stage of the season as imperfect. Pretty much everything has posed a challenge. The injuries. The losses. Even their experience in the play-in bracket \u2014 a loss followed by a come-from-behind win \u2014 seems apocryphal, or at least true to form, now that they are facing the Denver Nuggets in the N.B.A. finals.<\/p>\n
In the process, the Heat have co-opted adversity as a part of their identity. Adversity has hardened them and made them more resilient. Adversity has fueled their postseason run. Adversity has improved them as players and helped them bond as a team. Adversity has them competing for a championship.<\/p>\n
Bam Adebayo, the team\u2019s All-Star center, cited the \u201cups, downs, goods, bads\u201d of the season as if they were inseparable qualities, as if none could exist without the others. Coach Erik Spoelstra has taken to occasionally describing his team as \u201cgnarly\u201d in the most complimentary way possible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a Spo term,\u201d Adebayo said at a news conference earlier this week, adding: \u201cA lot of you in here probably never thought we would be in this position right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The problem, of course, is that a steady diet of adversity takes a toll, and the Nuggets are a full meal. So much talent. So much size. So much depth. And not even the Heat, who have made a habit of navigating their way out of bleak situations, could match them on Friday night as the Nuggets pulled away for a 108-95 victory in Game 4 that has them on the cusp of their first N.B.A. title.<\/p>\n
The Nuggets have a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is Monday in Denver.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a gnarly game in Denver that is built for the competitors that we have in our locker room,\u201d Spoelstra said, adding: \u201cWe get an opportunity to play a super competitive game in a great environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spoelstra was notably upbeat, but that was nothing new. Count the Heat out at your peril.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur whole season hasn\u2019t been easy,\u201d Adebayo said. \u201cIt just seems like we won\u2019t quit.\u201d<\/p>\n
They refused to quit after slipping into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the East. They refused to quit after losing two rotation players, Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, in their first-round series with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. Herro broke his hand, and Oladipo tore a tendon in his knee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Heat wanted adversity? They flourished, eliminating the Bucks in five games.<\/p>\n