With the Boston Celtics 112-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers to secure a 4-3 victory in the series, the conference semifinals have officially ended. The Western Conference Finals will feature the Los Angeles Lakers, coming fresh from a surprising 4-2 series win over the Golden State warriors. Facing them will be the top seed in the west, the Denver Nuggets. For the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics will play against the Miami Heat, coming off a big win over the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. The winner of the conference finals will then go on to play each other in the finals.
Western Conference Finals (Lakers vs. Nuggets):
The Lakers have had a magical playoff run this season. After ending the regular season in seventh place, hopes were not high to go anywhere in the playoffs, but after winning the play-ins game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and defeating the second seeded Memphis Grizzlies in a 4-2 series, things were looking up for the Lakers. The Laker’s dynamic duo, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are both healthy, something that has not really been the case for the past three years, and together, they are turning the Laker’s into a beast of a team. After a big 4-2 series win against the Warriors, including a 101-122 win, the Lakers are looking very in form. Unfortunately for them, they will be facing off against the top seed in the west, the Nuggets. Led MVP runner up Nikola Jokic, who averages 31 points a game, the Nuggets mean business. With arguably the best offense in the league, and a solid defense, it’s going to be hard for the Lakers to top them, but they will definitely not go down without a fight.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7
Eastern Conference Finals (Celtics vs. Heat):
The Celtics this season are looking strong, coming off a loss in last year’s NBA finals, and looking to make it back and win this season. The second seed in the east, and one of the favorites to win the whole thing, the Celtics had a challenging opponent in the conference semifinals with the 76ers, with much of their trouble coming from power forward Joel Embiid, the MVP this season. Now after dispatching them in a 7 game series, the Heat aren’t much of a pushover either. The Heat have a solid team, with the likes of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and ofcourse, Jimmy Butler. From the 2020 finals, it’s clear that Butler is willing to play his heart and soul out for the team, and he is a nightmare for the opposing team’s defense when he is locked in. The Celtics however, have the Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum trio, and in the regular season the Celtics have been tearing up the league. Unless Butler can work some magic, the Celtics have this in the bag.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
NBA Finals(Nuggets vs. Celtics)
This game will definitely come down to the wire, and each team is incredibly good. The problem is going to come down to how each team’s unique playing style, and how they clash with each other. The Nugget’s are heavily reliant on Jokic’s ability to be a playmaker and control the game, not only scoring points, but also creating opportunities, and providing assists. The Celtic’s on the other hand have a deep roster this year. They have Tatum as their main man, and although he may not be on par with Jokic and the rest of the league’s superstars, with their deep roster, they have a lot of room for versatility in their playing style. I think, ultimately it will come down to the Celtic’s defense, which has been evidently strong throughout the season, and in the last time the Celtics and Nuggets played each other, the Celtics held Jokic back to just three assists, a season low for him. I think that the Celtic’s defense will be the final nail in the coffin for the Nuggets.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
