2023 NBA Playoffs: Conference Finals Preview and Odds
The 2023 NBA playoffs have reached the conference finals, where the four remaining teams will battle it out for a spot in the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat will compete in the Eastern Conference finals, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets will face off in the Western Conference finals. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each matchup and provide odds and predictions for the conference finals.
Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat
How They Got Here
The Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference finals after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in a hard-fought seven-game series. The Heat, on the other hand, upset the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks to reach the conference finals as the No. 8 seed.
Head-to-Head
During the regular season, the Celtics and Heat split their four matchups, with each team winning two games. However, the Heat’s victories came early in the season when the team was struggling, and the Celtics won the final two matchups later in the season when the Heat had turned things around.
Key Players
For the Celtics, the key players will be Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Al Horford. Tatum has been a superstar in the playoffs, averaging 31.1 points per game. Brown has also been excellent, averaging 26.7 points per game, while Horford has provided veteran leadership and solid defense.
The Heat will rely on Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. Butler is a proven playoff performer and has been the team’s best player in the postseason, averaging 26.9 points per game. Adebayo is a versatile big man who can defend multiple positions, while Herro provides scoring off the bench.
Series Prediction
The Celtics are heavily favored to win the series and move on to the NBA Finals. Boston has too much talent and experience for the young Heat, who have been playing over their heads in the playoffs. Look for the Celtics to win the series in five or six games.
Western Conference Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets
How They Got Here
The Lakers upset the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies and the No. 6 seed Golden State Warriors to reach the Western Conference finals as the No. 7 seed. The Nuggets, on the other hand, dispatched the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns, both in six games.
Head-to-Head
The Lakers and Nuggets split their four matchups during the regular season, with each team winning two games. However, the Nuggets were without star guard Jamal Murray for all four contests, so the matchups may not be indicative of what we’ll see in the playoffs.
Key Players
The Lakers will look to LeBron James and Anthony Davis to lead the way. James has been his usual dominant self in the playoffs, averaging 30.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game. Davis has also been excellent, averaging 24.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game.
The Nuggets will rely on Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. Jokic is a legitimate MVP candidate and one of the best big men in the NBA, averaging 29.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game in the playoffs. Porter Jr. has been a breakout star in the postseason, averaging 21.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Series Prediction
The Lakers are slight favorites to win the series and advance to the NBA Finals. Los Angeles has the star power and experience to win big games, while Denver may struggle to keep up. Look for the Lakers to win the series in six or seven games.
Conclusion
The 2023 NBA playoffs have produced two exciting matchups in the conference finals, with the Boston Celtics facing off against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference. While anything can happen in the NBA playoffs, the Celtics and Lakers are both favored to win their series and advance to the NBA Finals.
FAQs
1. When do the NBA Conference finals start?
The NBA Conference finals will begin on May 16, 2023.
2. Who is favored to win the NBA Championship?
The Boston Celtics are currently favored to win the NBA Championship.
3. Will there be fans in attendance at the NBA Conference finals?
It is currently unclear if fans will be allowed to attend the NBA Conference finals.
4. Which team has won the most NBA Championships?
The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA Championships, with 17 titles.
5. Who is the reigning NBA MVP?
The reigning NBA MVP is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
