NBA Conference Finals: Picks and Preview

By: Garret Kryzanowski

The NBA Conference Finals are here; coming with a feeling of deja vu and familiarity. This is for one simple reason; the final four teams left were the exact same teams left in the 2020 NBA Conference Finals. Putting to rest the small minority of NBA fans who said the "Bubble" playoffs didn't count.

The 2023 NBA playoffs have been more entertaining, exciting and whatever adjectives you can think of. With that being said, let's dive right in to the Conference Finals.

2. Boston Celtics vs 8. Miami Heat

The Eastern Conference Finals are set and not many saw this matchup coming. Before the playoffs started the Miami Heat had to play in the "Play In Tournament", barely making it in. Since then they've knocked out the NBA's best team in the Milwaukee Bucks as well as beating the hardened New York Knicks; with help from the atrocious play of Julius Randle I might add. The Heat's opponent however, is a team that everyone thought would be where they are. The Boston Celtics were arguably the NBA's best team and picked by countless people to win it all. They made easy work of the Atlanta Hawks and were pushed to there limits in second round by the Philadelphia 76ers, winning game seven on the back of Jayson Tatum's 51 points.

So who will win this series? The answer is incredibly easy in my eyes. It will be the Boston Celtics. I know the Heat have shocked the world twice but there momentum will hit the break wall known as the talent of the Celtics. Tatum and Brown alone are game changers. Teams dream of having one of those talents but the Celtics have two. They are too good defensively to lose this series. The Boston Celtics will win this series 4-1 sending the Miami Heat home to South Beach and all there great golf courses.

1. Denver Nuggets vs 7. Los Angeles Lakers

The Western Conference Finals are going to the most exciting series we've seen so far. It features the Western Conference best overall seed as well as its best overall team since the trade deadline. Those teams are of course the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets have seemingly breezed through the NBA playoffs making easy work of both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. While the Lakers have taken down a talented Memphis Grizzlies team and of course the defending champion Golden State Warriors. This series will be close that much is certain.

Will the Jokic led Nuggets dethrone "the King"? Or will the LeBron James led Lakers be victorious once again? It will be LeBron and his Lakers winning this series 4-2. Why? Because "the King" of the NBA won't let his team lose. Not to mention he has his best supporting cast since the 2013 NBA playoffs. The Nuggets will be sent home and have to wait for there time to come. Which may not come until LeBron retires.

I am predicting and hoping for another classic Celtics vs Lakers NBA Finals. This would be the first meeting between the NBA's two winningest franchises since 2010 and it would be an instant classic. One for the ages, we will just have to see if I am right. The NBA playoffs have never been better, let's hope that continues in the Conference Finals.