Get ready for the electrifying showdowns and heart-stopping moments as the NBA 2023 Playoffs march into the intense Conference Finals. With the stakes higher than ever, the basketball world is on the edge of its seat, eagerly awaiting the clash of titans. As the remaining teams battle it out on the hardwood, a collision course has been set, promising an epic spectacle of skill, strategy, and sheer determination. Who will emerge victorious from the grueling gauntlet of the playoffs? Will it be a rematch of the 2020 NBA “Bubble” finals matchup between the Lakers and the Heat? Will Boston Celtics reach the Finals again? Can Jokic win his first championship? The possibilities are endless, and we are all for it!
Western Conference Finals
Denver Nuggets (#1) V.S. Los Angeles Lakers (#7)
After three years, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets face again in the Western Conference Finals. In the 2020 playoffs, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray pushed the Nuggets in two hard-fought consecutive series against the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers. Both series had Denver on a tightrope after they were close to elimination, with both teams having 3-1 leads against the MVP.
They eventually overcame the impossible but faced the eventual champions that year, the Los Angeles Lakers. Nikola Jokic and Anthony Davis had a great battle. But, the last time these two giants faced each other, it wasn’t so sweet for the Nuggets. But, this time around, will Jokic have his revenge? Or will it be the same old story?
Schedule:
- 16th May – Game 1 @ 5:30 p.m. on ESPN
- 18th May – Game 2 @ 5:30 p.m. on ESPN
- 20th May – Game 3 @ 5:30 p.m. on ABC
- 22nd May – Game 4 @ 5:30 p.m. on ESPN
- 24th May – Game 5 @ 5:30 p.m. on ESPN (if necessary)
- 26th May – Game 6 @ 5:30 p.m. on ESPN (if necessary)
- 28th May – Game 7 @ 5:30 p.m. on ESPN (if necessary)
SpielTimes’ pick to advance to the NBA Finals: Denver Nuggets in 7
As the best team in the West, it’s not surprising that the odds are with the Denver Nuggets. Moreover, Nikola Jokic has been a monster in the 2023 Playoffs so far. With Jamal Murray now healthy, the two-time MVP finally has the help he very much needed in the past couple of years. So far, the Nuggets have had an easier path compared to the Lakers. Their first-round matchup was a Timberwolves team struggling to identify who would be their go-to guy.
Then, the semifinal series against the Phoenix Suns, which everyone thought would be a tough one for the Nuggets, was barely an inconvenience for the Serbian superstar. Jokic destroyed the Suns’ team, which consisted of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, and Kevin Durant. Now, Jokic and the Nuggets will be up against the team that surprised everyone, the Los Angeles Lakers.
From being 2-10 to start the 2022-2023 season to being in the Conference Finals, LeBron James and the Lakers defied all odds. They were already off the list, but they managed to reach the playoffs and beat the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors in the West. This matchup would be an exciting and thrilling series, especially since both teams’ superstars are healthy. Two giants will clash in an epic battle, but who will come out on top?
We picked the Denver Nuggets to win this series because of two things: First, Nikola Jokic can and will cook the Lakers in every way; And a healthy Jamal Murray is very dangerous.
Jokic has been averaging a 30-point triple-double in the playoffs (30-10-13), while Murray has been showing up, especially when he is needed. Would you be surprised if Murray got more points than the 2023 MVP Joel Embiid during this year’s playoffs?
On the other hand, the Lakers have great momentum. LeBron James may have been shooting poorly, but Anthony Davis has been a dominant force on both ends of the floor. Plus, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schroeder, and Jared Vanderbilt are all playing their part.
Advanced stats leaders in the playoffs:
PER – Nikola Jokic
ORTG – Robert Williams
DRTG – Anthony Davis
TRB% – Kevon Looney
AST% – Nikola Jokic
STL% – De'Anthony Melton
BLK% – Joel Embiid
USG% – Trae Young pic.twitter.com/8PWnvjWgNL— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 13, 2023
It truly is going to be a long series, and it could lead to seven games. But we predict that the Nuggets are going to take this one away from the Lakers. Once Murray shows up and Jokic plays aggressively, it’s going to be difficult for the Lakers to handle. Nikola Jokic may not be a great defender, but Davis won’t back him down as he did with GSW’s Kevon Looney. Further, in the 2020 playoffs, we had a glance at how good Jamal Murray can be.
Eastern Conference Finals
Boston Celtics (#2) V.S. Miami Heat (#8)
The Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat will meet again in the Eastern Conference Finals after battling each other last year. Just like the Nuggets-Lakers matchup, these two also met back in the 2020 playoffs. That just shows that the Bubble playoffs aren’t just a fluke.
Schedule:
- 17th May – Game 1 @ 8:30 p.m. on TNT
- 19th May – Game 2 @ 8:30 p.m. on TNT
- 21st May – Game 3 @ 8:30 p.m. on TNT
- 23rd May – Game 4 @ 8:30 p.m. on TNT
- 25th May – Game 5* @ 8:30 p.m. on TNT (if necessary)
- 27th May – Game 6* @ 8:30 p.m. on TNT (if necessary)
- 29th May – Game 7* @ 8:30 p.m. on TNT (if necessary)
SpielTimes’ pick to advance to the NBA Finals: Miami Heat in 7
The 2nd seed Celtics is one of the favorites to win the NBA championship this year. Meanwhile, the 8th-seed Heat barely managed to reach the playoffs, but now they’re here. Jimmy Butler completely changed to prime Michael Jordan and unleashed his playoff persona, “Playoff Jimmy.” Although the Celtics are the much-favored team to win this series, we’re going to give it to Butler and the Heat.
Last year, the Heat lost a close series against the Celtics in seven games. Despite Butler’s effort, they fell short against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But this year, it’s probably going to be Jimmy Butler’s redemption run. He is arguably the best player in the playoffs so far, and it seems that nobody can stop this guy. The 33-year-old All-Star is carrying a significant load on his back with Victor Oladipo and Tyler Herro injured.
Moreover, if we are going to compare the Celtics’ and Heat’s rosters, we could easily spot who has the better list of players (and it’s the Celtics), but don’t get fooled by a star-studded cast. Remember when the Heat upset Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round?
Most PPG by a remaining player this playoffs:
31.1 — Jimmy Butler
30.7 — Nikola Jokic
28.2 — Jayson Tatum
25.9 — Jamal Murray
24.6 — Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/L9xPpci5cU— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 15, 2023
If Boston can’t find a way to stop Jimmy Butler, we can see the Heat reaching the NBA finals again. But that’s just our two cents. The odds still favor the Celtics, and there’s no doubt about that. To add to that, Butler has a losing record against Tatum (5-7). But Jimmy has been on a tear in this year’s playoffs. His passion is just immeasurable. Plus, Erik Spoelstra (Heat) is much more experienced in the playoffs than Joe Mazzulla (Celtics).
What’s your NBA prediction this season? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times.
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