NBA Conference Finals Predictions
“The king is dead, long live the king!“. The Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns have been eliminated from the NBA Conference Finals and the best basketball league in the world will crown a new Champion. After two stunning Game 7s in Boston and Phoenix, the Celtics and the Mavericks were the two teams that will matchup with the Heat and the Warriors, respectively.
Miami Heat (2) vs Boston Celtics (3)
Complete Eastern Conference finals schedule:
Game 1 in Miami: Tuesday, May 17 at 12:30 a.m. GMT
Game 2 in Miami: Thursday, May 19 at 12:30 a.m. GMT
Game 3 in Boston: Saturday, May 21 at 12:30 a.m. GMT
Game 4 in Boston: Monday, May 23 at 12:30 a.m. GMT
Game 5 in Miami: Wednesday, May 25 at 12:30 a.m. GMT*
Game 6 in Boston: Friday, May 27 at 12:30 a.m. GMT*
Game 7 in Miami: Sunday, May 29 at 12:30 a.m. GMT*
*If Needed.
It’s the clash between two of the best defensive teams of the year. The Celtics allow 106.2 points per 100 possessions (1st), while the Heat are fourth in the list with 108.4 points. It is probably the head to head between a superstar (Jimmy Battler) and a rising superstar (Jayson Tatum).
For Boston, the series against the Bucks, provided evidence that they are the most improved team in the NBA in 2022. However, they needed a Game 7 win, although they have won twice in Milwaukee. Can they do the same against the Heat?
Tough mission, as now they do not havehome-court advantage and they face a team that has the best chemistry in the league. However, Erik Spoelstra may not have Kyle Lowry in the series and this may prove devastating for the three-time Champions of the World. But Jimmy Butler is in beast mode (28.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 5.4 apg), and he is surrounded by Bam Adebayo (14.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg), who plays as an All Star in the Playoffs. In the backcourt, provided the absence of Lowry, Tyler Hero (13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Max Strus (12.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Victor Oladipo (11.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg) will have to contribute more. The Heat have 5 players that score in double figures and 7 that have more than 7.5 points per game in this year’s NBA Playoffs.
On the other hand, the Celtics have Jayson Tatum (28.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.1 apg) and Jaylen Brown (22.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.8 apg) to contribute almost 40% of the points, assists and rebounds per game for the team. Ime Udoka created a team that defends well and they rest on that to reach the NBA Finals.
The Verdict: Both teams defend well, however, the Heat seem to have more options in their offence, even if they will miss Kyle Lowry. They can also take advantage of their home court and their offensive pluralism, reaching the Finals for the first time after 2020. Heat in Six @8/1 (888sport)
Golden State Warriors (3) vs Dallas Mavericks (4)
Complete Western Conference finals schedule:
Game 1 in San Francisco: Wednesday, May 18 at 1:00 am GMT
Game 2 in San Francisco: Friday, May 20 at 1:00 am GMT
Game 3 in Dallas: Sunday, May 22 at 1:00 am GMT
Game 4 in Dallas: Tuesday, May 24 at 1:00 am GMT
Game 5 in San Francisco: Thursday, May 26 at 1:00 am GMT*
Game 6 in Dallas: Saturday, May 28 at 1:00 am GMT*
Game 7 in San Francisco: Monday, May 30 at 1:00 am GMT*
*If needed
Spencer Dinwiddie (13.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.5 rpg) was sensational in Games 6 and 7 against the Suns, and became the X Factor of the series. His step up was the key for the Mavericks, as he became Luca Doncic’s wingman. The Slovenian superstar, started Game 7 with 8 points and finished it with 35 and 10 rebounds. In the NBA Playoffs, the guard from Ljubljana have scored 31.5 ppg and 10.1 rpg, exploiting his stardom quality.
However, now he will have to deal with the big boys. Stephen Curry (26.9 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.2 rpg) and Klay Thompson (20.4 ppg, 2.0 apg, 4.5 rpg) are back, and the Golden State’s Big 3 was reformed this year. After eliminating the New Orleans Pelicans, they have no problem doing the same against the Memphis Grizzlies, although they did not have the home-court advantage.
The Splash Brothers are again connected, and reminded the duo that crowned NBA Champions three times the past decade, while Draymond Green (7.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 6.6 apg) is their “muscles” οn both ends of the court. Jordan Poole (19.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.4 rpg) is making the season of his life and Andrew Wiggins (14.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 6.6 apg), at last, is part of a team that can exploit his talent, without shooting excessively. They have gone all the way in the past, they know the path and this is their biggest advantage in the series, against the Mavericks.
The Verdict: The Mavericks have already stepped up their game, as nobody expected them to be here. They do have the momentum and the confidence, but they lack in experience and firepower against the Warriors. They will fight, but they will probably fall in five games. Warriors in Five @16/5 (888sport)
The #NBAConferenceFinals are set!
🏀 Miami Heat 🆚 🍀 Boston Celtics
⚔Golden State Warriors 🆚🐴Dallas Mavericks❓ Who will advance for the #NBAFinals? #NBAPlayoffs #DubNation #HEATCulture #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/wT8QflG33V
— helpbet.com (@HelpbetC) May 17, 2022
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