Tank's NBA Conference Finals Predictions
MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images. Getty Images.Eastern Conference Finals
Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics
Celtics in Six
The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics were the top two seeds in the East and will be battling to go to the NBA Finals. The Heat went to the Finals in the bubble in 2020, while the Celtics have come close but have not been in the NBA Finals since 2010. The Heat defeated the Hawks and 76ers, while the Celtics swept the Nets and knocked off the defending champion Bucks.
The Celtics are the team that has put it together at the right time. They were the best team in the East after the All-Star Break and have been playing with a hard-nosed defense that is needed to win championships. The Celtics have faced adversity in the playoffs needing to win a Game 6 on the road against the defending champions to win the series. This is coming after blowing a lead in Game 5 with Marcus Smart having the worst 30 seconds in NBA history.
Advertisement
The Celtics won two of three meetings with Miami in the regular season. The Celtics have the best player on the floor and the stronger defense; they can win on the road and shut down a team's best player; add that up, and you have Boston making a trip to the NBA Finals for the 21st time.
Larry Bird ECF MVP: Marcus Smart, Boston
Ron Jenkins. Getty Images.Western Confernece Finals
Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks
Warriors in Six
The form did not hold up in the West, as the Phoenix Suns set in the second round, with Chris Paul again choking when it mattered most. The Dallas Mavericks, who beat the Utah Jazz in the first round, crushed the Suns in a Game 7 that was over before halftime as Luka Doncic established himself as a money player scoring 27 points to equal the output of the Suns. The Golden State Warriors were the third seed in the West and beat the Nuggets and Grizzlies on the way to the Western Conference Finals.
The Warriors have dealt with injuries in the past two seasons and missed the playoffs. They had a dynasty in the late 2010s playing in the NBA Finals five straight seasons and winning three championships. The Warriors have that championship look again as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson average over 20 points per game. Jordan Poole has emerged as a third option, averaging 19.3 ppg in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since winning the NBA Finals in 2011. Luka Doncic has emerged as one of the NBA's top-five players averaging 31.5 ppg.
The Mavericks will soon be a perennial favorite to win the West, but this is the Warriors showing they have at least one more title run; look for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to turn the clock back to 2015 as they make all the big shots from three-point range to take down Dallas in six games.
Magic Johnson WCF MVP: Steph Curry, Golden State