Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals after eliminating Giannis and the defending champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, after 7 games of purely entertaining basketball.
Jayson Tatum has come into his own during these playoffs by eliminating two future Hall of Famers in Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo in successive rounds.
The best team statistically in the league since the turn of the year has been on a roll, but they face the ultimate test when they go against the men from South Beach. Jimmy Butler and Co. have been going quietly about their business and are only one of two teams in the playoffs to have won every home game.
The Heat are loaded with championship experience, including PJ Tucker and Kyle Lowry, who won titles with the Bucks and Toronto, respectively.Both teams have been well coached, with first-year coach Ime Udoka taking on the experienced Erik Spoelstra. Both stars, Jayson Tatum and Jimmy Butler, will show out.
The series will be decided on the efficiency of the players around them as well as which team will play the best defense.
Celtics (2-1) regular-season matches
The Golden State Warriors vs. the Dallas Mavericks
The Warriors are making their sixth conference finals appearance since 2015, while the Mavericks are making their first since 2011, ironically the year they won the championship.
Luka Doncic has simply been the best player in the playoffs and inspired Dallas to an impressive blowout win in Game 7 against the number one seed, Phoenix. The Warriors will be favorites to head to the finals with their big three in fine form after ‘Game’ klay inspired them to dump out Memphis in the last round.
This has the potential to go all the way to seven games as it is the matchup of generational talents, Steph Curry and Luka Doncic.
Another intriguing coaching matchup will be between Jason Kidd and Steve Kerr as the battle of the “small ball” reigns supreme. If Luka is to make his second finals appearance, he will need Jaylen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie to step up. Jordan Poole will be the wild card of this series after struggling against the physicality of the Grizzlies side. This is shaping up to be a series for one of the ages.
Since losing to the Clippers (4-3) in 2014, Golden State has never lost a playoff series other than the finals.
Regular season matchups (3-1) Dallas
