NBA Conference Finals | Four teams vying for top honors

The Association Finals, the penultimate stage of the NBA playoffs, begin on Tuesday. However, it will be without the Milwaukee Bucks or the Phoenix Suns, respectively defending champions and best formation of the season. Here’s what to track.

William Theriault
The Press

Eastern Association

Miami Heat (1) vs. Boston Celtics (2)

With the season-leading record (53-29) of the four remaining teams, tied with the Golden State Warriors, the Heat have the potential to reach their second NBA Finals in three years. Erik Spoelstra’s squad lost in six games against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Now with a more mature and complete roster, Miami will face its first real playoff test.

In the first round, the Atlanta Hawks were not difficult to dislodge. Subsequently, the Philadelphia 76ers had to deal with the injury of their star player, Joel Embiid. It made Miami’s job easier. While the Florida club’s game had been more collective during the regular season, it was clearly star winger Jimmy Butler who took the wheel in the playoffs, with averages of 28.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 10 games. A little help from his teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, who are doing less well than usual, would certainly be welcome.

The Celtics, as a franchise, are in familiar territory. The most decorated franchise in NBA history with 17 championships, they have advanced to half of the Eastern Conference Finals in the league’s existence. It is even the fourth time in six years (2017, 2018, 2020, 2022) that Boston has reached this stage of the playoffs, without ever being able to experience success there.

In order to defeat the Heat, the Celtics must play their defensive game, which is simply the best in the NBA since 1^er january. This is how they were able to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, who were crowned last year, in the second round. On offense, Jayson Tatum is performing similarly to Butler, Jaylen Brown doing what he has to do, and Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart is rolling in at 15.0 points per game. They will have to continue on this path.

Miami’s last championships date back to 2012 and 2013, when the Big 3 by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. That of Boston, in 2008, with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Western Association

Dallas Mavericks (4) vs. Golden State Warriors (3)

It’s a huge surprise to find the Mavericks at this stage of the playoff journey. In the second round, Luka Dončić and his team managed to bring down the Phoenix Suns, authors of 64 victories in the season, after 7 games. The young Slovenian, who has the potential to be one of the best players of his generation, has exceeded the expectations placed on him. In fact, he leads his team in points (31.5), rebounds (10.1), assists (6.6) and steals (1.9) in the playoffs.

Elsewhere in coach Jason Kidd’s roster, a former Maverick himself, it’s point guard Jalen Brunson who stands out. With 22.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists, he has been an asset to Dallas this spring. Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber are also regular contributors.

The Warriors, after a two-year hiatus, are back in a place they knew particularly well in the second half of the 2010s. After defeating the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies, Steve Kerr’s men now facing the winners of the favorites for the title.

Considering they still have the same core (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green) from their three Championship wins (2015, 2017, 2018) and two Finals appearances (2016, 2019), it’s reasonable to think Golden State can represent the West again in the Ultimate Series. This time, the young Jordan Poole will even be able to add his touch.

By having the best of Golden State, the Mavericks would replicate their “Cinderella” scenario of 2011. That year, Dirk Nowitzki (a dominant European player), without any other star teammates, made it all the way to the NBA Finals , to defeat the Heat of LeBron James, widely favorite. It’s unlikely, but we said the same thing for Phoenix.