NBA predictions: Lakers-Nuggets and Heat-Celtics expert picks as playoffs move to conference finals

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For the first time in NBA history, a No. 7 (Lakers) and 8 (Heat) seed are in the conference finals. You might be tempted to call these developments a fluke. They’re not. They are an illustration of what has become an extremely equitable NBA landscape. In sports, we love to say “anybody can win” but that’s rarely actually true. At this moment in the NBA, it is true. The race was wide open at the start of the playoffs. and it remains wide open now that we’re down to the final four.

If you’re looking for the betting favorite, it’s the Celtics at +105, followed by the Nuggets (+240), Lakers (+300) and the Heat, who come in at +1600, via Caesars. If you ask me, that’s some pretty great value on Miami, which could reasonably win the whole thing. I don’t think they will. In fact, I’m picking them to lose to Boston in the ECF. But it could happen. Anything could happen.

With that in mind, let’s get to our staff picks for the two conference-final matchups, which begin Tuesday with the Lakers at Denver. (All predictions were made before the series started.)

Nuggets vs. Lakers picks

Reiter’s pick: Nuggets in 5. There’s no time like the present to go all-in correcting a mistake. And the Nuggets have showcased to me and those around the NBA just how great they are. Nikola Jokic, of course, is an all-world talent, but this is a complete basketball team that compliments Joker’s immense talents. They made easy work of the Phoenix Suns, and there’s no reason to think they can’t do the same against the Lakers. LA’s run has been remarkable, of course — but LeBron’s age and minutes, AD’s fragility and unreliability and the reliance on so many overachieving role players catches up to them against a legit No. 1 seed.

Quinn’s pick: Nuggets in 6. Denver has been by far the best team of the postseason. The Lakers have been rockier, hitting enormous highs and troubling lows that often boil down to their inconsistent 3-point shooting and how much energy LeBron James is capable of expending at any given time. They are incredibly vulnerable to foul…

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Author : Brad Botkin

Publish date : 2023-05-15 13:05:03

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