Nov 29, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers within the second half at Crypto.com Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs
With the NBA playoff discipline now set, the street forward seems to be pointing towards an NBA Finals showdown between a pair of prime seeds: the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers. However not so quick.
No. 1 seeds from each conferences have met within the Finals simply as soon as up to now 16 seasons — when the Cavaliers got here out on prime in opposition to the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
The common season confirmed that each groups would make for a compelling Finals matchup. What stays to be seen is how each squads deal with playoff depth.
The Thunder additionally had been the highest seed within the Western Convention final season however had been eradicated within the second spherical by the Dallas Mavericks. The Cavs had been the No. 4 seed within the East and had been bounced within the second spherical by the Boston Celtics.
Final 12 months’s Finals matchup: The Celtics topped the Mavericks in a five-game collection.
As an alternative of predicting how the NBA playoffs will unfold, listed here are the highest 5 most intriguing would-be matchups for any spherical over the following two months:
Thunder vs. Cavaliers, NBA Finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enjoying for a championship? Signal us up. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland competing for a title? Deliver it on. Since shifting to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008, the Thunder have made only one Finals look — in 2012, after they fell to LeBron James’ Miami Warmth. James led the Cavs to the Finals 4 consecutive years from 2015 to 2018. These groups received only one title, and this newest model now has an opportunity to match that quantity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cavaliers, NBA Finals
Talking of LeBron James … no offense to the Thunder, however James’ Lakers representing the Western Convention in opposition to his authentic crew with a title on the road could be riveting. Add within the component of Luka Dončić becoming a member of the Lakers midseason, with an opportunity to achieve the Finals for a second consecutive 12 months, and the drama solely heightens. James is operating out of possibilities to achieve the sport’s largest stage. Does he have one other run left in him at age 40?
Lakers vs. Boston Celtics, NBA Finals
The league’s biggest rivalry — with groups which have met within the Finals on 12 events — has an actual shot at No. 13 this season. The Celtics received the primary eight matchups, beginning in 1959. The Lakers have received three of the previous 4, with the latest coming in 2010. The final time two No. 1 seeds met within the Finals earlier than 2016 was in 2008, when the Celtics topped the Lakers. Including Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, James and Dončić to the Lakers-Celtics lore solely appears becoming.
Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Finals
International gamers have redefined the league and impressed the following technology of NBA stars. The types of the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić (Serbia) and the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) should not solely utterly totally different — there’s no one fairly like both one. The duo has mixed for 5 of the previous six MVP awards, and their groups have received two of the previous 4 titles. Can the Nuggets return to the Finals after parting methods with head coach Michael Malone? They’ll — in the event that they commit on the defensive finish.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Thunder, second spherical
Searching for offense in the course of the summer season of 2019, after buying Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers landed Paul George from the Thunder. The value was steep: Los Angeles gave up two gamers, 5 first-round picks and the proper for Oklahoma Metropolis to swap picks a number of instances. A type of gamers? None aside from Gilgeous-Alexander. A type of picks grew to become Jalen Williams, who averaged 21.6 factors this season. The Thunder nonetheless have two extra first-rounders coming their means. A playoff assembly could be Gilgeous-Alexander’s “how-do-you-like-me-now” second.
Different intriguing matchups that might go down in these playoffs:
Warriors vs. Cavaliers, NBA Finals: 4 Finals in 4 years (2015–18)
Pistons vs. Celtics, second spherical: Bruises stay from the Nineteen Eighties showdowns
Lakers vs. Knicks, NBA Finals: The 1973 conflict and Willis Reed nonetheless resonate in New York
