2023 NBA Conference Finals: Deja Vu and High Stakes Rematches

Anthony Davis celebrates after a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on May 12, 2023. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

By: Joshua Martin

It’s a strange case of Deja Vu in this year’s conference finals. Both series are rematches from the 2020 bubble and for the East, this is the third time in the past 3 seasons that the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat have squared off with a trip to the NBA finals on the line. Let’s take a look at what may be the deciding factors on what’s sure to be an intense Final Four.

Let’s start with who has the most to gain??

Playoff is Jimmy is real. Nothing would delight him more, I assume, than crushing the Law firm (Tatum and Brown) en route to the Finals for the 2nd time in the past 4 seasons. Capturing his first title would cement Butler as one the game’s best. 

Of course LeBron winning his 5th would be cool but King James had his moment this year securing the NBA’s all-time leading scoring record. On top of that, the sheer fact the Lakers are even in this position after a putrid 2-10 start should add a little extra drip to Lebron’s legacy. For most fans another ring would firmly entrich Lebron at 2 more than get him closer to Jordan. 

Jokic winning a title would enhance his profile but based on his personality and the team’s location, the pressure to win shouldn’t intensify to Lebron or even Embiid levels. 

Heat vs. Celtics

This a rematch of last year’s match up and one of the more competitive match ups we've seen in recent memory. Often highly contested with lengthy series, the Boston Celtics made the ECFs off Jason Tatums NBA record 51 points in a game 7 demolition of the 76ers. 

51 points for Jayson Tatum.

The most EVER in a Game 7.#PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/vHBkSXN8E4

— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2023

While the Heat continue to scrap and claw their way here all the way from the play-in tournament. Becoming the first team in league history to win a playoff series as a play-in participant. 

The Celtics Strengths are obvious. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, are all NBA performers and Michael Brogdon was this year’s sixth man of the year. Marcus Smart is a former defensive player of the year and their two big lineup of Robert Williams III and Al Horford have been virtually unstoppable. Ask this year’s MVP. 

On the other hand, the Heat have an experienced championship winning head coach who routinely gets the most out of his players. If Butler can remain healthy and Bam proves to be a liable secondary star the Heat can make it a decent series. Taking advantage of the Celtics inconsistencies will be key. Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love will be huge X-Factors in this series.  

Celtics in 6.

Jayson Tatum and Jimmy Butler competing against each other. (Jim Rassol / USA TODAY Sports)

Nuggets vs. Lakers

Western Conference Finals are set -- mark your calendar 🗓 pic.twitter.com/w6j1gDQGps

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 14, 2023

The Lakers journey to the Western conference finals were similar to the Heat. Beating Minnesota in the play-in tournament. Ousting a hobbled Grizzlies team mired with off the court distractions and injuries. They also managed to defeat the defending champs, Golden State Warriors, in 6 games. The Lakers are a great defense team that shoots poorly but gets a decent amount of attempts at the foul line. Their victory will rest on the shoulders of their role players as Davis & James vs Jokic & Murray can be viewed as a wash. Rui, Lonnie Walker III, D’Lo and Austin Reeves will be pivotal if the Lakers want to hoist its NBA leading 18th championship.

Denver enters the Western conference finals as the number 1 seed after an impressive regular season led by two time MVP Nikola Jokic. A healthy Murray and Michael Porter Jr. make this the most dangerous squad the franchise has ever had. A deep team with an unstoppable force at center and a battle tested head coach is the blueprint to secure a championship which would be its first. Also, the Nuggets would like to avenge their 2020 buble loss to the Lakers. Despite being overwhelming favorites on paper, the Nuggets can be had defensively. If AD makes Jokic work on the defensive end, the Lakers have a legitimate shot. 

Lakers in 7.

In all honesty I truly believe the league is rooting for a Lakers v. Celtics rematch for the umpteenth time. The contest would break a tie between the two for the league leader of overall championships by one franchise. Both organizations are tied at a mind boggling 17 championship banners. The Lakers have the edge in appearances with 32 thanks to their pension to acquire elite level talent but the Celtics just the same, have always seemed to have a hall of famer or two for long stretches which in the NBA means everything!! 

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