The NBA’s conference semifinals are underway and that means we’re down to eight teams as the Warriors, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Rockets, Bucks, Raptors, Sixers, and Celtics each won their first-round series. The Warriors have taken control of their series with a 2-0 lead but the remaining series are all tied up at 1-1 and the Rockets are heading home for games 3 and 4. As such, every club still has a realistic shot of moving forward to the conference finals.
As everyone is well aware, the Warriors are the two-time defending NBA champions and winners of three of the last four. They are also the prohibitive favorites again this season and perhaps the one team that could be classified as league villains, while the other three Western Conference teams haven’t been to an NBA Finals since the Rockets in 1995.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers and Heat (via LeBron James) have controlled the Eastern Conference playoffs for the last decade or so, with Milwaukee and Toronto never having won the East and Philadelphia and Boston not having been conference champions since 2001 and 2010, respectively.
With that all said, there are certain to be a bevy of opinions on what would be the best finals match-up, so we’re asking you that very question. Which NBA Finals match-up do you want to see? Is that the match-up you expect as well? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Golden State and Toronto
I want to see any combination of Denver, Houston, Portland, Milwaukee, and Toronto. I’m tired of GS and I just don’t like Philly and Boston, Philly especially.
I don’t really expect it, because the Warriors are not going to be beaten. They would likely win a 7 game series against all 7 of the remaining teams.
It’d be a 7-game series that doesn’t go 7 games…. vs anybody. Warriors once again. Just better than everybody else, bottom line.
I’d like to see Blazers vs Bucks (love me Dame Time) Anybody but Houston would be fine in the west honestly.
I expect Warriors vs Raptors and Warriors in 5
Best possible final for me would be Philly/Denver.
Realistically it will be GSW v Milwaukee/Philly.
whoever’s healthiest with the deepest bench wins
GSW vs. PHI
If they can stay healthy, no team will beat GS.
Ideally i would like to see Denver or Portland vs Milwaukee or Toronto.
But in reality im gonna see Golden State vs one of the 4 in a squash series. Boring
Depth is everything, Boston wins that by far. But they still struggle to play together. The best team talent wise is Boston and if they can ever learn to play together can’t be touched, so let’s see if they’ve figured it out or not.
Good writing, keep it up.
Want to See – Milwaukee, Golden State
Expect to See – Boston, Golden State
Hoping to see the winner of the Blazers/Nuggets matchup reach the finals VS the Bucks. That would get me watching. Though my unbiased prediction is the Warriors over the Celtics in 5…maybe they could get it to 6 games. Regardless I dont think any team can beat GS 4 times outta 7, so if they r representing the Western conference in the finals you can guarantee I won’t be watching them!
Boston/Golden State
It is certainly true that the Bucks have never won the east even though they have been to the finals twice. Your article might mention that they won the west twice and are NBA champions once as opposed to throwing them in with the Raptors as a “never been there” organization with all do respect to how very good Toronto has been the last few years. The Raptors are a serious threat to winning the east this year. I just think your article was an example of “alternative facts.”
The Warriors have flipped the proverbial switch. Watch out now.
Like a lot of fans, I’d like to see the underdogs make it:
Nuggets or Blazers / Bucks or Raptors
Most fans realize the obvious though:
Warriors / Sixers or Celtics (Warriors in 5)
Celtics vs warriors. Celtics have played them as good of not better than any team over the past few years and this year the Celtics have a team with just as much depth of not more than the warriors.
Celtics are taking banner 18 this year.