Can the Boston Celtics stop Jimmy Butler from continuing his dominant campaign?
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The NBA playoffs are heating up once again as the race for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is now down to four. Featuring the same four teams that battled for a finals berth in the bubble, the NBA will see a new champion for the 2022/23 season. As the penultimate round of the NBA playoffs approach us, let’s take a look at the matchups which will decide who plays off for the title.
Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers
Both the Nuggets and Lakers defeated their opponents in six games, but got it done in a different fashion to each other. Denver got past the Phoenix Suns who experienced Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in their best form of the season. As for the Lakers, they faced the tougher task of a Warriors side who threatened to turn the championship race on its head.
Two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic had the series on his terms averaging a near 35-point triple-double throughout the conference semi-finals. Jamal Murray also had an impressive campaign averaging 25 points and seven assists per game. The Los Angeles Lakers had an even spread of contributors but none more so than Anthony Davis. He scored 22 points and grabbed 15 boards per game in their series against the defending champions, steering the Lakers to their second conference final in four years.
While the Californian-based side have put together a valiant run throughout the playoffs, it will be a mighty effort for them to continue their run to a record 18th title. The first issue for the Lakers is Jokic. While AD is more than capable of playing on Jokic, he can’t play 40 plus minutes in every game of the series. Jarred Vanderbilt will need to announce himself as a bona fide shutdown player, helping to limit the impact of the centre.
In the Lakers’ series against the Warriors, the Lakers needed either prime LeBron to return, or the side needed to lift as a collective and the latter occurred. Lonnie Walker IV scored 15 points in the fourth quarter of game four, D’Angelo Russell averaged 15 points a game, while Austin Reaves was lethal from deep. It’s a similar proposition for the Lakers this time around, but they will be presented with a tougher task.
The Denver Nuggets are in the box seat for this series. Yet to have their form dinted throughout the playoffs, they should produce another convincing series win, en route to their first finals appearance since 1976 when they were in the ABA. However, with the attention set to be with Jokic, this is the chance for Jamal Murray to solidify himself as the second option for the Nuggets. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could also be in for a big series.
For me, the Nuggets have more polish and experience as a unit than what the Lakers do and while it would not be a surprise if the Lakers advanced to their 33rd NBA Final, the Nuggets seem to be the sure bet.
Prediction: Nuggets win 4-2
Anthony Davis showed what he was capable with a great series against the Warriors to guide his Lakers side through to a big clash against Denver Nuggets.
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Boston Celtics v Miami Heat
With their backs against the wall, the Boston Celtics edged out the Philadelphia 76ers in a gruelling seven-game series. Down 3-2 facing the tough task of defeating Philly in Philly, the Celtics saved match point, closed out the set and won the final set 6-0. After shooting 1-14 midway through the final quarter, Jayson Tatum scored 16 of the last 18 points to pull Boston across the line, before scoring a game-seven record 51 points on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat will go into game one of the series off a five-day break after they disposed of the New York Knicks’ in six games. Jimmy Butler was at his best once again averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and six assists per game throughout the series, despite spraining his ankle in game one.
Miami has always been a tough challenge for Boston when it comes to the playoffs but if the Celtics can get it done, I think they will win the championship. Making this their third encounter in the Eastern Conference Finals in the last four years, Miami and Boston have played off in some intriguing matches. The 17-time NBA champions were ranked as the higher seed against the Heat in 2020 but lost in six games. They managed to get revenge though, winning in seven last year.
In order to win this series, the Celtics must use their depth and stretch the floor like they did in the final two games of the 76ers series. Demoting Derrick White and elevating Robert Williams III to the starting five worked wonders for the two seed. White provided productive minutes off the bench alongside Malcolm Brogdon, while Williams was the much-needed defensive presence who tamed the input of reigning MVP, Joel Embiid. Marcus Smart is going to be the key to this series. Most likely to be attached to the hip with Jimmy Butler for the majority of the series, Smart will need to set the tone again for the Celtics defence.
The team from South Beach have to look to players other than Butler if they want to win the series. As the Celtics have a rotation that can combat him, Bam Adebayo must take advantage of the minutes Al Horford is given on the court, the same way Embiid did for most of the series. Otherwise, the likes of Max Strus, Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love need to take their game to another level. That being said, Jimmy Butler has shown more endeavour than any player in the league during his time in Miami, meaning that shutting him down won’t be easy. If Butler can exploit the Celtics defence, Miami just about wins this series.
It will be an entertaining series, due to the fact that Boston added to its depth that it had this time last year. The addition of Brogdon in particular enhances the hustle at guard, meaning that Butler will have to rotate on at least three defensively strong players (four if Pritchard is added to the rotation). Williams has been rested for matchups like this and he will prove why the Celtics have faith in him by helping to limit Adebayo’s input. Miami needs several things to swing in its favour, yet the duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum haven’t been mentioned. The progress of Brown as a formidable shooting guard means that even if the Heat can shut down Tatum, Brown has the chance to fire.
Prediction: Celtics win 4-2
Jayson Tatum is coming off a 51-point game seven against the 76ers and will be out to cause chaos against Miami Heat.
(Photo: NBA Facebook)
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