SneakerReporter 2022-23 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals Prediction

SneakerReporter 2022-23 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals Prediction

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by | May 16, 2023 | Featured, NBA

No. 1  Denver Nuggets Vs No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers

The Western Conference Finals will feature the Denver Nuggets taking on the Los Angeles Lakers for a chance to advance to the NBA Finals.

The Nuggets are coming into this series playing at an elite level after taking care of the Suns. Nikola Jokic has shown that he is still playing at a MVP level and he’s elevated his game this whole playoffs. Joker has been one of the best players in the playoffs if not the best. Now he will need to continue that against the Lakers who have length and have bolstered the bench during the season since they last played each other.

Jamal Murray has been a great robin to Joker and he’s been locked in. The last time these two teams played was in the bubble during Covid. Now Jamal Murray will have a chance to showcase that same bubble ball against the Lakers but now in 2023. The Nuggets have a lot of depth with their bench and they have players that have the experience to take down the Lakers. It’s going to take for the other guys like Bruce Brown, KCP, and Jeff Green to hold it down when Murray/Jokic need a break. This Nuggets team came into this playoffs disrespected and they feel like this will be the perfect time to put the league on notice.

The Lakers are deep and it’s crazy because LeBron James looks like he hasn’t lost a step at all in year 20. LeBron was able to coast at the end of the season because his teammates stepped their game up and now he’s well rested and coming off beating the Warriors. LeBron has been a complete player in these playoffs and this could be the series where he needs to put on an offense display. It helps LeBron because he has Anthony Davis by his side and it will be a great matchup with The Brow and Joker. Anthony Davis will be the key to this series for the Lakers and if he can average a double double this would be a great way to lead the Lakers to Banner 18. The Lakers have Schroder, Russell, and Reaves who need to step up for sure in this series.

This series will be about the other players and whose defense will show up in this game. It’s going to be tough to go against LeBron especially with the chip on his shoulder but this will be the Nuggets chance to show the league that they’re for real.

 

Series Prediction: Denver Win in 6 games (4-2)

May 16, 2023 No Comments
SneakerReporter 2022-23 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals Prediction

SneakerReporter 2022-23 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals Prediction

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by | May 15, 2023 | Featured, NBA

No. 2  Boston Celtics Vs No. 8 Miami Heat

The Eastern Conference Finals will feature the Miami Heat taking on the Boston Celtics for a chance to advance to the NBA Finals. 

The Miami Heat have been one of the most impressive teams in the playoffs this year as they are the number 8 seed in the East. They knocked out the number 1 seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and the New York Knicks in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jimmy Butler has single handedly put the Miami Heat on his back as the Heat are without Tyler Herro a reliable offensive player. The Heat have a difficult task at hand as they take on the Celtics who have a very well put together roster. If the Heat want any chance at winning this series they’ll have to play as a team like they did in the Knicks series and not just rely heavily on Butler.

The Celtics were on the brink of elimination in game 6 and 7 and found a way to win the series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Game 6 in the fourth quarter is where things really changed for the Celtics, the Celtics were having a tough game and Tatum was having one of his worst games of his playoff career that is until Tatum turned up the heat and forced a game 7 in which they had home court advantage. Though the 76ers are a tougher team than the Heat, the Celtics cannot underestimate this Miami Heat team as they’ve fought their way to the Eastern Conference finals and have not played like an eighth seed. The Celtics will have to rely on other players scoring the ball but Tatum and double team Butler to limit their biggest star.

Series Prediction: Boston Win in 6 games (4-2)

May 15, 2023 No Comments
NBA 2023 Eastern Conference Playoffs Semi-Finals Prediction

NBA 2023 Eastern Conference Playoffs Semi-Finals Prediction

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by | Apr 29, 2023 | Featured, NBA

No. 2 Boston Celtics Vs No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers 

The Boston Celtics took on the Atlanta Hawks in the first round and won in 6 games, but the Celtics statistically have one of the league’s best defenses and struggled against Trae Young and the Hawks. The Celtics do indeed have a very talented roster from top to bottom and will have to be in their best form to beat the 76ers. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will look to lead the way offensively for the Celtics in case they can’t stop Joel Embiid defensively. 

The 76ers offensively have Embiid who is nearly unstoppable in the paint and James Harden who’s turned up the heat in the playoffs. The 76ers team is full of players who can shoot the ball efficiently, but there’s probably nobody who can hold Embiid under 20 points on the Celtics. As long as the 76ers stay healthy they can pose a serious threat for the Celtics as they are the reigning Eastern Conference Champions who lost in the finals just last year. 

Series Prediction: Boston Celtics Win in 7 Games (4-3)

No. 5 New York Knicks Vs No. 8 Miami Heat

The Miami Heat were the 8 seed in the playoffs but didn’t seem that way when they knocked out the number 1 seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat beat the Bucks in five games. Jimmy Butler was red hot in the series against the Bucks despite losing Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo to injury. This Heat team does have some good chemistry but will have to rely less on Butler in case the Knicks shut him down defensively. 

The Knicks absolutely dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers and won the series (4-1), they will have home court advantage and their fans have rallied behind them. Jalen Brunson has been on a mission with the Knicks as he’s led them to an impressive playoff run so far. They’ll have to take on Butler who has been one of the best scorers in the playoffs this year, so defensively they may have their hands full with the likes of Butler and Bam Adebayo. 

Series Prediction: Miami Heat Win in 6 games (4-2)

Apr 29, 2023 No Comments
Timberwolves Win Thriller In Overtime To Send The Series Back To Denver (114-108)

Timberwolves Win Thriller In Overtime To Send The Series Back To Denver (114-108)

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by | Apr 24, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves came into this game with their backs against the wall down 3-0 to the number one seed Denver Nuggets. In a game that they desperately need Minnesota had it’s stars shine the brightest.

 

This was one of the best playoff games I’ve covered in recent memory as both teams were hitting each other with some haymakers like this was the Tank Davis boxing match all over again. The Minnesota Timberwolves made it a mission to be aggressive from the start and they did that by getting Nikola Jokic in foul trouble. But even with foul trouble the Joker still was able to stay in the game and be affective finding his teammates but also creating his own offense in a chance to close out the series. Usually it’s Jamal Murray who’s making the big shots for Denver but tonight it was the 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic who was able to put the team on his back. Murray was hitting some tough shots but his point total didn’t reflect the impact especially when it comes to his teammate Nikola Jokic. This was a back and forth battle as both teams wanted this win badly. The Joker led his team in multiple categories finishing with 43 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists but it wasn’t enough to get the job done in overtime.

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves fought all night long and they were led by Anthony Edwards who was sensational tonight. You can tell Edwards was playing with a different type of confidence and swagger tonight. He was playing like a man that didn’t want to let his teammates down and he didn’t want to get swept. Edwards hit big shot after big shot tonight and was able to will the Timberwolves to the win. Edwards finished with 34 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists tonight. The Timberwolves gave the Minnesota crowd a scare as they were up by 12 with 2 minutes left and the Nuggets forced overtime but that’s where Minnesota shined the most.

 

Nickeil Alexander Walker was the player of the game as he hit two timely 3 pointers and got a charge that cemented the lead for the Timberwolves. NAW was ready for his moment when his number was called and knocked those shots down. The Timberwolves were up by 1 point and got the ball back with less than a minute to go when Anthony “H1M” Edwards showed up with one of the most clutch shots of his career. He hit a huge 3 to give the Timberwolves the 4 point lead as they didn’t look back after that capturing the win. Karl Anthony Towns fouled out but they still made a way to pull out the win in clutch time. Rudy Gobert also pulled in another double double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

 

The Timberwolves have to take this series a game at a time if they want to make history.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

 

Apr 24, 2023 No Comments
The Denver Nuggets Hold On To Beat Minnesota Despite Edwards 41 Point Performance (122-113)

The Denver Nuggets Hold On To Beat Minnesota Despite Edwards 41 Point Performance (122-113)

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by | Apr 20, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves came into this game against the Denver Nuggets down 1-0 in the series. Tonight they needed a huge bounce back to regain some confidence and momentum heading back home for Game 3.

 

The Denver Nuggets came out hot and didn’t look back as they had the Minnesota Timberwolves on the heels on both ends. It was Jamal Murray, who took over the game for the Denver Nuggets, and looked exactly how you looked inside the NBA bubble. When Jamal Murray plays like this, with this type of confidence is tough to beat this team, especially with them having the two-time MVP Nikola Jokic right alongside him.

 

Jamal Murray was hitting some tough shots tonight even with a hand in his face as he finished the game with 40 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists. He was sensational tonight for the Nuggets and was the main reason they were able to pull this one out. Jokic was special tonight as well because he impacted the game with his rebounding and passing ability. Joker finished with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Overall it was a complete team effort from the Nuggets as they were able to win this game with a well balanced attempt but Minnesota found the blueprint in the 3rd quarter for the next game.

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves went on a crazy run as they turned being down by 21 points into a 3 point lead. Anthony Edwards was SPECIAL tonight for the Timberwolves as he kept coming at them and coming all day night long. It didn’t matter who was guarding Edwards tonight as he was on a mission and even though that mission was cut short he showed exactly who he is and why he’s H1M. Edwards was the main player on the Timberwolves who had it going and he brought them back in this game. Even though the comeback was short lived Edwards was able to finish the game with 41 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists on the night.

 

The Timberwolves head home for Game 3 on Friday as they will need the crowd and players to be ready to go at a high level in this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Apr 20, 2023 No Comments
The Denver Nuggets Take Game 1 Against Minnesota (109-80)

The Denver Nuggets Take Game 1 Against Minnesota (109-80)

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by | Apr 17, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves came into this game on a positive note after beating Oklahoma City on Friday. They were a lot of players questionable for this game from the Minnesota side but everybody would be playing. Denver came in today’s game, well rested and ready to go waiting on the Minnesota Timberwolves and it showed tonight.

The Denver Nuggets came into this game with a game plan, knowing that Karl-Anthony towns and Rudy Gobert. We’re going to need to step it up on the defensive and offensive end against Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets blitzed the Minnesota Timberwolves early as the game got away from Minnesota from the three-point line. The Timberwolves we’re shooting a lot of threes and when they’re going in it’s all great but when you’re not making them and you’re going to guess the number one seed in the Western Conference it’s tough. Karl-Anthony towns had one of his worst games of the year and one of the most important games of the season but we can’t expect that he’s gonna do that back to back. The Nuggets didn’t do anything special Karl-Anthony towns just wasn’t able to get his game going on both ends of the floor. Kat was making some mistakes that we barely see all year and missed a lot of wide-open shots that he normally would make.

Overall, the Timberwolves just didn’t have it offensively missing shots that they usually make all year long in a hostile environment in Denver. Karl-Anthony towns finished with 11 points,10 rebounds, and 2 assists on the night. Karl-Anthony towns is the head of the snake for the Minnesota Timberwolves so if he’s struggling, it’s gonna be tough for the team to really bounce back when their best player doesn’t have it going. Look for Karl-Anthony towns, to be more aggressive and more certain of in game two of this playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. Anthony Edwards has the steps game up as well to another level. If this Minnesota team is going to make it to the second round. Anthony had 18 points tonight because I had a lot more he just missed a lot of opportunities. There was a playing a game where Minnesota was struggling in transition, because Denver was playing at a faster pace. If the Timberwolves are going to make a splash in the series, they have to make the Denver Nuggets play at their pace not vice versa.

 

Nikola Jokic looks like the reigning MVP any definitely play like it in a short amount of time. Jokic was in foul trouble all night but Jamal Murray had his back having one of his best games of the season at the right time. Jamal Murray had 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in this win. It seem like anything that the Denver Nuggets put up today was going in. They had the momentum and you could tell that the Timberwolves weren’t stopping the bleeding in this one. The Timberwolves had the lead early in the 1st quarter and never regained it again.

Apr 17, 2023 No Comments