NBA Playoffs: Who will lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy come June?

Our Sport Editors preview the upcoming NBA Playoffs, making predictions on which team they think will go all the way and win the Championship

Will Rogers Whilst many NBA fans are looking at the new kids on the block, as we head towards the end of the season we should be looking at the established teams to continue their push for dynastical status. The Golden State Warriors, the defending champions, have fallen away this year, with one of the worst away records in the league, meaning that it is the Milwaukee Bucks that we should be looking at to go and claim the championship.

The main reason the Bucks should be the favourite is their star player, two-time MVP and former finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak led the Bucks to the title in 2021, the franchise’s first since the 1971 team led by legends Oscar Robertson and Lew Alcindor (now known as Kareem AbdulJabbar), and his supporting cast of Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are still capable of winning another ring.

against the Atlanta Hawks or Kevin Durant-less Brooklyn Nets seems relatively straight forward, with the Cleveland Cavaliers potentially posing a threat in the conference semi-finals.

Yet the Bucks are the hottest team in the NBA and have the best road record. As questions rise about the state of the other teams, the Bucks keep ploughing on towards the one seed. If they do make the finals is there anyone in the west that can stop them? The Denver Nuggets have had a great season and the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings are great stories, but no one really thinks they can get past the Bucks. The Phoenix Suns could be scary if they get hot, but an unreliable Kevin Durant, ageing Chris Paul and injured Devin Booker present more questions than guarantees.

Twitter/@Bucks ented young core, experienced coaching staff, deep bench, defensive prowess and a winning culture, the Celtics have a bright future ahead. While nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, the Celtics have the potential to be a dominant force in the league for years to come.

Despite taking the helm in the wake of former head coach Udoka’s suspension by the Celtics. Coach Joe Mazzulla may have taken over during turbulent times, however it is evident that he has made the best of an uneasy situation. With a 18-4 record in October and November, Mazzulla was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. Coach Mazzulla’s ability to steady the ship is paramount to the Celtics’ success and a collaborative atmosphere has thrived under the head coach.

Giannis has averaged 31 points and 12 rebounds per game on 54% shooting, with no player in the league averaging more. Of the other stars to lead their team to the title, the likes of Stephen Curry, Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard have struggled for consistent minutes this season, leaving their teams fighting to make the play-in tournament. Other stars, such as Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic and MVP favourite Nikola Jokic play for franchises that have too many questions about where they’ll be in the postseason.

The Bucks have had a steady season, once again led by Mike Budenholzer, with Holiday and Brook Lopez playing almost every game. Lopez is averaging the third most blocks in the league this year and with Middleton coming back they’re only going to get stronger.

The NBA is as open this year as it has been in recent times, but the experience and championship pedigree of the Bucks stands them in good stead. If Giannis and his supporting cast get hot, it won’t be another fifty years before Milwaukee has a championship team.

Takbir Rahman The Boston Celtics are a historic franchise in the NBA, with a total of 17 championships under their belt. The team has a rich history, with legendary players such as Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and Paul Pierce. Despite not winning a championship since 2008, the Celtics have remained a competitive team in the league.

With 16 games to go, Celtics are tied with the Milwaukee Bucks as the bookies’ favourites to win the NBA Championship. Boston has an impressive 13-9 record in the last 22 games, which places them 2.5 games behind the Bucks.

The Boston Celtics are known for their defensive prowess, and this will be a key factor in their championship run. The team has a number of excellent defenders, including Marcus Smart, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year who is known for his ability to guard multiple positions. The Celtics also have a strong team defensive system, which has been effective in limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities. In the playoffs, defence becomes even more important, and the Celtics have the personnel to shut down some of the league’s top scorers.

Twitter/@Celtics

Joe Liddicot As the other two are going for Eastern teams, I’m here to represent the Western Conference. On the whole, the West isn’t as deep as it once was, with many teams stuck in the purgatory of mediocrity. 8 teams in the conference are within three games of the .500 mark. Injuries, age, bad fits and, in some cases, a lack of talent has plagued the West this season. This has led to the Nuggets leading the standings by a five game margin and looking destined for the one seed. The Kings and the Grizzlies have both exceeded expectations and are having stellar regular seasons, but are surely too young and too inexperienced to go all the way.

40% from three means he must be covered tightly from outside the arc, which drags out the big-man from the paint and allows cutters to find easy baskets inside. His utterly insane passing ability and vision means those cutters will very rarely be missed. Jokic’s 7-foot frame means he can see the court in a way that others can’t, and it opens passing lanes that even the best playmaking guards can’t hit.

The Bucks have the strongest record in the entire NBA. We have seen in recent seasons that this is not a guarantee for a deep playoff run, but with the limited depth of the Eastern Conference, they should be able to make the conference finals with minimal effort. A first round match-up

One of the main reasons why the Boston Celtics will be a championship contender in 2023 is due to their talented young core. The Celtics have one of the most talented young duos in the league: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. These players have already shown great potential, with both Tatum and Brown being named to the All-Star team this season.

The Boston Celtics have a winning culture that has been established over decades. The team has a tradition of excellence and a commitment to winning. This culture is instilled in the players from the moment they join the team. The Celtics have a history of success, and the current players are driven to add to that legacy. This winning mentality will be crucial in the playoffs, where mental toughness and resilience are essential. The Boston Celtics have all the ingredients to be a championship team in 2023. With a tal-

Yes, the Nuggets don’t necessarily have a winning pedigree either, but this core did make the Conference Finals in 2020, only to be defeated by the eventual champions that year. Granted, the role players in that team were especially strong: Jerami Grant has gone on to show himself to be a talented scorer - he averaged 22 PPG in Detroit the season afterand Paul Millsap, though old, was a gritty and tough veteran who contributed to winning. They, and several others from that 19-20 team, have now moved on and the team has re-structured.

What matters, though, is the continuing presence of the Nuggets’ core. And when I say ‘core’, I mean a 7-foot, doughy Serbian man called Nikola. The two-time MVP is having another immense season, currently sitting atop the MVP ladder. That he’s averaging fewer points per game this season is not a concern for Denver, rather, it is indicative of increased support around him and a reduced reliance on his scoring output. The Joker is averaging a triple double and looks as unstoppable as ever in 2022-23. There may be concern about how his defence will hold in the playoffs, but it won’t be enough to play him off the court and his offensive merits should outweigh his defensive frailties in the postseason.

What makes Jokic so difficult to scheme for is his vast offensive arsenal, there are so few chinks in his armour that guarding him is nigh-on impossible. Shooting

From inside the arc he shoots 67% percent and has a 70% true shooting percentage, 12% above league average, showing that he can score from anywhere on the floor. His ability to be the ball handler or the screener in a pick and roll also makes him a nightmare for defenders, meaning any playoff opponents will have to scheme perfectly if they want to slow him down.

Musing about Jokic is not to disrespect the rest of the rotation. Jamal Murray is a key second option in the Nuggets offence. His long awaited return from an ACL injury that saw him miss an entire year has reinvigorated the Nuggets and provided much needed scoring, playmaking and athleticism. Michael Porter Jr. is another man who’s missed extensive time due to injury, and the return of the long wing has also brought offensive value to the team. His length provides a tough matchup for any opponent, and the 24 year-old’s health will be crucial for Denver down the stretch. Aaron Gordon provides yet more offense to the team, shooting a career high in 3-point percentage while maintaining his impressive athleticism that makes him a dangerous cutter when Jokic or Murray have the ball. His verticality means he can occasionally make big plays around the rim defensively, however his overall defensive game is sub-par and does not cover for Jokic’s weaknesses.

The Nuggets are an impressive offensive force, but their defense is a concern. Jokic has the highest Defensive Box Plus/ Minus score on the team this season by quite some way, despite being an obviously flawed defensive player. Kentavious CaldwellPope is a solid 3&D player but is in no way capable of carrying the team on that side of the floor. The hope will be that Denver’s offense can blow teams out the water and the defense can keep them afloat. Whatever happens, they will be an exciting and intriguing team to watch come playoff time and, as the one seed with the potential MVP on their roster, should be considered among the favourites to lift the Larry O’Brien.