Conference Finals Predictions

This week the NBA Conference Finals start for the four teams remaining in the competition. The four teams that have come this far have been in this position before and have enough experience to advance and compete for an NBA championship, which is the ultimate goal of any team. Those teams are the two-time defending champions Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers, the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On one side, we have the Heat facing the underdog Pacers in a rematch of last year´s Eastern Conference Finals. This is a ver intriguing series because Indiana, even though hasn´t been playing well as of late, match up really well with the champions of the last two years, the Heat. In 2013 they even forcce a game 7 in Miami, which they ended up losing in a blowout. However, this year they hope to get over the hump and beat the Heat once and for all, a team that has gone to the last three NBA Finals. The key duel here is Roy Hibbert vs Udonis Haslem. Even if four-time MVP James and George are the stars, Hibbert poses the biggest threat in the paint, an area in which Miami doesn´t excel. If Miami can stop the big guy, they have another ticket for the finals. If not, we may see a changing of the guard in the East.

Prediction: Heat in six.

On the other side of the country, we have the ever lasting Spurs going up against the young and athletic Thunder. This is a clash of styles, as one team has the experience and the knowledge, while the other has the force and youth to resist in a long series. Kevin Durant vs Kawhi Leonard is the match-up that will decide this series. Kawhi has the potential to slow down the reigning MVP and best scorer in the game, but we will see if he fullfills it or not. Westbrook vs Parker is another beautiful duel, as the explosive Russell will try to find a way to overcome Parker´s experience in big games.

Prediction: Spurs in seven.