Way-too-early NBA Finals predictions

Ben’s Picks:

Eastern Conference

I have the Milwaukee Bucks making a deep run to the finals this year.

A big three was formed with the likes of Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. This dangerous group will solidify the Bucks as deep playoff contenders right from the jump.

With Lillard departing from the Portland Trail Blazers, he is ready to finally compete and try to win a championship. Giannis and Middleton will hope to continue their postseason success that has been going on for a while now.

With the acquisition of Lillard, the Bucks could be unstoppable in the Eastern Conference.

Western Conference

I see the Phoenix Suns making a deep finals run. Although with the loss of Deandre Ayton, this team still has a dangerous big three in Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant.

Durant was brought over last season and has made a huge impact on the team. Booker, who is the only player remaining from their championship run in 2021, will definitely be looking to make a return to the Finals this season.

Beal will hope to continue the success he had on the Wizards. This team can make a deep run with the talent and experience.

Ben Barker is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bsb5566@psu.edu

Adam’s Picks:

Eastern Conference

I think the Celtics have the potential to make another run to finals this season. The Celtics essentially swapped Marcus Smart and Robert Williams for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, which are both massive upgrades in theory.

The Celtics become very isolation-heavy once the playoffs roll around, and Holiday should be better with ball movement in the Postseason. I think this gets them over the hump, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should be motivated to redeem themselves after last season’s disappointment.

Western Conference

I see the Nuggets being able to return back to the finals again. Teams like the Suns and Lakers should be threats, but I still find too many questions about them to be certain that they could make a run.

The Nuggets return their key four stars in Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon. Their key loss is Bruce Brown which stings, but guys like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, first-round picks from 2022, should be able to step up in his absence. This team is experienced and playoff-tested.

Adam Funk is a third-year majoring in Telecommunications. To contact him, email aqf5569@psu.edu

Andrew’s Picks

Eastern Conference

Despite multiple teams making additions in the Eastern Conference, I think the Miami Heat will run it back to the NBA Finals. The Celtics made big-time additions and the Bucks gave Giannis Antetokounmpo another superstar, but the Heat continue to get things done.

They lost out on the stakes for Damian Lillard, but the development of their young talent, along with keeping Tyler Herro will be key. I expect Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jacquez Jr. to have significant roles in this Heat rotation.

In addition, the Heat still have one of the most clutch players in the NBA in Jimmy Butler. As long as they get in, they are a major threat in the East.

Western Conference

I don’t see how any team stops the Phoenix Suns. The Suns were a part of the blockbuster trade involving Damian Lillard. They did not receive Lillard, but they did receive Jusuf Nurkic while giving up DeAndre Ayton as the main piece heading to Portland.

Nurkic fits the style of play the Suns are moving towards, with Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker joining him in the starting lineup. An under-the-radar signing is the addition of Bol Bol.

I believe the Suns can unleash the potential of Bol, which was highly talked about during his recruitment and time with Oregon in college. The Suns will face many threats in the West, but there’s not a single team that matches up with the big three of the Suns.

Andrew Deal is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email asd5765@psu.edu

Colin’s Picks

Eastern Conference

When it comes to the Eastern Conference, I think it’s a two-team race between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics.

On one side, you have the Bucks who just acquired Damian Lillard, one of the best point guards in the NBA. Pairing him with guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton adds increased spacing to a team that already shot 36.8% from the 3-point line during the 2022-2023 season.

With that said, my pick is the Boston Celtics.

They were able to acquire Kristaps Porziņģis after he had the best year of his career with the Washington Wizards and they got Jrue Holiday, a player who can definitely fill in for the loss of Marcus Smart.

I expect Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to continue being one of the best duos in the NBA, bringing it on both ends of the floor every night. This should be enough to get them back to the Finals for the second time in three years.

Western Conference

As of right now, I don’t think there’s a team in the Western Conference that can touch the Denver Nuggets.

They finished first in the conference last year and managed to go 16-4 in the playoffs, winning the championship against the Miami Heat in five games. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have one of the best pick-and-rolls in the game and Aaron Gordon broke out during the playoffs last year, becoming one of the best defenders in the entire postseason.

The loss of Bruce Brown hurts this squad but with the roster looking nearly identical to last year, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t march through the Western Conference.

Colin Wells is a third-year majoring in digital/print journalism. To contact him, email caw6265@psu.edu