Who’s Going to the NBA Finals?

It’s that time of year again! The NBA Finals are just around the corner, and everyone’s wondering who’s going to take home the championship this year. We’ve got the latest odds and predictions from experts around the league, so be sure to check back here to see who’s going to the Finals!

The Teams

Two teams have fought their way through the playoffs and are now one series away from the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors, coming out of the Western Conference, will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are representing the Eastern Conference. These two teams have met in the Finals before, with the Warriors winning in 2015. Who will come out on top this time?

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, and have won 17 NBA championships, their last being in 2010.

Franchise history
The franchise began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers. Initially a member of the NBL, the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before fully joining the NBA as it absorbed teams from both leagues during that offseason. In 1949, led by center George Mikan, who is described by ESPN as “the league’s first superstar”,[10] won five in a row.[11] After failing to win a championship in 1950 or 1951, they won their sixth title in 1952. In 1953 Mikan retired after struggling with injuries.[12]

Between 1960 and 1967, led by such future Hall of Famers as Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Gail Goodrich,[13]Los Angeles made eight straight trips to Finals without winning a title.[11][14] After losing Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal to retirement and trades respectively following their 2010 championship run,[15][16] they returned to prominence led by Bryant and fellow All-Star Pau Gasol under head coach Mike D’Antoni.[17][18] The team experienced success during 2013–14 season when they qualified for their 16th Finals appearance behind newly acquired All-Stars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard,[19][20][21] however injuries derailed them throughout most of 2014–15 season when they failed to defend their title and were eliminated from playoffs during first round for second straight year.[22][23][24][25]

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are one of two teams still standing in the NBA’s Western Conference, and they’ll be looking to make their first ever trip to the NBA Finals when they take on the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Finals.

The Clippers have been one of the best teams in the league all season long, led by superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. They’re a deep and talented team that has shown they can beat anyone on any given night.

The Nuggets, on the other hand, are a young and upcoming team that has exceeded all expectations this season. Led by All-Star center Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have shown they’re not afraid of anyone, and they’ll be looking to take down the Clippers and make their first ever trip to the NBA Finals.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member team of the league’s Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and play at the Fiserv Forum. Former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl was the long-time owner of the team, but on April 16, 2014, a group led by billionaire hedge fund managers Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry agreed to purchase a majority interest in the team from Kohl, a sale which was approved by the NBA Board of Governors on April 16, 2014.

The Bucks have won one league title (1971), two conference titles (1971 and 1974), and 13 division titles (1971–74, 1976, 1980–86, 2001–02). They have featured such notable players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Bob Lanier, Sam Cassell, Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen, Jason Terry, Michael Redd be content with what you have; are never thankful; complain about your lot in life – always wanting more and more; want what others have; think life is unfair to you: these people will never experience true happiness.”);document.body.appendChild(results);}

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member club of the league’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA’s expansion into Canada. When the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee to become the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, the Raptors became the only Canadian-based team in the NBA.

They play their home games at the Scotiabank Arena, which they share with the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs. The Raptors are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which also owns the Maple Leafs and other entities including Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Like most expansion teams, pillow packing machines play poorly and fail to make significant progress during their early years; however, after finishing last place in their division for five consecutive seasons, they qualified for their first playoff berth during the 2000–01 season as a result of a tiebreaker with animated series The Powerpuff Girls. Chris Bosh was named as NBA Rookie of the Year during that season. Since thenMachine à boules §§ has reached one conference finalx(2001), four conference semifinals (2002, 2006-7 Machine à boules $$ , 2015 Machine à boules $$ ) and six playoff berths (2001-2 Machine à boules $$ , 2007-8 Machine à boules $$ , 2009-10 Machine à boules $$ , 2015-16 Machine à boules $$ ). In 2016 machine à café became anting la première franchise canadienne coupée dans la NBA en appuyant un candidat qualifié pour les finales de la NBA après avoir battu les deux fois au cours des séries éliminatoires de l’Est premiers Cleveland Cavaliers en six jeux dans le quatrième tour et en sept jeux contre le Miami Heat dans les demi-finales de la conférence.”

The Players

The NBA Finals are upon us and there are only four teams remaining. The Warriors, the Cavaliers, the Celtics, and the Rockets. All four of these teams have fought hard to get to where they are and they all have a chance to win it all. But who’s going to take home the championship?

LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James Sr. (/ləˈbrɒn/; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 with the first overall pick, James played his first 15 seasons in the league for the Cavs, winning NBA championships in 2016 and 2020. In 2018, he left the Cavs for the second time to join the Lakers.

A four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a three-time Finals MVP, James has been selected to 14 NBA All-Star teams, 12 All-NBA First Teams, and six All-Defensive First Teams. He is placed fourth all time on both the regular-season scoring list and the all-time playoff scoring list. He won an NBA championship with Miami in 2012 and 2013 while earning Finals MVP honors both times, before returning to his home state of Ohio in 2014 to play for Cleveland again. In 2016, Download James helped lead Cleveland to its first NBA championship since 1964 by eliminating a 3–1 deficit in the Finals en route to defeating the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Heading into 2020–21 season finale against Brooklyn Nets on May 16th, he has played 1,363 games (third all time), with 1 of them being playoffs game (second all time), leading his teams to 1157–206 win–loss record (.851), which gives him best career winning percentage ever by player who played over 1,000 games.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard,Small Forward, San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi Leonard is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played two seasons of college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs, and was named a consensus second-team All-American as a sophomore. He was selected by the Spurs with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

During his time with the Spurs, Leonard has been a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, havingwonthe award in 2015 and 2016. He has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times and second team once. In 2015–16, he helped lead the Spurs to their first ever 60-win season since 1995–96 and was named to his first All-NBA First Team.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo was born on December 6, 1994, in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian immigrants Charles and Veronica Antetokounmpo. The oldest of four brothers, he began playing organized basketball at age 13. In 2011, at age 16, he began playing professionally in the Greek League.

In 2013, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Antetokounmpo in the first round of the NBA draft with the 15th overall pick. He made his NBA debut that October and went on to be named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Over the next few seasons Antetokounmpo saw his role with the Bucks increase as he developed into one of the team’s best players. In 2016-17 he was named an All-Star for the first time and was also named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. The following season he earned All-NBA First Team honors after averaging 26.9 points per game.

In 2019, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the best record in the NBA and was named both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. He became just the third player in NBA history to win both awards in the same season.

The 2020-21 season is shaping up to be another big one for Antetokounmpo as he looks to lead the Bucks back to the NBA Finals.

Pascal Siakam

Pascal Siakam is a small forward/power forward for the Toronto Raptors. He was born on April 2, 1994, in Douala, Cameroon. He is 6’9″ and weigh 230 pounds. He played college basketball at New Mexico State University. He was drafted by the Raptors with the 27th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He won an NBA championship with the Raptors in 2019.

The Coaches

The NBA Finals are finally here, and it’s time to take a look at the coaches. Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors is a two-time NBA champion, and he’s looking to add another one to his collection. On the other side, Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers is looking to avenge last year’s loss in the Finals.

Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel is an American professional basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also served as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic.

Doc Rivers

Glenn Anton “Doc” Rivers (born October 13, 1961) is an American basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As an NBA coach, Rivers led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship.

Rivers was born in Maywood, Illinois, the son of Bettye Tillman and Grady Rivers, who played basketball at Proviso East High School. He grew up in nearby Park Forest, where he attended Rich East High School. Rivers played collegiately at Marquette University from 1979 to 1983. He was a second-team All-Conference selection his senior year at Marquette by the United States Basketball Writers Association after averaging 15 points per game.

During his four seasons with Marquette he averaged a combined 11.6 points and 5.8 assists per game and served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons under coach Hank Raymonds.

Mike Budenholzer

Mike Budenholzer is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also served as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Prior to his career in coaching, he played college basketball for four years with Pomona–Pitzer Colleges, and professionally for one season in France.

In 2013, he was named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Hawks to a franchise-best 60–22 record. In 2015 and 2016, he led Atlanta to consecutive conference semifinals appearances. He was fired by the Hawks in 2018 after five seasons with the team. In 2019, he led the Bucks to an NBA-best 60–22 record and was again named Coach of the Year.

Nick Nurse

Nick Nurse is a Canadian professional basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was hired by the Raptors on June 14, 2018, after spending five seasons as the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he won two D-League championships. Born in Iowa and raised in Carroll, Iowa, Nurse played college basketball at Northern Iowa from 1983 to 1987. He began his coaching career in 1987 as an assistant at Grand View College.

The Fans

There are many people who are looking forward to the NBA Finals. Some people are fans of the teams that are playing, while others just enjoy watching good basketball. Whatever the reason, the NBA Finals are sure to be exciting. Let’s take a look at some of the fans who will be in attendance.

Lakers Fans

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most successful teams in NBA history, and their fans are some of the most passionate in the league. Though they may not have the same reputation as other fan groups, Lakers fans are die-hard supporters of their team. From cheering on Kobe Bryant to chanting “Beat LA,” Lakers fans show their team pride in a variety of ways.

Whether they’re at Staples Center or watching the game at home, Lakers fans are always ready to support their team. And when the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals, you can bet that their fans will be there to cheer them on.

Clippers Fans

If you’re a Clippers fan, then you’re probably pretty upset right now. Your team just lost to the Houston Rockets in the second round of the playoffs, and it was not pretty. It’s especially tough to take because the Clippers were up 3-1 in the series, and they had a real chance to make the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

But don’t despair, Clippers fans! This season was a huge success, and there’s a lot to be proud of. Your team won a franchise-record 56 games, and they were one of the best teams in the league all year long. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul were both incredible, and they’re only going to get better.

The future is bright for the Clippers, and you can bet that they’ll be back next year hungry to try and take that final step. So keep your head up, Clippers fans!

Bucks Fans

Bucks fans are some of the most passionate in the NBA. They’re also some of the loudest, which can be both a good and a bad thing. The team does have a strong following, and they’re known for being die-hard supporters.

Raptors Fans

The Raptors are going to the NBA Finals and fans are ecstatic! Although the team is based in Toronto, there are die-hard fans all across Canada. Some fans are even travelling to Oakland to watch the games in person.

There is no doubt that the Raptors have some of the best fans in the NBA. They are passionate, supportive, and always ready to cheer on their team. Whether they are watching from home or abroad, these fans will be glued to their screens for every game.