Who’s Playing in the NBA Finals?

The NBA Finals are upon us! Who’s playing? Who’s going to win? Stay up to date with all the latest NBA Finals news and analysis right here.

The Teams

The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The event pits the winner of the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference. This year, the Golden State Warriors are representing the West, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are representing the East.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. 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, having gained 16 NBA championships, their first being in 1949.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The Heat play their home games at American Airlines Arena, and have won three NBA championships.

Entering the 2019–20 season, the Heat have amassed a .620 win–loss record, which ranks tenth in NBA history. Of their 30 NBA Finals appearances, they hold an overall record of 13 wins and 17 losses, winning their first title in 2006 and their most recent one in 2020. They are one of two NBA teams to win consecutive titles on two separate occasions, doing so in 2012 and 2013 as well as 2020 and 2021. They have also won four conference titles (1997, 1998, 2006, 2020) and six division titles (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006).

The Players

LeBron James

LeBron James 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 players in NBA history. James has won four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, four NBA Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He has also been selected to 17 NBA All-Star teams, 13 All-NBA teams, and six All-Defensive teams.

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis (born March 11, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the power forward and center positions. Davis was the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, and is a five-time NBA All-Star and has been named to three All-NBA First Teams and three NBA All-Defensive Teams. He won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.

In his first season, Davis was selected as the NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. He led all rookies in rebounding, blocked shots, and player efficiency rating (PER), and he set Pelicans franchise records for most blocked shots in a season, most starts by a rookie, and best PER by a rookie.

In 2015–16, he averaged 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while becoming just the fifth player since 1983–84 to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game in a season; only Hakeem Olajuwon (nine times), Shaquille O’Neal (six times), David Robinson (once) and Tim Duncan (once) have done so before or since Davis did it that season.

Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler III (born September 14, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing one year of college basketball for Tyler Junior College, he transferred to Marquette University. Butler was drafted with the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. He played his first four seasons with the Bulls, before he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017. In his first season with the Timberwolves, Butler was named an All-Star for the first time. He was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through his second season with Minnesota.

In his first season with Philadelphia, Butler led the team to their first playoff appearance since 2012 and earned his second consecutive All-Star selection. The following year, he helped lead them to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. In 2020, he signed with the Miami Heat.

Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo (#13) is a center for the Miami Heat. He is 6’9″ and weighs 255 pounds. He was born on July 18, 1997, in Newark, New Jersey. Adebayo played one season of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being drafted by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft with the 14th overall pick. In his rookie season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In 2019, he helped lead the Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Coaches

Frank Vogel

Frank Vogel is an American professional basketball head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also served as the head coach for the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic. He led the Pacers to five Central Division championships and back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014. He also led the Magic to the playoffs in his first season with the team in 2016.

Erik Spoelstra

Erik Spoelstra is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach of the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has led the Heat to six NBA Finals appearances and three NBA championships, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

Spoelstra was born in Evanston, Illinois, and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is of Filipino descent on his father’s side. His paternal grandfather emigrated from the Philippines to Hawaii in the early 1900s. He played college basketball for the University of Portland Pilots men’s basketball team.

Spoelstra began his coaching career with various minor-league teams before being promoted to assistant coach positions with the Heat in 1995. He spent several years as an assistant before being named head coach in 2008.

Under Spoelstra, the Heat have made five consecutive NBA Finals appearances and won two championships. In 2012, he was named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Heat to a franchise-record 66 regular season wins. In 2013, he led the team to a second consecutive NBA championship. In 2014, he led the team to a fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance.

The Predictions

It’s that time of year again! The NBA Finals are just around the corner and everyone is making their predictions. Who will come out victorious? Will it be the Golden State Warriors or the Cleveland Cavaliers? Let’s take a look at what the experts are saying.

ESPN

ESPN has announced their predictions for the 2017 NBA Finals, and it’s the Golden State Warriors vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers – again.

The Warriors are coming off a record-setting 73-win season, and they added Kevin Durant in the offseason. They are the heavy favorite to win the NBA title.

The Cavaliers are also a very strong team, led by LeBron James. They have made it to the Finals in each of the last two seasons, and they will be looking to make it three in a row.

The 2017 NBA Finals will begin on June 1st.

Sports Illustrated

SI’s NBA staff makes its predictions for the 2019 NBA Finals

Bleacher Report

As the regular season comes to a close, all eyes now turn to the NBA Playoffs. The journey to the NBA Finals begins on April 13th, and there are a few teams that stand out as potential contenders. Here are Bleacher Report’s predictions for who will be playing in the NBA Finals.

The Golden State Warriors have been the dominant force in the NBA over the past few years, and they are once again one of the favorites to win it all. Led by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the Warriors have all the tools necessary to make a deep run in the playoffs. They will be a tough out for any team that has to face them.

The Houston Rockets are another team that is expected to contend for a spot in the Finals. Led by MVP candidate James Harden, the Rockets have been one of the best teams in the league all season long. They have a deep roster that can score with anyone in the league, and they will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

The Toronto Raptors are another team that is looking like a strong contender for a spot in the Finals. Led by All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference all season long. They have home court advantage throughout the playoffs, which could prove to be crucial in their quest to reach the Finals.

The Boston Celtics are another team that has emerged as a potential contender in recent weeks. Led by All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have won 14 of their last 15 games and seem to be peaking at just the right time. They also have home court advantage throughout the playoffs, which could give them an edge over their opponents.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are another team that cannot be counted out when it comes to contending for a spot in the Finals. Led by LeBron James, one of the greatest players of all time, The Cavs always have a chance as long as he is on their roster. They will need him to play at an MVP level if they want to reach their ultimate goal though.