Trending Topics: Early 2024 NBA Finals predictions

Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.

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Which teams will meet in the 2024 NBA Finals?

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Steve Aschburner

Suns-Celtics. The Suns and Celtics are the most talented teams in their respective conferences, in my view, though this goes beyond just skillsets. Jayson Tatum may be a Kia MVP favorite (if voters don’t dwell on the help he has on Boston’s roster). Kristaps Porzingis adds a new dimension and Jrue Holiday might be more helpful to a title push than Damian Lillard.

The Suns are dripping with firepower, and like Boston, have some urgency to make this all work swiftly. Both teams expected to reach the Finals last June, so any sense of a narrowing championship window should keep them focused in a good way.

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Brian Martin

Nuggets-Bucks. Monday’s contract extension removes the cloud of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future hanging over Milwaukee as the season opens. The pairing of Giannis and Damian Lillard (and their devastating pick-and-roll) is enough for Milwaukee to edge out Boston as both teams seek their second Finals this decade.

Denver lost some depth from last year’s title team, but with Nikola Jokic in Kia MVP form and a full year of a healthy Jamal Murray, the Nuggets are the favorites. But in a deep Western Conference, can they avoid a playoff gauntlet of fellow contenders, particularly from the Suns and Lakers?

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Shaun Powell

Suns-Celtics. Only five teams are legit in the West. That would be the Nuggets, Lakers, Grizzlies, Suns and Clippers. The Suns can score with or better than any of them and should bring just enough defense to emerge.

In the East, it’s a two-team contest. The Bucks and Celtics. Tough call, but in a Game Seven, East Finals, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday are the difference.

The NBA Finals will either elevate Kevin Durant into top-10 all-time or cause frantic arena workers to create space for another banner in Boston.

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John Schuhmann

Suns-Celtics. Defense still matters, and you can’t win if you can’t get stops. The Nuggets weren’t a great defensive team last season but played their best defense in the Finals.

But at this point in NBA history, great offense is impossible to really stop. And given the talent at the top of their roster, the Celtics and Suns appear to have the highest ceilings offensively. Boston has an elite top six and good shooters beyond that, while Phoenix has three of the best offensive players in the league (and more shooting).

The Nuggets, with the Jamal Murray-Nikola Jokic two-man game, should be right there as well. Both of these teams will have some issues, especially with frontline depth. But they have the next six months to figure things out. They both should be really good, and neither should be terrible defensively.

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Michael C. Wright

Nuggets-Celtics. Major movements in Boston and Milwaukee ratcheted up competition in the East. But the Celtics won that arms race. With continuity already on the roster, Boston possesses the most overall talent in the East with four All-Star starters in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

Out West, the defending champion Nuggets lost depth this offseason in Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. But the starting five remains intact, anchored by a two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic, and an uber-talented point guard in Jamal Murray, who is poised to make his first All-Star appearance.