NBA Finals 2011 Predictions: Top 15 Dream Finals Matchups
Well, a quarter of the way into the season, it is obvious which teams are at least capable of making the finals, and which would be lucky to be playoff bound.
It's easy in the dead of winter to start fantasizing about the spring that is on the horizon, and the NBA Finals that accompany the spring.
There are many teams that look capable of streaking their way into the finals, but there is little to no way of knowing who it could be until there is a lot more basketball in the books.
So rather than looking at who will most likely be in the finals, I'd like to take a look at which teams would give us the best story-lines, the biggest feuds, and above all else, the most exciting finals experience possible.
Last season we were spoiled, with a sensational seven-game series that included everything you could ever want in the NBA Finals.
So, here are the 15 match-ups that would yield the most exciting results possible.
15. Boston Celtics Vs. New Orleans Hornets
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This would be one of those series that at first glance would seem like a disappointment, after all of the other possibilities were missed, but don't kid yourselves, it would be an interesting series.
A year after it looked like the Hornets would lose their star player, Chris Paul, to a trade, the Hornets in the finals would make for an amazing atmosphere.
It would pit a team making its first finals appearance with a team looking for its 18th league championship.
These two teams are two of the best defensive teams in the NBA and are allowing very few points per game this season.
There would almost certainly be no blowouts in this series, as the Celtics are giving up a measly 91 points a game, while the Hornets are giving up only 91.8 per game, the two fewest points allowed per game in the league.
It would also pit two young stars against each other, with Rajon Rondo stuck on Chris Paul for the series. Just that alone would be worth watching the series.
14. Chicago Bulls Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
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The two teams have split victories in games this season, and a series between the two would be nothing short of exciting.
Two of the greatest young players in the game and potential MVPs this season would be facing off as Derrick Rose brings his team into play against the young Thunder led by Kevin Durant.
Russell Westbrook on Rose could end up being one of the budding rivalries in the league, as the two have played each other very hard so far this season, and a finals match-up would only add to that rivalry.
The Bulls boast the superior defense over Oklahoma City, while the Thunder have the more explosive offense than Chicago.
It would certainly be an exciting series, and one that many would not expect.
13. Orlando Magic Vs. Los Angeles Lakers
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A rematch from the finals two seasons ago would be nothing short of an exciting series.
Two years ago, the Magic were nowhere near ready for the bright lights of the finals against the Lakers, losing the series four games to one.
The Magic are one of the few teams that would have the presence underneath the basket to put up against the endless run of big men that the Lakers have, as Dwight Howard is emerging as quite the dominant center.
Orlando has another two years of basketball under its belt since the were disappointment of 2009, with Howard and company gaining more quality playoff experience a season ago.
12. New York Knicks Vs. Phoenix Suns
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This one isn't one of the most likely NBA Finals match-ups to happen, in fact, it's probably not very likely at all, but it would be one of the most exciting series in terms of scoring.
This wouldn't be an NBA Finals to use to teach your kids the fundamentals of basketball, folks, but it would be quite a fun one to watch.
The two teams are combining to score 216.6 points a game, and there would be the inevitable game in which the score ends up 136-134 that would be the game that epitomizes both teams.
It would also pit Mike D'Antoni and Amar'e Stoudemire against their old team and Steve Nash against his old buddies.
11. Atlanta Hawks Vs. Utah Jazz
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These two teams have already played an excellent game this season, a 90-86 thriller in which the Jazz rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win the game by four.
Al Horford would face off in an exciting match-up against Al Jefferson.
Deron Williams would go one-on-one with a wily and rejuvenated veteran in Mike Bibby.
Atlanta's fierce bench would help the team get every opportunity to win games against a very strong Utah team, and the match-up would yield many exciting games.
10. New York Knicks Vs. New Orleans Hornets
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If Carmelo Anthony ends up a New York Knick at some point during the season, something that is actually likely (I know...shocking), then this could be a seriously interesting series.
Before the season, Chris Paul was concerned about the direction in which the Hornets franchise was going, and they told him they were committed to winning, so he signed a four-year deal with the team.
Well, now that the NBA has taken over control of the Hornets, Chris Paul's future is yet again in question, and the Knicks have yet again been whispered as a possible destination for Paul.
What better way to decide which team to go to than to decide from the NBA Finals.
9. Boston Celtics Vs. Dallas Mavericks
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Both sides of the court would have interesting match-ups with every starter being tested by his counterpart on the other team.
Paul Pierce would face off with Caron Butler, two passionate, hustling players.
Shaquille O'Neal would go up against Tyson Chandler, one is pumped up to win his first title, the other pumped up to try to finish off his career with one.
Rajon Rondo, the budding superstar, lines up with Jason Kidd, the do-it-all aging guard.
One of the hardest working men in the game, Jason Terry, would face one of the purest shooters in the NBA in Ray Allen.
And finally, Dirk Nowitski, the shooting big man and epitome of a European superstar would go up against Kevin Garnett, the banging suddenly dirty player who thinks, "Anything is possible!!!!"
I would be down to see this series without a doubt.
8. Orlando Magic Vs. San Antonio Spurs
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A match-up pitting one of the best big men of the 2000s with what should be the best big man of the 2010s would be intriguing for sure.
This could act as a sort of passing of the torch, as Tim Duncan faces off with Dwight Howard in what would be an exciting series.
Orlando is allowing only 92 points a game, while San Antonio is scoring nearly 107 a game, something that would be interesting to see play out.
This would also be one of the few times that Duncan has left to further add to his legacy as one of the best power forwards in the history of the game.
7. Miami Heat Vs. Dallas Mavericks
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You had better believe that there would be some bad blood left over from the 2006 finals in this match-up.
This is one of the more recent conspiracy theories to be tied to David Stern, to go along with Michael Jordan's foray into baseball and the 1984 NBA Draft.
It goes that due to Stern's feuding and downright hatred of Mark Cuban, he wanted to make it so Miami won the series, as a type of punishment for the billionaire owner.
There is certainly evidence for the theory, with Dwyane Wayne shooting a ridiculous 96 free throws in six games, and Jerry Stackhouse being suspended for the weakest flagrant foul in the history of ever.
Anyway, it goes without saying that there would be some bit of hatred left in this old story, as both Dirk Nowitzki and Cuban are still with Dallas, and the main figure from Miami, Wade, is still there.
6. Chicago Bulls Vs. Utah Jazz
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The Chicago Bulls raided the Jazz roster this offseason, signing away Kyle Korver and mercenary Carlos Boozer.
Instead of crawling into rebuild mode, Paul Millsap went and filled in for Boozer quite nicely, they traded for Al Jefferson and became, yet again, one of the best teams in the West.
This would be a series full of animosity and intensity with two of the league's best point guards facing off in Deron Williams and Derrick Rose, along with two underrated centers in Joakim Noah and Al Jefferson.
There would also be the interesting sub-plot of Millsap trying to show Boozer that he is better than him, something that would either work in Utah's favor, or blow up in its face, depending on whether Millsap tries too hard.
Plus, who wouldn't get filled with warm fuzzies seeing the Bulls and Jazz in an NBA Finals. I would have constant flashbacks to 1997 and '98.
5. New York Knicks Vs. Denver Nuggets
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This is completely contingent on if Carmelo Anthony doesn't end up traded at some point during the season, something which, at this point in the season seems unlikely.
And, if Mike D'Antoni's quick-as-a-hiccup offense can take this team as far as the NBA Finals, this would be a fun series to watch.
If you want high-scoring affairs, this is the series for you.
Both teams boast a high-scoring offense and an almost non-existent defense, with the Nuggets allowing 105 points per game, while scoring 107 a game and the Knicks allowing 107 a game and scoring nearly 109 a game.
This would be one of the highest scoring NBA Finals of all time, and while it is probably the least likely of the scenarios, it would also be one of the most exciting of the potential match-ups.
Plus there would be that unspoken awkwardness of Carmelo Anthony playing against what would probably be his future team.
4. Miami Heat Vs. Utah Jazz
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I'm pretty much basing this off one game this season, but it may well have been the best basketball game so far this year.
Back on Nov. 9 in Miami, the Heat voiced a 22-point lead, Dwyane Wade had 39 points and LeBron James nabbed a triple-double.
Blowout, right? Naw, not when Paul Millsap went all Reggie Miller on the Heat, scoring 11 points in the final 28 seconds to send the game into overtime and beat the Heat by two points.
Utah has the dominating point guard and the good scoring big men to match up well with the Heat, and could very well turn this into an amazing series.
3. Boston Celtics Vs. San Antonio Spurs
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That other Dynasty of the Western Conference against the Boston Celtics would be an amazing match-up.
It would pit two of the greatest power forwards of all time against each other, Tim Duncan taking on Kevin Garnett.
The Spurs, who are suddenly one of the most exciting teams in the NBA, are averaging 107 points per game, the second most in the West, while the Celtics are allowing the fewest points in the East, at 91.
Something has got to give in a matchup of opposite teams.
They may have completely different styles of play, but they are two of the oldest teams in the NBA, and if last season's Celtics showed us anything, it's that veteran teams can really turn it on in the playoffs.
The big three of Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili would create an exciting match-up with the big three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.
2. Miami Heat Vs. Los Angeles Lakers
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This is what everyone was talking about in the days, weeks and months after LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami.
This would do what almost seems impossible, make most of the country cheer for Kobe Bryant to spite the abomination down south.
There would be the obvious Kobe vs. LeBron debate heating up yet again, along with Ron Artest attempting to shut down LeBron, Kobe on Wade, Gasol on Bosh, LA's bigs dominating down low while James Jones and Mike Miller shoot the lights out from outside.
Assuming Miami figures out how to play its own style of play, and not force anything, this could end up being a very compelling series.
1. Boston Celtics Vs. Los Angeles Lakers
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There is no question that after last season's amazing finals, this rematch would be the most exciting match-up possible.
The Lakers are going for their second three-peat since they won the 1999-2000 Championship.
The Celtics are looking to win another title after beating the Lakers three years ago.
They may have played each other 4,983 times in the finals in NBA history already (maybe a bit of an exaggeration) but this by far would be the most anticipated of them all.
Boston will be looking to keep their 17 championships as the most in NBA history, while the Lakers will be looking to tie the number.
We will have Shaq vs. Kobe, Garnett vs. Gasol, Artest vs. Pierce, Phil Jackson tries to put another title between himself and Red Auerbach, Kobe vs. Shaq, Rajon Rondo dropping triple-doubles, another "Anything is possible!!!" moment.
Am I forgetting anything?
Oh yeah! Shaq vs. Kobe!
Raise your hand if you don't want to see that.
Those of you who raised your hand, go sit in the corner and think about what you've done.
