B/R Staff: Predicting 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship Winner and MVP

The 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship is upon us, and in so many ways, the tourney as a whole has been a monumental success.

Aside from the highly anticipated, decades-long-awaited 2000 Finals rematch between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers, fans get a look at the league's future in Tyrese Haliburton facing off against one of the greatest to ever grace a court, LeBron James—in a meaningful game.

On top of any storylines you can find ahead of Saturday's championship, know this: We're about to see some really, really good basketball.

With the Pacers and the Lakers looking like two of the hottest teams in the league, we asked B/R's Eric Pincus, Greg Swartz and Andy Bailey to share their In-Season Tournament Championship and MVP predictions.

*Note: Per NBA.com, the MVP award "will be based on the players' performance in both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds."

Hit the comments to share your NBA In-Season Tournament Championship and MVP predictions.

Lakers, LeBron on a Mission

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers runs down the court after hitting a 3-pointer against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half of the West semifinal game of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers defeated the Pelicans 133-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

It wasn't clear if the NBA's In-Season Tournament would be a bust, but from the start, LeBron James made it clear that he and the Los Angeles Lakers were going after the inaugural title.

LeBron's commitment and the Lakers' dominance have helped make the concept a hit. The $500,000 prize for each player on the winning team (and $200,000 for the runners-up) may have played a part in James' chase. But money aside, James hinted at retirement after the Denver Nuggets ousted the Lakers from the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

James may have a few years left in the league, and this may be his best and only chance to win the In-Season Tournament. In his (arguably successful) quest to be the GOAT, James isn't going to pass up on this opportunity.

If winning the NBA Cup becomes essential over time, James wants the first to add to his legacy.

It helps that the Lakers are finally starting to get healthy. The team has tremendous length and athleticism, mainly on the wings. L.A. has shot-making at guard from Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell. And while the team is a little thin at center, Anthony Davis is one of the best in the league (even if he considers himself a power forward playing up a position).

The Indiana Pacers are a talented squad. Tyree Halliburton should make one of the three All-NBA Teams this year.

But the Lakers, led by James, are on a mission that will lead them to the win on Saturday.

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

Championship MVP: LeBron James

—Pincus

Darlings of the Tournament

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 7: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament on December 7, 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Indiana Pacers have become the darlings of the first-ever In-Season Tournament, going a perfect 4-0 in group play before taking down both the mighty Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks during the knockout rounds.

Don't expect them to fear LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, either.

The Pacers will continue their beautiful team ball, relying on unselfish play and the NBA's No. 1 offense to power them past the Lakers. Myles Turner is enough of a three-point shooting threat to pull Anthony Davis out of the paint and create plenty of looks inside for Tyrese Haliburton and company.

Speaking of Haliburton, the 23-year-old has been unbelievable all season and has totaled 53 points, 17 rebounds, 28 assists and zero (0!) turnovers against the Celtics and Bucks. That's all while shooting 56.8 percent overall and 40.0 percent from three.

The All-Star point guard will easily earn MVP honors as his Pacers take down the Lakers for the NBA Cup and $500,000 in cash.

Don't worry, Tyrese—you aren't a loser anymore.

Champion: Indiana Pacers

Championship MVP: Tyrese Haliburton

—Swartz

L.A. Can Bring Size, Athleticism In Waves

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 7: Players LeBron James (23) (right) and Anthony Davis (3) (left) of Los Angeles Lakers attend the press conference after the NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals game between Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on December 7, 2023. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

LeBron James, at almost 39 years old, is seemingly reversing the aging process. He's posting his highest box plus/minus since 2015-16 and was flying around the floor like he was in his prime during Thursday's semifinal win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

That, in itself, should give the Los Angeles Lakers the inside track on the championship. The Indiana Pacers have had one of the league's worst defenses all season, and they certainly don't have an individual perimeter defender equipped to bother LeBron. The best bet may be Bruce Brown, who's five inches shorter.

And that could be a microcosm of a problem that will plague the Indiana Pacers in general in this one. Myles Turner is having an underrated three-and-D campaign, but Indiana is just small after him. And L.A. can bring size and athleticism in waves, with LeBron, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt (who recently returned to action).

Those traits are starting to come together on the defensive end, and L.A. should be able to just enough to slow down this Pacers juggernaut offense to get the win.

And if the Lakers secure the league's first in-season tournament championship, LeBron seems like a shoo-in for MVP.

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers

Championship MVP: LeBron James

—Bailey