Pivotal players to watch in the NBA Conference Finals

The NBA doesn’t quite have the same affiliation with the “final four” term as college basketball does, but the remaining teams in the postseason have set themselves apart from the rest of the field. They’ll look to win another four games to advance to the NBA Finals, and we’ll have our eyes on some integral players who will have a large say in whether that happens.

The team that’s standing in Jokic’s way of having the year of a basketball lifetime is the Los Angeles Lakers once again. He’ll play his usual brand of well-rounded crisp basketball, but he’ll need to match wits over the course of a seven-game series with Los Angeles’ stars. In the 2020 bubble, he wasn’t able to do it consistently, but he’ll have to now if Denver is to make it to their first NBA Finals.

A lot of people who follow the NBA wondered whether Porter Jr. would be able to fit into a team brand of basketball orchestrated by Jokic. Sometimes it’s been touch and go, but Porter Jr. has played very well in these playoffs. There’s no doubting his natural ability to score, but his decision making will also be under the microscope in the Western Conference Finals.

Even though it doesn’t feel like he’s been as stellar as he was in the NBA Bubble breakout, Murray has been nearly as good statistically during the 2023 playoff run. This is great news for the Nuggets, who can expect the Lakers to shade defensive attention Jokic’s way. That should open Murray up for a flurry of shots he’s capable of making.

One of the most unheralded acquisitions in the NBA over the last couple of years has been Denver’s free agent signing of Bruce Brown. He does a little bit of everything well, which allows him to fill in the blanks for the Nuggets. It’s a huge asset for head coach Michael Malone, who can use his versatility in a variety of ways.

Remarkably, James is one again on the doorstep of making the NBA Finals. If the Lakers win the Western Conference Finals, he’ll appear in his 11^th championship series. First things first though, as he’ll need to weather to storm against a stacked Denver team. It’s still amazing that he’s playing at such a high level in his 20^th NBA season.

It’s been a huge bounce back performance for Davis during this postseason. Many questioned whether or not he would be durable or consistently productive enough moving forward, but he’s checked both boxes in the first two rounds. As Lakers fans recall, he was sensational in the 2020 West Finals against Denver, and will need to limit Jokic’s impact on the series.

What’s old is new once more, as Schroder is back with the Lakers as a main cog in their backcourt. He’s been pretty effective and reliable since Los Angeles parted ways with Russell Westbrook. However, he lost his cool in Game 6 of the Golden State series, and the Nuggets may try to set him off as the series wears on.

Out of seemingly thin air, the Lakers have found gold on their bench. Walker is playing with a renewed sense of confidence, as he’s not hesitating on open jumpers that he has when he comes into the game. His standout performance came in Game 4 against the Warriors, where he poured in 15 points during a pivotal fourth quarter.

If he’s proven anything over the last several postseasons, Butler will not be deterred no matter how high the odds are stacked against him. His indomitable will keeps the Miami Heat with striking distance of every game, and every series. Butler’s statistical output may not compare with some other stars, but he’s going to make the right play nearly every time.

After an intentionally calculated regular season plan administered by the Heat for Lowry, the veteran guard is performing in the postseason. The 37 year-old appears to have fresh legs for the games that matter most, as evidenced by his leadership and performance in the first two rounds of the playoffs. He figures to have a turn-back-the-clock game at some point in the conference finals.

Adebayo was sensational in the Knicks series, negating New York center Mitchell Robinson on the glass and in the paint. This hasn’t always been the case for Adebayo against taller centers, and he’ll need to play with the same level of effectiveness against a sturdy Boston frontcourt. He struggled at times during the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

Miami will figure to receive gritty performances from the leaders on the team, but they’ll need a strong effort from Strus on the perimeter as well. He’s going to be front and center trying to stop the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and will need to make both All-Stars work for their points. Additionally, Strus will need to make long range baskets of his own.

Tatum is coming off a spectacular Game 7 performance to knock the Philadelphia 76ers out of the postseason. He’s been hot and cold with his shooting through the postseason, but has shown up when it’s mattered most. It stands to reason that Miami might hinder his efficiency again, but everyone knows who’ll have the ball in the waning moments.

Williams’ impact in the postseason so far has been somewhat muted, considering he spent seven games going up against MVP center Joel Embiid in the second round. However, Williams has a chance to put his stamp on this series, against a team that loves to take the ball into the paint. He’ll have opportunities to alter shots at the rim.

Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla has shrunk his rotation as the postseason has gone on. However, he might need to add another body into the mix against Miami, and Grant Williams might find himself on the floor again. He’s going to give everything he has on the court, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the middle of some physical sequences.

Everyone is well aware that Tatum is the Celtics’ most dynamic player, but Brown is a legitimate All-Star himself. He might be able to go off in this series if Miami decides to use Butler to guard Tatum, leaving the likes of Strus or another defender on Brown. He’ll bring his usual exemplary defensive play, but Brown will also need to have a big series scoring the ball.