The 2023 Western Conference finals start on Tuesday, and it should be a very competitive and exciting matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers have been on a roll ever since a slew of trades they made prior at midseason that remade the supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They had the NBA’s second-best regular-season record after the All-Star break, and in the playoffs they have the league’s top defensive rating.
Denver was the top seed in the Western Conference, yet it had trouble putting away the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns to get to this point. Still, the Nuggets have a potent, balanced roster built around center Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP, and hot-shot guard Jamal Murray.
Who will win? What will be the keys? Our staff at USA TODAY’s NBA Wire sites gave their opinions and predictions on what they think will transpire over the next fortnight or so.