The Suns and Celtics are a common choice in our authors’ predictions for the early 2024 NBA Finals.
Periodically, NBA.com editors will offer their thoughts on key storylines or hot topics around the league.
Which teams will meet in the 2024 NBA Finals?
Steve Aschburner
Celtic Suns. The Suns and Celtics are, in my opinion, the most talented teams in their respective conferences, although it goes beyond just skill. Jayson Tatum could 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 valuable for a title push than Damian Lillard.
The Suns are brimming with firepower and, like Boston, they have a certain urgency to make it all work quickly. Both teams expected to reach the final last June, so any sense of the championship window shrinking should keep them focused in the right direction.
Brian Martin
Nuggets-Bucks. Monday’s contract extension lifts the cloud over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future that hangs over Milwaukee at the season opener. The duo of Giannis and Damian Lillard (and their devastating pick-and-roll) is enough to keep Milwaukee ahead of 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 MVP form Kia 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 challenge from comrades in the runningespecially from the Suns and the Lakers?
Shaun Powell
Celtic Suns. Only five teams are legitimate in the West. These 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 competition. The Bucks and the Celtics. A tough decision, but in a seventh game, the East final, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday make the difference.
The NBA Finals will either elevate Kevin Durant into the all-time top 10 or spur frenzied arena workers to create space for another banner in Boston.
John Schumann
Celtic Suns. Defense always 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, it’s impossible to truly stop a great offense. 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, while Phoenix has three of the best offensive players in the league (and more shots).
The Nuggets, with the Jamal Murray-Nikola Jokic two-way matchup, should also be there. These two teams will have some issues, particularly with the depth of the front line. But they have six months to figure it out. They should both be really good, and neither should be bad defensively.
Michael C. Wright
Nuggets-Celtics. Major moves in Boston and Milwaukee intensified competition in the East. But the Celtics won this arms race. With continuity already on the roster, Boston has the greatest talent in the East with four All-Star starters in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
In the West, the defending champion Nuggets lost depth this offseason with Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. But the starting five remains intact, led by a double MVP in Nikola Jokic and an ultra-talented playmaker in Jamal Murray, who is ready to do his first All-Star appearance.
