Most Entertaining Potential NBA Finals Matchups: Talent, Storylines, Legacies

Both conferences are loaded with talent, and player empowerment has created endless drama between stars. Any Finals series will be must-watch, but there are a few select matchups that would be incredible to watch. When considering storylines, rosters, and history, here are my top five most entertaining potential Finals matchups. 

5. Miami Heat vs Memphis Grizzlies

Many were skeptical of the Heat when they signed Jimmy Butler, but they have already been to the Finals. By trading for Kyle Lowry, they signaled that they were all-in on this season. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, drafted Ja Morant 2nd overall and quietly assembled one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. This Finals matchup would feature two teams with elite defenses; the Heat are 4th in Defensive Rating, and the Grizzlies are 5th. Can the Heat defense slow down the electric Ja Morant? How many monster dunks would Morant throw down in the Finals? The old school mentality of these two teams would be refreshing to watch in this new age of basketball. 

The most intriguing aspect is the amount of depth. The Heat bench could be a starting lineup for a play-in team, and the Grizzlies are 21-3 without Ja Morant playing. Because of this, we will see excellent basketball no matter who is on the court. Another great matchup is the battle between modern big men: Jaren Jackson Jr and Bam Adebayo. Both have cases for DPOY and as the most versatile defender in the NBA. Overall, this matchup would be youth vs veterans. Can Jimmy Butler finally claim that elusive ring, or will Morant solidify his future as one of the faces of the NBA?  

4. Philadelphia 76ers vs Phoenix Suns

James Harden would face former teammate Chris Paul; they had a chance to win a ring in 2018 on the Houston Rockets, but hope crumbled when Paul injured his hamstring. One of them would be guaranteed to finally win the title. We would see MVP-candidate Joel Embiid vs rising star Deandre Ayton at the center position. Embiid has never made it to the Conference Finals, much less the Finals, so it would be our first time seeing how he handles the pressure. James Harden would have the opportunity to squash the playoff choking narrative, but can he play well enough to do it? James Harden, Joel Embiid, or Chris Paul can claim their ring and alter their legacy for the better. 

Matisse Thybulle and Mikal Bridges are two of the best defensive wings, and it would be exciting to see Thybulle guard Booker and Bridges guard Harden. The Suns are indisputably the deeper team, but the 76ers have dark horse players who have the talent to score in bunches. Will Tobias Harris stop standing in the corner and show off the isolation offense that he is capable of? Harris is the most overpaid 4th option in the NBA, but he has a chance to justify it. If Harris helps the 76ers win a title, then his contract will seem far better. As an added bonus, we get to watch Shaquille O’Neal on Inside the NBA forcing Charles Barkley to choose who he wants to win. 

3. Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors

If the Celtics win, it would be one of the greatest mid-season turnarounds in NBA history. The Celtics are tied with the Lakers at 17 total rings, so Boston could jump back into the lead for the most all-time by a franchise. The Warriors, meanwhile, would gain their former glory and stand on the mountain top again. The defensive matchups here would be incredible to watch: DPOY-favorite Marcus Smart hounding Stephen Curry, Robert Williams (assuming he is back) and Draymond Green cleaning up every mistake, and the wing defense of Brown/Tatum/Wiggins. 

This is Jayson Tatum’s chance to elevate his standing among NBA players. If he wins FMVP and dominates the Warriors, do we start talking about him as a Top 5 player in the NBA? It would also be another loss for the Warriors trio, which would put them at 1-2 in the Finals without Durant. That one win was against a Cavaliers team who didn’t have Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love, so how does their resume look in retrospect? This matchup would be a battle between two-way players who can suffocate opponents with superb individual and team defense. It also may be a preview of more Finals matchups considering how bright the future looks for Jordan Poole, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman. 

2. Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns

Bucks Suns part two would once again be a matchup between the best teams in the NBA. The 2021 Finals was the most entertaining Finals since 2016 in my eyes, and this rematch would only be better. The Suns are on a revenge tour this season, while the Bucks are filled with confidence about their ability to win at the highest level. This matchup would immediately change multiple legacies. If the Bucks win, where does Giannis rank all time? At 27-years-old, he would have 2 FMVP, 2 MVP, and 1 DPOY while being the best player in the NBA. If the Suns win, where does Chris Paul rank all time now that he won a ring against an excellent team? 

We get to see Jrue Holiday guard Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton guard Giannis. Can Middleton close games again with Mikal Bridges hounding him all night? If you want to see the two best teams battle it out, this is the game for you. The level of talent here is insane, and it never gets old watching these teams in the clutch. Giannis dominated the end of games in their 2021 Finals matchup, but the Suns are 32-8 in the clutch with a 32.4 Net Rating. This matchup would give us the most entertaining final moments of a close game. 

1. Brooklyn Nets vs Golden State Warriors

This game isn’t between the two best teams in the NBA (that’s Bucks Suns), but it contains the most entertaining storylines and drama. The Warriors would face off against Kevin Durant, who won two FMVP with Golden State. Kyrie Irving sent the 73-9 Warriors packing empty-handed, so they can avenge their 2016 collapse. The legacy of these stars would forever change in this matchup. Durant won two rings, but he didn’t earn respect from them because he joined a 73-9 team to form an unbeatable team when healthy. If he wants to boost his legacy, he must lead a team that is not a superteam. Stephen Curry, meanwhile, has never won a Finals MVP award. It’s a common knock against his legacy, but this game would give him the opportunity to do so. 

My favorite potential player matchup in any series is Durant vs Draymond. The tension between them early in the 2018/19 season helped solidify Durant’s decision to leave in free agency. Draymond has been one of the best defenders since he joined the league, and he will guard one of the best isolation scorers in NBA history. The amount of trash talk and jawing between these two would be entertainment at its finest. There are also smaller but still great storylines in this matchup. Stephen Curry would at some point be guarded by his brother Seth Curry. Blake Griffin would avenge his losses to the Warriors when he was a part of the Lob City Clippers in the mid 2010s. If Ben Simmons returns, we would also see how he handles the pressure. He looked scared out of his mind in the 2021 Second Round, so how would he fare in the Finals? The overall drama in this game would skyrocket ratings.