Heat and Lakers, from the playoffs to the conference finals

The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat fought their way into the playoffs through the playoffs. They suffered greatly to avoid losing their horses, especially the Californians, who decided to turn the team around in February. They opened the door to Westrbrook and two barely-countable players, Juan Toscano and Damian Jones, and the door to D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Vanderbilt. A few weeks before they included Rui Hachimura.

The purple and gold franchise hit the bullseye. He greatly improved his defensive numbers and added offensive scoring fronts. It also helped that in the last third of the championship, their holders, LeBron James and, above all, Anthony Davis, left injuries behind to reach the decisive section at their best level. Now the Lakers are not a collection of individuals. They function as a team, and not only that, they seem to be on the upswing.

In the first round, they beat the up-and-coming Memphis Grizzlies 4-2. In the second, they confirmed the same result against the defending champions, Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors. In the sixth game, LeBron James did what he had, he kept it. He dominated the game and the scene: 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, on his way to the age of 39. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer never gets tired.

In the finals of the Western Conference, an exciting duel awaits us with the Denver Nuggets of the immeasurable Nikola Jokić. The series starts on Tuesday.

In the Eastern Conference, there is a big reference on Miami’s bench: their coach Erik Spoelstra. The performance he’s getting out of the team in the title playoffs is remarkable, despite the loss of his best three-point specialist, Tyler Hero. The Heat always find a way to make the opponent on duty uncomfortable and keep games close.

Contrary to forecasts, they slipped away from the favorites, the Milwaukee Bucks. Against the New York Knicks, bets were already talking about a greater tie, and they were also classified. With a huge defensive job, the best version of Butler, excellent support from Adebayo and veteran Lowry, and supporting actors always ready to pass, they expect a rival in the final of the East. This Sunday, they will know who their opponent is: the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia Sixers, in a series that will be decided in the seventh game. Rien ne va plus.

The Heat will once again play without the field factor and against the odds. From Wednesday.