WHAT a crazy week it's been in the NBA. As we entered into the new season, there were three teams tipped to be genuine title contenders. Those teams were the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and LA Clippers.

Of those three "sure-fire" contenders, only the Lakers remain in the competition. The Bucks fell at the hands of a well-coached Miami Heat, while the Clippers were sent packing on Tuesday night by the cinderella team of the NBA bubble, the Denver Nuggets. 

With only four teams remaining, we enter into the conference finals, with each group fighting to make it through to the championship rounds. The Heat drew first blood against the Boston Celtics in their opening match-up, winning the game in overtime 117-114. Jayson Tatum led all scorers in this outing, finishing the contest with a double-double in points (30) and rebounds (14). 

There's still plenty of basketball to be played before a champion is crowned, with games coming thick and fast as the NBA looks to wrap up its season and head towards the draft. Here's a preview of the upcoming games. 

Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics (Game Two) |  Friday, September 18, 00:15 GMT
 

Boston entered Game One with the best defensive efficiency in the playoffs. However, the Celtics struggled to contain Goran Dragic when he penetrated the perimeter defense. On the other end of the floor, the Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker struggled in the open floor, shooting 6-for-19 from the field and 1-for-9 from three-point range. 

To tie the series at 1-1, the Celtics will need Walker at his best. In his last three games, Walker has shot 29.5% from the field and 15% from three while looking devoid of confidence and willing to defer the ball, so don't bank on him breaking out of this mini-slump. 

Regardless of Walker's struggles, the Celtics have the better offensive weaponry in this series. Tatum is the best scorer between these two teams, while Marcus Smart's emergence as a legitimate shooter has elevated the team's chances even further. 

Since the playoffs began, Tatum has averaged a double-double in points and assists, making this an educated bet that he will hit that stat-line again in the next game. There is still no news on Gordon Hayward's status for Game Two, and it's doubtful anything will be released until game day. 

Miami will not roll over though, having found success running the offense through Bam Adebayo at the top of the key, they will look to penetrate regularly and punish any missed rotations as a result. The Heat also boasts the best closer in the series in Jimmy Butler, a player whose intense desire to win has seen him go from homeless to All-Star; you can't bet against him coming up big in a tight game down the stretch. 

This series' will be a war, and the general consensus is that both teams will fight down to the wire, making a Game Seven likely. With that consensus in mind, I can't look past Boston winning the next match to tie-up the series. With such quality offensive players on both teams, taking the over on this game makes sense. In game one, both groups exceeded the 208.5 points required before entering the overtime period, and should Walker even slightly improve, and this would become a desirable proposition. 

Match odds (including overtime): Celtics (7/10) Heat (6/5) 
Handicap: Celtics -2.5 (9/10) Heat +2.5 (10/11)
Total points: Over 208.5 (10/11) Under 208.5 (9/10)
Tip: Celtics to win and over 208.5 total points (47/20)
 

LeBron is almost 36, and his usage rate is the highest it's ever been (36.2%) – Slightly dipping to 35.7% in the playoffs. That's downright insane.

— Adam Taylor (@AdamTaylorNBA) September 16, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets, (Game One) | Friday, September 18, 02:00 

This series is either going to be a war or a blow-out. The Denver Nuggets just completed their second comeback in as many series, beating out a Clippers team many fancied for the title. In Jamal Murray, the Nuggets boast the bubble's most in-form player, capable of going for 50 on any given night. 

LeBron James, the Lakers have a player who understands what it takes to win a championship, can lead by example at both ends of the floor. Couple James with the transcendent talents of Anthony Davis, and the championship know-how of Rajon Rondo and Danny Green, it quickly becomes apparent why this team is now the odds-on favorite to win it all (1/2). 

Denver's defense is not stern as the Lakers' previous adversaries, which doesn't fill you with confidence when facing the number one offense in the playoffs. James has been a consistent triple-double threat throughout his career, and with Davis most likely absorbing Nikola Jokic's attention, James could be good value to hit this stat-line in Game One.

The Nuggets porous' defense also makes the over in this game very attractive, as they will struggle to contain LA's ferocious inside-out game. In Michael Porter Jr, the Nuggets have the worst defensive player left in the playoffs, and you can expect the Lakers will look for switches regularly when he's on the floor. 

If you're looking for a team to come out of this game victorious, look no further than the Lakers; they hold the championship pedigree, the star power, and have the better roster top to bottom. It's only later in the series where Denver will come alive if the last two series indicate what's to come, but we will be able to look at that closer next week. 

Match odds (including overtime): Lakers (7/20) Nuggets (9/4)
Handicap: Lakers -6.5 (10/11) Nuggets +6.5 (10/11)
Total points: Over 212 (9/10) Under 212 (10/11)
Tip: Lakers to win and over 212.5 total points (17/10)