By Talia Ziblatt, Contributing Writer |

Inside the Dream Finals—the Final Four

The NBA Conference Finals began on May 22. The final four teams, New York Knicks versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the San Antonio Spurs versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, all have a chance to punch their ticket to the Finals. I have outlined below my initial predictions and reasoning. My initial predictions and the reasoning to back them are below. Currently there is ample time for unexpected contenders to win this year’s NBA so we will have to see how my predictions hold up. 

Eastern Conference Finals 

The Knicks, who swept the 76ers in one of the most dominant games New York played all season, are coming off a nine-game win streak. On the other hand, fourth-seed Cleveland, despite benefiting greatly from the James Harden acquisition, has had a rockier road to the Conference Finals. Unlike the Knicks, the Cavs have not reached the Conference Finals since Lebron James was on the team in 2018. 

Both of the Cavaliers’ series went to seven games, the first one against the Toronto Raptors and the second against the Detroit Pistons. As long as key players on the Knicks stay healthy and their defense stays strong, the Knicks have a strong case to move on. But the Cavs could make this a close and extremely interesting series if they take care of the ball to minimize the turnovers that plagued them in the past two series and stay on the defensive rebounds. Alexis Sanborn ‘27 reflects, “I want the Cavs to win. Hear me out, I was just watching last night’s game (Game 1), loosely. But I still think they are going to win.” This will be an exciting and close matchup—Knicks in Five. 

Western Conference Finals 

The Thunder versus the  Spurs is always an anticipated game. Every time these teams have played, the game feels gritty, passionate, and extremely competitive. The one seed, OKC, has had perhaps the smoothest road to the WCF: a sweep of round one Phoenix Suns and a sweep of Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Their deep bench and rotating starting lineup have been one of OKC’s biggest strengths. Gilgeous-Alexander was just named the NBA MVP award for the second year in a row, and is looking to add a back-to-back NBA Champion title to that accolade. 

The two-seeded Spurs, with Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, won their first series against the Portland Trailblazers in five games and the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves in six. Keep in mind that the Spurs are  4-1 this regular season against the Thunder and have a very real possibility to upset the favorites. I predict that if OKC gets hot, they will win in six. Still, I would like the Spurs to win this series and go to the Finals, so–Spurs in Seven. 

NBA Finals 

I believe the most exciting Finals matchup would be Spurs versus Knicks. Mr. Mirelman agrees and believes “the Spurs will win because of Wemby, but [he wants] the Knicks to win because Brunson is fun.” Whoever ends up in the Finals, it is clear that both of the Western Conference teams are favored. Depending on whether the Knicks stay in their hot shooting streak, OKC in Five/Spurs in Six. 

Winsor student and faculty predictions: 

“The Thunder. I really like Jared McCain.” – Ginny Choe ‘27 

“Spurs. They are locked-in and they have Wemby.” – Sana Khan ‘27 

“OKC. I believe in Jared McCain.” – Charley Perkins ‘28

“OKC. But I hope that the Knicks get to the Finals.” – Ms. Hatcher