3 NBA Finals matchups the Boston Celtics could be part of

#2 Los Angeles Clippers

If Golden State does not return to the finals, the next team would be one with lots of expectations.

The Los Angeles Clippers, particularly at full strength, would be the next best team from the Western Conference with aspirations for an NBA title. Vegas Insider has them at +700 odds, the third-highest behind Boston and Golden State.

The Clippers made so much history within the past few seasons. Making their first-ever appearance in the Western Conference Finals and being two games away from the NBA Finals during the 2021 playoffs, it would make sense for them to jump over the hurdle to finally get their first finals berth this season.

This would also be a highly entertaining matchup of dynamic duos between the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown against the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

If the Los Angeles Lakers season ends early, their fans will leak into the Clippers games for this Finals matchup, still making this series a Los Angeles-Boston rivalry at the end of the day.

And speaking of the Lakers…