NBA conference finals: Will Jokić halt LeBron’s title ambitions?

With the NBA’s final four set, let’s take a look at the matchups as the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets battle for the title

KEY MAN: Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Pic: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Western Conference finals: Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets

What the Lakers need to do: Defend. When these teams met in the conference finals in the bubble in 2020, the Lakers won the series in just five games, holding Denver to 109.2 points per contest. They may have to do even better this time as the Nuggets boast perhaps the best player on Earth, Nikola Jokić, winner of two of the past three NBA MVP awards. Thankfully for LA, they have maybe the greatest defender on Earth in Anthony Davis. In the 2020 championship run, Davis’ long arms altered countless shots and he’ll have to do the same here.