Stephen A. Smith Makes Interesting NBA Finals Prediction

BYAlexander Cole4.0K Views
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SiriusXM At Super Bowl LVII - Feb. 9
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 09: Stephen A. Smith attends SiriusXM At Super Bowl LVII on February 09, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
This prediction may not seem like so much of a hot take.

Stephen A. Smith has had a lot to talk about in regard to the NBA over the last few weeks. Overall, there has been a lot of player movement, especially when it comes to the trade deadline. Players like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were traded to new teams. Moreover, franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers got infinitely better as they shed themselves of Russell Westbrook. Now, the playoffs are just a few weeks away, and all of the big sports shows are trying to figure out who can win it all.

One of the teams that are certainly garnering attention is the Phoenix Suns. Although they are currently without Kevin Durant, they are still playing well. Devin Booker and Chris Paul have been tasked with carrying the team into the playoffs. Furthermore, with KD returning soon, this will be a superteam once the postseason begins. They have all the makings of a team that can make an impressive deep run to the Finals. As it turns out, Stephen A. most certainly agrees with that sentiment.

Stephen A. Speaks

On today's episode of First Take, Stephen A. made it clear that he believes the Suns should be favored in the West, as long as the whole team is there. "I got [the Phoenix Suns] going to the Finals if KD is healthy," Smith declared. As you can see in the clip above, Smith got an eye-roll from Kendrick Perkins. However, Smith maintained that there is no other team in the West that can roll with them when Durant is on the floor. Stephen A. went so far as to say that Durant is the best player on the planet, when healthy.

There are a lot of variables that go into a playoff run. Some teams go into the postseason expecting to clean up, although injuries can get in the way. Moreover, other teams tend to get hot, which throws a wrench in the plans of those at the top of the standings. This year, it feels like it is anybody's race, which only adds to the drama. Let us know who you think is going to make it to the NBA Finals, in the comments down below.

About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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