NBA Playoffs: What arguments each team has to be champion
Knicks, Pacers, Thunder and Timberwolves prepare to play the NBA conference finals.
Welcome to the NBA conference finals! The playoffs, exciting by the way, already have their four best teams: Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves in the west; and New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers in the east.
The postseason, full of energy and luxury endings, had a couple of relapses in two games that hoped and promised a closed end: the sixth match between Knicks And the Boston Celtics in the Madison Square Garden without Jays Tatum, which was a beating of the Tom Thibodeau team, and the seventh of the Thunder Before the Denver Nuggets with Aaron Gordon injured, who ended up in Paseo de Oklahoma City with Alex Caruso in a determining plane.
Two franchises (Pacers and Timberwolves) never won the NBA championship. He Thunder He won it for the last time in 1979, but at that time the team had another name: Seattle Supersonics. And the Knicks They took the title for the last time 52 years ago, more precisely in 1973.
Who gives more? It is time to know the arguments to follow in each franchise towards the decisive stage of the season.
New York Knicks
Candidate for hero: Jalen Brunson
Factor X: OG Anunoby
Kryptonite: Lack of depth
The Knicks They gave the bell to the Celtics, clear favorites at the crossroads of conference semifinals. The passage can be tarnished by the breakon of the Tatum Achilles tendon, but the reality was something else: they were already dominating prior to the departure of the Boston star. Brunson Wake up sighs and travels its own transit to the golden chair of the King of New York. From Frank Sinatra to Jane Fonda, with an obligatory step by Herman Melville. Brunson He arrived as a class B star from the Dallas Mavericks and today is absolute idol. From what he plays and especially for the moment he plays, the clutch. Because he resigned money by signing a contract at the end of last season and not at the end of this, saving $ 113 million to the Knicks to have salary flexibility and reinforce with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridgesamong others. Because it is low profile and performance in a city full of branding and histrionism.
The Knicks They support their character and defense. Unlike the series against Boston, they will have a field advantage against Indiana, so the first two games will not be assault but of shelter. The story of Knicks and Pacers is deliciouswith Reggie Miller as a historic hero/villain according to the sidewalk since he observed it. It will be a 2024 postseason rematch for New Yorkwhen his empire fell against Indiana, before his people, in the seventh party of conference semifinals.
A fact to follow closely: Indiana’s depth against that of New York. That wear, at the end of the day, it can be key. Can these Knicks finally break with the curse of the Big Apple? The moment is now.
Indiana Pacers
Candidate for hero: Tyrese Haliburton
Factor X: Aaron Nesmith
Kryptonite: Adverse locia
Indiana is the Cinderella of these conference finalsbut be careful: they are not confused with this team. Not only did Cleveland Cavaliers be charged with the signed Kryptonite (field disadvantage) but did it with incredible authority. If something has Rick Carlisle’s roster, it is never to lower their arms: in this postseason, they have a 3-2 record when they lose by 19 or more points, and tell us, follow that those six return of -19 or more are the greatest amount of any team in a season in the last 25 years (regular season and playoffs). That is the combative spirit that, of course, is born in defense: Nesmith is factor X, but we also have to consider there Andrew Nembhardwho was the only one that complicated a life of a donovan mitchell inspired … will we see the same against Brunson? Tyrese Haliburton has its ups and downs, but when focused is the clear star of the Pacers. The painting is balanced with Pascal Siakam and Myles Turnerwhich must deal with Bridges and Towns in a tandem of labels as logical as inevitable.
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Tyrese Haliburton surprises a Pacers fan with tickets for game 4
Tyrese Haliburton joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to surprise a Pacers fan with tickets for game 4 against the Knicks.
The PACERS They know how to play Knicks: they will press the ball strong to bother and wear out Brunson. If the brain does not think comfortable, the structure suffers. Indiana He wants to play some NBA finals that have been denied since 2000, when Larry Bird was the coach. On that occasion, French Lick’s farmer had a special assistant … Rick Carlisle.
The intangible intrinsic of this tie, the battle to be solved, is that of the heart. The character. Both franchises stand out in that section: they compete, fight, do not give up. Once again, face to face. As in the 90. as in 2000. as now.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Candidate for hero: Anthony Edwards
Factor X: Jaden McDaniels
Kryptonite: Inexperience in key instances
The focus is clear:Anthony Edwards Can you break your promise status to win a championship? The era of social networks, of Highlights in continuous, lacks patience. Last year he compared it to Michael Jordan and when Timberwolves They lost to Dallas Mavericks all that comparison went to the trash. What many do not consider is that Jordan won his first championship with the Chicago Bulls in his seventh season and this is the fifth of Edwards. It means nothing in particular, but as they say, honor to whom honor deserves. Minnesota failed in his attempt to reach the finals the previous year and will have a new chance now against the best regular season team: Oklahoma City Thunder. The group’s physiognomy is different, already without towns but with Julius Randle and Donte Divinnzo. Chris Finch’s team is, above all, rhythm. This expected a key to the electrifying thunder, with intense basketball that is played largely above the hoop.
Randle is at a great level, Rudy Gobert It will be a problem for Isaiah Hartenstein and Naz Reid It always brings from the bank. We remain, anyway, with Jaden McDaniels as a factor X. They are not surprised with a field chase on the field about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to avoid turning on.
The Timberwolveswhich point to the first championship in the history of the franchise, fly under the radar. Of course, they are very dangerous. Beyond the decline of Stephen Curry that did not allow to see the maximum possibilities of Golden State, they already eliminated Warriors and also the Lukers of Luka Doncic and Lebron James. Chapter by chapter, step on a step, Minnesota Avanza.
The best is yet to come.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Candidate for hero: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Factor X: Alex Caruso
Kryptonite: Weight in paint
The seventh game against Nuggets, with Alex Caruso Frustrating Nikola Jokic, the season of the Thunder: Everything is born from defense. It was not a great Shai tie, but this, more than something negative, ended up being positive: no one is better than all together. He Thunder It is a thunderstorm when it turns on: a sum of wills that are built without the ball and that in hurting attack, with Jalen Williams as balance, Chet Holmgren as a brush under the boards and Hartenstein as determination near the hoop. A multiple head monster. Caruso It is factor X for its constant effort but more than that from its championship experience. In a talented but young team, his command voice is extremely valuable.
Your passage to NBA ends It will be given in the rhythm and in the control of individualities later. The Timberwolves They have already passed the bad drink of last year against the Mavericks and arrive with that experience in tow. It will be difficult for Hartenstein and Holmgrenbecause they must bank at least three hard men like Gobert, Reid and Randle. Okc fell into wells of individuality that almost cost the series against Denver. Do not forget to pass the ball, attack the area that they propose from the free kick and rebuild confidence always from the defense will be the tips of their own triad to El Dorado. OKC is the best team of the four remainingbut it is not enough to say it: you have to prove it.
