The NBA conference finals are here: Knicks-Pacers in the East, and Thunder-Wolves in the West. What are the biggest questions in each series? Which star guard will prove most important to their team’s success? And who will ultimately advance to the NBA Finals?
What’s the biggest question in the East finals?
Can the Knicks slow down the Pacers? The Knicks were built to beat the Celtics, acquiring Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns in an attempt to negate Boston’s advantages. But the Pacers are a different animal. Their offense has improved from their regular-season efficiency, which was pretty damn good to begin with. This is not supposed to happen, the history of the playoffs tells us so. They spread you out, then gut you. Can Towns keep up with Myles Turner? That feels like Indy’s ace in the hole.
Can the Pacers continue to shoot like a team full of Reggie Millers? The Pacers are the only team this postseason to collectively shoot over 50 percent from the floor. They’re also the only team this postseason to shoot more than 40 percent from deep. At this point, they’re on, well, pace to become the best shooting team in postseason history. The Knicks, after stymieing the vaunted Celtics offense, will have a lot to say about that.
Who leads the dance? The numbers and eye test both tell you that Indiana wants to play faster than New York does. The same holds true within possessions, too. Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers attack early, string together actions, and continue applying pressure the full width of the court with all five players. If New York’s weaker-link defenders — Jalen Brunson and especially Towns — aren’t up for it, Indiana could be off to the races. The Knicks, conversely, operate much more deliberately, wielding Brunson’s isolations, Towns’ drives and Josh Hart’s forays to the paint like brute-force battering rams to create enough space to bury you. If Indiana can’t manage that physicality, New York’s chances improve dramatically.
Can KAT elevate his game? He hasn’t been consistent in the postseason, but has historically performed well against the Pacers, averaging 27.8 points per game in regular-season matchups — the highest average against any team he’s faced at least twice. For the Knicks to withstand the Pacers’ depth, Bodega KAT needs to hold down the block and get shots up from the perimeter while avoiding foul trouble. His performance will be the true X-factor for the series.
Can the Knicks play to their tempo? They want to grind out games and get them to the clutch, where Brunson and Co. thrive. The Pacers have excelled in crunch time, too, but they prefer to play fast, get into their actions early and give themselves as many opportunities to score as possible. Only the Thunder have played faster through two rounds of the playoffs, and no team has been so efficient, which is why Indiana carries the best offensive rating of any roster left in the conference finals.
What’s the biggest question in the West finals?
How does Anthony Edwards handle Oklahoma City’s pressure? He was openly frustrated by double teams earlier in the season, and the Thunder can make you feel like you are being double-teamed, even when you are not. They have that many high-level perimeter defenders. Can Edwards succeed in one-on-one situations, draw help and create advantages for Julius Randle. And vice versa. Those two have to be as in sync as they have been, if not more, for Minnesota to have a shot at winning the series.
Can Randle keep this up? Randle has elevated his game to bonafide star level in this postseason, averaging 23.9 points and 5.9 assists with surgical efficiency for his new squad. A skeptic (guilty!) might point out that he feasted on small-ball defenses in Los Angeles and Golden State. With Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the paint and a thicket of swiping arms, Randle’s bully-ball might not fare so well against the NBA’s top defensive outfit.
Randle. He’s been the most consistent player for the Wolves in the playoffs and he is on a crazy run of silencing doubters. He’s shooting over 50% from the field and 35% from 3 while being the Wolves’ secondary playmaker through two rounds. His talent is undeniable, but can he continue bullying the best defensive test of the postseason?
If Randle keeps this up, he should go on a full apology tour, sitting on a throne and listening to all of us cop pleas on our initial and longstanding thoughts about his fit with this team. He’s been an ideal Robin to Edwards, he’s been tough and efficient and stable. His catch-