The NBA Conference Finals Entry Survey for 2024.
What game will it be Wolves vs. Mavericks? Do the Celtics need to be worried about the Pacers? And who has shown the greatest improvement thus far in the postseason?
The NBA final four are here after an unforgettable second round. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games after winning two straight, while the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves both stunned everyone by winning Game 7s on the road. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics essentially cruised to the conference finals. Two days before the conference finals start, our NBA experts analyzed the first two rounds and gave their predictions for the matchups between the Celtics and Pacers and the Wolves and Mavericks. Now let’s get started.
After two rounds, which player has impressed you the most?
Seerat Sohi: Which players will reach the conference finals and average 29/5.5/5.5 on 50% shooting during the playoffs? Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Nikola Jokic, and, as of late, Anthony Edwards (well, technically 28.9), the best Jamal Murray stopper for the Timberwolves. Edwards moves in a way reminiscent of Jordan. His aggressiveness and efficiency are reminiscent of Dwyane Wade in 2006. Furthermore, who else does making clutch plays in the fourth quarter of a Game 7 while only going 6-for-24 remind you of? The next exciting shooting guard of a generation, Edwards is the star of these playoffs and, perhaps, the NBA in a few weeks.
Zachary Kramer: When Dereck Lively II plays for the Mavericks, they are a team-best plus-87 and a team-worst minus-47. This kind of postseason impact is not expected from rookies.
Michael Pina: There are a lot of worthy contenders, but I have to choose Jalen Brunson. I will never soon forget the leadership, poise, force, intelligence, shotmaking, and resilience he shown while carrying the city of New York on his back for the previous two weeks.
Danny Chau: Washington, P.J. Even when a player who had never played in the playoffs before is acquired, deadline acquisitions never have as great of an impact on the postseason. When they acquired Washington, the Mavericks were aiming for his size, athleticism, and unrealized shot-making ability. He has surpassed all expectations and established himself as the de facto third option, taking advantage of the double coverages that Luka Doncic has so far witnessed. Although it will take time to determine if Washington will join Marc Gasol and Rasheed Wallace in the Deadline Pantheon, he is getting there.
Levy-Rubinett, Isaac: It’s unbelievable that I’m saying this, but Kyrie Irving? Irving has been a force on defense, a facilitator who gets his teammates going, and a general all-around player for the Mavericks during Dallas’s first two playoff rounds. In closeout games, he also improved to 14-0 in his career, further solidifying and enhancing the legacy of Playoff Kyrie.
