2023-2024 Non-Lakers Playoffs: Conference Finals Discussion Thread
Who will make it to the NBA Finals?
The Conference Finals have arrived, and there is lots of anticipation for each respective series and lots of storylines for Lakers fans and NBA fans as a whole. Let's delve into them as the conference finals get started
Who can stop the Celtics in the East?
As the name implies, the Pacers can outrun the Celtics and play at a faster pace to take advantage of matchups in transition. They have the 10th-highest pace in the playoffs, with the Celtics being 16th. Of the remaining teams, the Pacers are the fourth-highest at 93.15, behind the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Mavericks.
One advantage the Celtics have over the Pacers is rebounding. They are the third-best rebounding team in the playoffs with 44.9, while the Pacers are 10th with 41.6. So, the Pacers will have to hustle on the boards to make this a matchup.
They are also healthier than the Heat and Cavs so that may matter in the end for this next matchup. Health is an important metric for the playoffs as it lets you go deeper in the rotation to figure out better matchups.
It will be up to the Pacers' youth and defense to determine whether they can advance to the Finals.
Will defense be enough to stop the Mavs?
With the Mavericks making it to the Western Conference Finals, they will face the Timberwolves. Surely, with a four-day rest, the Timberwolves will have to win their home game to take control of the series right away without the rest advantage.
The Timberwolves have the fourth-best defense of the 16 teams in the playoffs. Of the remaining four teams, the Timberwolves have the second-best defensive rating at 107.6, just behind the Celtics' 106.1. Surprisingly, the Timberwolves have the better offensive rating over the Mavericks, with 116.1, while the Mavs have 113.9.
However, the Mavs have two really good self-creators in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with lots of defense and shooting and lob threats for those two to make the Timberwolf's defense stretch thin.
It will also be a match-up of bigs with Karl Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Derrick Lively. Of important note on the Mavericks is they have more experienced bigs still on the roster with Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, and Markieff Morris, who didn’t play last series or very little. So if the young players have a hard time with the Minnesota frontcourt, those could be options. Timberwolves really only have Garza in reserve who hasn’t played this past series
It will be a matchup nightmare for both teams and we will see who will prevail.
Western Conference Finals Matchups
Number 3 seed Timberwolves versus the Number 5 seed Mavericks on TNT and Tru TV
Series tied 0-0. Game 1 is on Wednesday at 8:30 PM ET on TNT and Tru TV
Eastern Conference Finals Matchups
Number 1 seed Celtics versus the 6th seed Pacers on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2
Series tied 0-0. Game 1 is on Tuesday at 8PM ET on ESPN/ ESPN2
My Conference Finals Predictions
Western Bracket
Timberwolves versus the Mavericks. Timberwolves in 6
Eastern Bracket
Celtics versus the Pacers. Pacers in 7.
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