Can Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves squeeze previous the Thunder to achieve the NBA Finals?
There’s one phrase that matches the 2024-25 playoffs: Compelling. The video games have demanded suspense, heroes, sequence that go seven video games and thrilling finishes. Sure, compelling is true.
That is largely the results of the work of and performances delivered by the ultimate 4 groups — Knicks, Pacers, Timberwolves and Thunder. Every are bringing core gamers who’re thriving on the massive stage and rotations which might be supplying the required assist.
And now it’s all the way down to Pacers vs. Knicks within the East, Timberwolves vs. Thunder within the West.
Right here’s the one phrase that greatest describes every of the final 4 groups standing on this NBA postseason:
New York Knicks
> “Thirsty”
As you may need heard, this can be a big-market, long-time franchise that hasn’t sipped champagne shortly. To be particular, not since 1973, and if this math is mathing appropriately, that’s 5 lengthy many years. Heck, much more graphic? That is the Knicks’ first Japanese Convention finals look in almost 25 years when, coincidentally, they have been eradicated by the Pacers the final time.
So, sure, the Knicks and their followers are … is determined the phrase? They wish to money in, particularly since this workforce seems to carry a whiff of future. Jalen Brunson was the game-changer when he arrived three years in the past; he has exceeded expectations and is a clutch and gritty participant with cut-throat competitiveness in tense conditions.
The opposite arrivals of the previous few years — Karl-Anthony Cities, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges — have had their huge moments throughout this playoff run. New York Metropolis has fallen in love with the Knicks yet again. Simply see how the nook of thirty third and seventh is clogged after playoff wins. The following avenue the residents wish to shut down is Broadway in mid-June.
The Knicks have electrified the town with their playoff run in 2025.
Indiana Pacers
> “Plucky”
These aren’t the Reggie Miller-era Pacers who have been recognized to convey an perspective, however there’s a big-city swag with this mid-city franchise. It begins, after all, with Tyrese Haliburton, who doesn’t again down from the problem, who conjures up his teammates to realize — overachieve, even?
Take into account that Haliburton and the Pacers caught their second breath after a sloggy begin (10-15) to the season. They received 15 of their final 19 video games, and for the reason that playoffs started, Indy is seeing substantial development from Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith. In the meantime, Pascal Siakam, who received a title in Toronto in 2019, is capturing 54% total, 44% from deep and is main the workforce in scoring.
Did the Pacers make the most of key accidents suffered by the Bucks and Cavaliers within the first and second rounds? Truthful sufficient. Nonetheless, the Knicks could be silly to imagine Indy can’t beat a wholesome workforce. You may name them fortunate, but in addition label them plucky.
Minnesota Timberwolves
> “Scorching”
Exhausting to imagine, however at February’s end, the Wolves have been combating for a playoff spot. They have been 32-29 within the unforgiving Western Convention as they sat on the sting, hoping a gusty wind would blow them in the suitable route.
And now? If the assumption that the most well liked and healthiest workforce has one of the best likelihood to win an NBA championship holds, then pencil within the Wolves as a robust favourite. Minnesota has misplaced solely thrice since March 28, playoffs included, and is 25-6 since March 1. It needed to end sturdy within the common season, then saved the fireplace burning by the primary two rounds.
Julius Randle’s scoring common is up 5 factors for the reason that common season. And he’s wholesome — not like his previous playoff runs with the Knicks. Plus, we haven’t even talked about Anthony Edwards but.
The Wolves have to faucet into extra offensive assets, given they’re averaging simply 108 factors, which their protection is permitting them to get away with.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
> “Stressed”
As in, The Younger and the Stressed. The long-held and standard basketball pondering is that younger groups like OKC’s should wait their flip, pay their dues and undergo the fireplace earlier than sniffing a championship. The Thunder wish to debunk that with a sledgehammer, and so they’re able to doing so.
OKC is rising up on the fly and had a crucial coming-to-Earth expertise when the Nuggets took them to seven games in the semis. A 68-win common season workforce can solely get stronger from that, and perhaps after such a dominant season, the Thunder wanted to be taught what stress tasted like.
It could possibly be that no workforce will check OKC like that once more the remainder of the way in which. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the cornerstone that each would-be champion wants, and the depth and protection of OKC is the envy of all remaining playoff groups.
It could possibly be that youth is about to get served … a title.
Jalen Williams and a trio of reserves helped key the Thunder’s closeout win over Denver.
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Shaun Powell has coated the NBA for greater than 25 years. You may e-mail him here, discover his archive here and follow him on X.
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