With both the NBA and Stanley Cup Playoffs in high gear, let’s go right ahead and preview the Conference Finals matchups!
Western Conference Finals
Oklahoma City vs. Minnesota
Well, here we are!! OKC and Minnesota are more than worthy of headlining a Playoffs series of this magnitude, especially when a trip to the NBA Finals is on the line. The Thunder has that dude Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, who may win the MVP, Chet Holmgren, a strong defensive linchpin in Alex Caruso, and what I love is that OKC truly plays as a complete team. So does the T-Wolves as they are led by “Ant Man” Anthony Williams, four-time Defensive Player of the year in Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Mike Conley; so the key, I think, in this series is how both benches perform. And both teams are top five in the Playoffs in both steals and assists, while OKC is the best rebounding club remaining! Buckle up, basketball fans. This is going to be an all-time series.
Eastern Conference Finals
New York vs. Indiana
This right here is going to be an old-school, NBA heavyweight championship fight! The Pacers put the clamps down on Cleveland; now, they’re heading to the Big Apple for Game 1 from Madison Square Garden. Averaging 28.8 points and 7.7 assists, Jaylen Bruson is that dude!! If he can help lead the Knicks to their first NBA crown since 1973, he’ll be a God in that city. Same thing for Tyrese Haliburton if he can carry the Pacers to their first NBA title, and going back to 1973, as that was their third and last title in the ABA. I see this being a series of down-and-dirty defenses, as rebounding will play a huge role in who takes the series. According to NBA.com, NY has the advantage in defensive rating at 5th to Indiana’s 8th. However, the top defensive rebounding team in the playoffs goes to the Pacers.
Thank you so much for reading! I can’t wait to come back for both the NBA and Stanley Cup Finals!
