The NBA's Final Four has been established, featuring a surprising Eastern Conference matchup between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, alongside a Western Conference showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves. The inclusion of these teams highlights a distinct sense of parity in this year's playoffs. Among the four franchises, the Knicks stand out as the most recent title winners, claiming the championship in 1972-73, while the other three have yet to hoist the NBA trophy. As the Timberwolves face the Thunder on Tuesday night, the anticipation grows for what promises to be an exhilarating pair of series.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, several players are poised to be key contributors. OG Anunoby could exert significant two-way influence against his former Toronto Raptors teammate, Pascal Siakam. Meanwhile, Aaron Nesmith offers the defensive grit needed to challenge scorers like Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. Josh Hart consistently proves to be an unpredictable factor on the court, but the player likely to make the most substantial winning impact, without necessarily reflecting it in scoring figures, is Mitchell Robinson. Despite averaging only 4.7 points per game in the second-round series against the Boston Celtics, the 7-foot backup center showcased his defensive prowess by pulling down 8.0 rebounds and recording 1.0 steals in just under 21 minutes per game, with the Knicks excelling during his time on the floor.

The Pacers triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games but ranked last in rebounding during the series, highlighting a potential weakness that Robinson could exploit. In contrast to Pacers’ Myles Turner, Robinson's physicality could prove crucial in this matchup. Transitioning to the Western Conference, Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves is emerging as one of the most prolific postseason scorers, currently holding a top-ten all-time playoff scoring average of 27.4 points per game. However, he faces a challenging defensive opponent in the Thunder, who ranked first in defensive ratings during the regular season and have continued their strong play in the playoffs. With a lineup full of agile defenders available to counter Edwards’ versatility, including Lu Dort and Jalen Williams, the pressure will be on him in this pivotal series.