The NBA's Final Four is now determined, featuring the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks in a surprising Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. This year's matchups reflect a notable level of parity within the league. The New York Knicks are the most recent champions among the four franchises, claiming the title in the 1972-73 season, whereas the other three teams have yet to capture an NBA championship. As anticipation builds for the Wolves-Thunder clash scheduled for Tuesday night, analysts are making bold predictions regarding these intriguing series.

Several players are emerging as potential X-factors in the Eastern Conference Finals. OG Anunoby is expected to have a significant two-way impact, potentially facing off against his former Toronto Raptors teammate, Pascal Siakam. Additionally, Aaron Nesmith's defensive aptitude and versatility could be instrumental in limiting the effectiveness of players like Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. Josh Hart is recognized as a consistent X-factor each time he steps onto the court, but Mitchell Robinson stands out as a player capable of making substantial contributions that may not necessarily reflect in scoring. Robinson delivered a strong performance in the Knicks' second-round series against the Boston Celtics, where he averaged 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in approximately 20.7 minutes of play despite scoring only 4.7 points per game.

In contrast, the Pacers faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning their series in five games but ranking last in rebounding during the round. Mitchell Robinson's physicality may provide the Knicks with an advantage against Myles Turner, further shifting the series dynamics. In the Western Conference, Anthony Edwards is rapidly ascending as one of the league's premier postseason scorers, currently averaging 27.4 points per game, placing him among all-time greats like Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry in terms of scoring average. However, he might contend with a challenging matchup against the Thunder's formidable defense, which posted the best defensive rating during the regular season at 106.6 and has maintained dominance in the playoffs with a 101.6 rating. Oklahoma City's defense excels in isolation scenarios, and their array of athletic defenders, including Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, will be tasked with containing Edwards, potentially leading to a rare struggle for the young star.

The Indiana Pacers have effectively leveraged their roster depth throughout the season, successfully eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers with contributions coming from an extensive lineup. Notably, ten players for the Pacers averaged between 10.1 and 33.3 minutes per game in their second-round series. This strategy contrasts with the Knicks' approach, who relied primarily on their starting lineup, where each starter averaged more minutes than Indiana's most-utilized player, Andrew Nembhard. While the Pacers’ depth has served them well, they may find it more challenging to deploy their bench players effectively against a well-prepared Knicks team compared to their previous series against the Cavaliers. It is likely that the Pacers will begin Game 1 with their typical ten-man rotation before narrowing their focus to three key players: T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, and Obi Toppin.

The anticipated matchup between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards will be a focal point of the Western Conference Finals. However, Chet Holmgren, a Minneapolis native, will also play a crucial role in this series as an adaptable piece for the Thunder. Holmgren has been primarily utilized at power forward but will likely be instrumental in Oklahoma City’s strategy against the Timberwolves, especially due to his remarkable floor-spacing ability. Historically, very few players have achieved a five-block, five-three-point game in playoff history, a feat accomplished by Kawhi Leonard in 2016. Holmgren could potentially join this exclusive group in the upcoming series. Offensively, the Thunder may employ Holmgren in center positions during five-out lineups to create driving lanes for Gilgeous-Alexander while simultaneously benefitting from Holmgren's rim protection abilities.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the attention will be on clutch players Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton, both of whom have exhibited remarkable late-game performances. It is anticipated that they will continue this trend throughout the series, with each player likely to make critical contributions in close moments. Brunson earned the title of NBA Clutch Player of the Year and is enjoying a positive postseason with an impressive plus-minus rate. The Knicks have faced various challenges in the playoffs, overcoming significant deficits in games against the Pistons and Celtics to reach the Finals. Haliburton also boasts an impressive clutch record, helping the Pacers maintain their unbeaten marathon in such critical situations. According to recent statistics, playoff teams in trailing positions with less than one minute left in the fourth quarter have triumphed only three times in over 1,600 games since 1998. The Pacers are among those rare success stories in this context, providing a stunning comeback against the Cavaliers thanks to Haliburton's remarkable shooting.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are relying heavily on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's top scorer this season, as they progress to the Western Conference Finals. The franchise record for points in a single playoff game currently stands at 51, a record set by Russell Westbrook in 2017. The Thunder’s current circumstances bear resemblance to Westbrook's singular journey, particularly as some of their young talents like Jalen Williams have struggled in previous rounds. With increased stakes, the Thunder will likely continue to lean on Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring ability against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gilgeous-Alexander's regular-season performance against the Wolves was impressive, marking an average of 35.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists over four games while also showcasing a strong shooting percentage. While the Thunder would ideally prefer a more balanced scoring approach from their role players, it seems probable that Gilgeous-Alexander will deliver a standout performance, potentially setting a new franchise record for postseason scoring along the way.