Conference Finals Preview | Top 10 Players Remaining in the Playoffs
Here is my preview of the 2024 Eastern and Western Conference Finals, along with a power ranking of the top ten players still active this postseason.
Eastern Conference Finals: (1) Boston vs (6) Indiana
The East sees a David vs Goliath matchup to determine the conference champion for 2024. Boston has been the best team all season and appears to have an all-time easy path to the NBA finals. If Indiana can keep the electric pace that they prefer and stay hot from three, maybe they can take a page out of last year’s Miami Heat playbook and slay the beast in an upset for the ages. Without Kristaps Porzingis for at least the first half of the series, it will be interesting to see how Boston deals with the length of Indiana. All in all, I think the Celtics get the job done in a competitive but shorter series. As good as Indiana has been as a team, I believe the Celtics have the two best players in the series and enough help outside of the “Js” to fend off the hungry and always-game Pacers. Game one had just wrapped up by the time this was published and after a nip-and-tuck first game, I could see a longer series but will stick with my original prediction.
Prediction: Boston over Indiana in 5 Games
Western Conference Finals: (3) Minnesota vs (5) Dallas
This series is a fascinating one. Two drastically different styles, which team will have their way? Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards look to make their case for being the best player on the planet with Jokic eliminated and the “title” potentially being vacant. Can Dallas use their athleticism and floor spacing to once again bring back the playoff struggles that have haunted Rudy Gobert in the past? Can Minnesota’s defense pick up where they left off against the defending champs and slow down this explosive Mavericks offense? I originally leaned Wolves when the series was set, but I’ll go against the grain and take Dallas. Luka and Kyrie haven’t had any offensive explosions this postseason that we know they’re capable of and I think we are in for some special performances this series.
Prediction: Dallas over Minnesota in 7 Games
Top 10 Players left in the postseason:
Anthony Edwards
Playoff stats: 28.9 PPG, 6.2 REB, 5.9 AST, 1.7 STL, 50.4 FG%
The best two-way guard in the league, which separates him from Luka for the time being. Even in game seven against Denver without his shot falling, Edwards impacted the game in a multitude of other ways as the greats do and made plays when it counted most down the stretch.
Luka Doncic
Playoff stats: 27.3 PPG, 9.7 REB, 9.1 AST, 1.4 STL, 42.3 FG%
The most electric offensive weapon still playing has also bought in more on the defensive side of the ball. A career 31-9-8 playoff performer is coming off the worst series of his young career, which is saying something because he still put up a 25-11-9 stat line and sent the top seed home.
Jayson Tatum
Playoff stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.4 REB, 5.8 AST, 1.0 STL, 43.0 FG%
The best player on the Vegas favorite to win it all. A dominant two-way wing who can win over even his harshest critics with a successful run to a championship. An underrated rebounder and playmaker who can be valuable even without scoring at a high clip.
Jaylen Brown
Playoff stats: 23.1 PPG, 6.6 REB, 2.5 AST, 0.7 STL, 55.4 FG%
The best “Robin” out of the four remaining teams, and potentially the entire NBA. For a majority of the first two rounds, Brown has been the best Celtic on the court and impacts the game on both ends with his athleticism.
Kyrie Irving
Playoff stats: 21.1 PPG, 5.4 AST, 4.0 REB, 1.4 STL, 48.2 FG%
Despite not being as aggressive as many believed he would in the first two rounds, his playmaking and defensive effort have allowed him to impact games more than ever before without lighting up the scoreboard. He has had multiple big-time strips defensively in key moments, which has helped Dallas get to this point. At his best, with his proven big-game shot-making, Irving has a case to be a spot higher and I feel is due for a breakout performance or two this series.
Tyrese Haliburton
Playoff stats: 18.8 PPG, 8.1 AST, 5.0 REB, 1.2 STL, 49.2 FG%
A superb floor general who has seen ups and downs since returning to injury, but finds himself leading his squad to the conference finals. When his shot is falling, he can be unstoppable and his ability to get others involved has helped the Pacers be the only team with seven double-figure scores this postseason.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Playoff stats: 18.8 PPG, 9.3 REB, 2.8 AST, 0.7 STL, 51.7 FG%
For a guy who has been referred to as “soft”, Towns without a doubt showed he has some “dawg” in him against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets last round. The best shooting seven-footer in league history has been 44% from downtown these playoffs and has fit in nicely as the power forward next to Rudy Gobert.
Pascal Siakam
Playoff stats: 21.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.5 AST, 0.8 STL, 53.7 FG%
In games where Haliburton has struggled, Siakam has picked up the load and showed his championship pedigree. A long, athletic, wing who will need to be on his “A-game” if the Pacers are to advance to the NBA finals.
Rudy Gobert
Playoff stats: 12.2 PPG, 10.9 REB, 1.7 AST, 1.1 BLK, 1.0 STL, 60.9 FG%
For a guy whose stock used to plummet every time the postseason came around, Rudy Gobert is in the process of rewriting that narrative. Besides the game he missed, he has had the largest +/- impact of any player these playoffs and has done a great job in his help-defender “roaming” role.
Derrick White
Playoff stats: 18.2 PPG, 3.8 REB, 3.8 AST, 0.9 BLK, 48.5 FG%
How can you not respect Derrick White? The ultimate glue guy, who blocks more shots than some seven-footers and you don’t want to let get going offensively.