A potential NBA Finals matchup is brewing between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, who both have taken 3-1 leads in their respective conference finals. The Thunder will look to close out the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Wednesday, while the Pacers aim to eliminate the New York Knicks from Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
Both teams have shown impressive form in the playoffs, with the Pacers having overcome significant challenges to reach this point. They dispatched a strong Milwaukee Bucks team and stunned the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, before outlasting the defending champion Boston Celtics.
In contrast, the Thunder has cruised through the first and third rounds but was pushed to the limit by a Nuggets team led by Nikola Jokic. However, Oklahoma City’s young core has demonstrated significant growth and maturity, particularly in sustaining its high level of play throughout the postseason.
The real question is whether Tyrese Haliburton can be considered a top 10 player in the NBA. Nadkarni argues that while Haliburton doesn’t possess elite individual talent, he is an elite table-setting point guard who excels in clutch situations and has been built around him to amplify his team’s strengths.
Greif takes a different view, stating that Haliburton could be considered top 15 based on the annual All-NBA teams. He believes that Haliburton meets the criteria for being the best player on a legitimate championship team, showcasing exceptional efficiency with the ball, making his teammates better, and handling pressure well.
The Timberwolves have been struggling in the conference finals, while the Knicks have had a mixed bag of performances. However, Greif believes that the Knicks still have a good chance to come back, citing their ability to make adjustments and capitalize on opportunities.
Ultimately, both teams face significant challenges in their respective series. The Thunder’s young core must continue to rise to the occasion, while the Pacers must find ways to close out games against a determined Knicks team.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nba/knicks-timberwolves-are-fighting-playoff-lives-rcna209464