If you had told me at this season’s All-Star break that both the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves would be back in the Conference Finals, silencing all talk that last season was merely a fluke, and that both the Cleveland Cavaliers and reigning champions Boston Celtics would be out of the running – the latter by the New York Knicks, no less – I would have likely ordered the same thing you were drinking. 

But this is what makes the NBA Playoffs so captivating—the unpredictability of it all, especially in these past few seasons. We’re no longer in the Cavs-versus-Warriors-for-four-years-in-a-row era. Rather, this season, this Conference Finals, could prove historic for each one of these four contenders. With only a few hours remaining till tip-off, here’s how I think these two series are going to pan out. 

Oklahoma City Thunder (1) v. Minnesota Timberwolves (6) 

The easy answer here is to go with the NBA’s most-winningest team and the one with the league’s soon-to-be MVP. However, after watching OKC’s series with Denver, this team isn’t as impenetrable as I previously thought. As a very young team, they still make some very young mistakes. Shai also seemed a bit more bothered by Jokic and his crew. Now, the Timberwolves aren’t Jokic and his crew, but they do have a guy by the name of Anthony Edwards who, just like last season, has turned up the intensity in his play to take down the Warriors. 

However, a single player can’t win an NBA game, let alone a Conference Finals series. OKC are far too deep and have proven themselves in this postseason. Still, I don’t doubt Ant-Man and his squad take this to six or seven games. In either case, I’m taking OKC to make it out in the end after a hard-fought series. Though I won’t lie, a part of me is rooting for Minnesota, as winning this series will lead to the franchise’s first-ever Finals appearance.  

New York Knicks (3) v. Indiana Pacers (4)

Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, and Stephen A. are going to be insufferable for the next week, aren’t they? But I get it. This is the Knicks and Pacers—in the Conference Finals. This is the year 2000 all over again. It’s Reggie Miller doing the “choke” celebration at Spike Lee in 1995. There’s history here, and I’m here for it. So, who gets crowned the Kings of the East? Big Body Brunson or Haliburton and his cast of misfits? The Pacers are one of the fastest teams in the league. With how much Thibodeau relies on his starting five, this could prove an issue for the Knicks in regards to fatigue—it has in the past. The Pacers have also been one of the most efficient teams shooting the rock for the past few months, something that’s helped them immensely this postseason. 

That being said, the Knicks have proved, time and time again, that they are relentless. Coming back down 20 in back-to-back games against the Celtics, and being flat-out incredible in the clutch. They also have more experience than the Pacers, which counts for more than people think. This one is going to be another nail-biter, but I’m going to give the edge to the Knicks, who I think will make it to the finals for the first time in decades after a tough six or seven-game series against Indiana. 

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