Who Wants It More? A Deep Dive into the 2025 NBA Conference Finalists
Preview the NBA Conference Finals with in-depth analysis of the Timberwolves, Thunder, Pacers, and Knicks. Key X-factors and predictions for the championship series! Edition #246
It’s time, people, for the NBA Conference Championships. It’s crazy that we’re just some weeks away from this NBA season being over. It’s been a wild ride, with crazy trades1 and so much more.
The final 4 teams are set, with the first 2 playing today at 8:30 EST and the next 2 playing tomorrow at 8 EST. We have the Timberwolves, the Thunder, the Pacers, and the Knicks. Yes, you’re looking at that correctly. No Cavs.
Timberwolves:
Out of all these teams, you could say that it was the Timberwolves with the easiest route to the conference championship. I mean, this team literally played against a Warriors team that had no Steph Curry. Honestly, Warriors fans should not have hoped to win that conference championship after they saw Curry go down in game 1. That win gave them lots of courage and hope, though.
For the Timberwolves:
Anthony Edwards currently ranks 3rd in player impact, with an estimated 16.7.
Julius Randle comes in 6th.
Rudy Gobert is 6th in defensive rating, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is 8th.
Jaden McDaniels comes in 8th in net rating.
Anthony Edwards comes in 5th in usage percentage.
Julius Randle comes in 7th.
Randle also comes in 6th in assist percentage, while Edwards comes in 8th. Mike Conley comes in 2nd in assist ratio. Donte DiVincenzo comes in 9th. Mike Conley comes in 2nd in AST/TO. Naz Reid comes in 3rd in effective field goal percentage. Rudy Gobert comes in 5th. Jaden McDaniels comes in 10th.
Naz Reid comes in 3rd in true shooting percentage. Jaden McDaniels comes in 8th. Julius Randle comes in 10th. Rudy Gobert comes in 3rd in offensive rebound percentage. He also came in 5th in defensive rebound percentage. Anthony Edwards comes in 9th in that category. Rudy Gobert came in 2nd in rebound percentage. Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo both rank in the top 10 in turnover percentage.
What I see through these stats is that everyone on the team is in on the action, and it’s not just one or two people carrying the entire team on their backs to the championship.
They’re playing the OKC Thunder in the conference championship. This is going to be an interesting matchup—one that could either be really close or could be a blowout. Here’s why.
Thunder:
The Oklahoma City Thunder lead in:
Deflections per Game
Deflection Totals
Loose Balls Recovered Per Game
Loose Ball Recovered Totals
Charges Drawn Per Game
Charges Drawn Totals
Contested Threes Per Game
Contested Threes Totals
This is a team that can get to the free-throw line in the clutch, and is incredibly athletic, leading in blocks in the clutch as well.
Well, then, you also have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He’s top 10 in 7 of the 15 advanced stats, and is averaging 29 points a game in this playoff run. In their recent game against the Nuggets, SGA scored 35 points, making plays that only benefit the team.
Then you have weapons like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams that are doing their part, assisting SGA. Holmgren with solid all-around performances (including a double-double in Game 7), and Jalen Williams with his clutch performances and his 3-ball (led the charge for the Thunder in Game 7).
It definitely got a little close against the Nuggets, especially because they’re defending seed 1, but they didn’t get eliminated. If you didn’t consider this team real contenders before, you'd better now.
Pacers:
The Indiana Pacers have pulled out one of the biggest upsets in NBA history. At least, that’s what I think when you knock down the #1 seed. A #1 seed, I don’t think anyone had losing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
When looking at 15 advanced categories, the Pacers have 22 players (spread across all categories; repeating) ranking in the top 10. They have a well-balanced team, with playmakers at every end. That’s how they were able to beat the Cavaliers up very well.
The Pacers have a liability, though. His name is Bennedict Mathurin. He’s been struggling defensively all playoffs long, and if the Knicks are even slightly interested in winning this game, they need to go after him. He needs to step up his game if the Pacers want to win against the Knicks. They may have won against the Cavs, but this is conference championship basketball.
The Pacers did not blow the Cavaliers out. They won. Strategically. It’s also because this guy was hot:
In all honesty, if the Pacers are able to expose the Knicks’ liabilities on defense in Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns, and as long as Tyrese Haliburton doesn’t go cold, the Pacers have a very good chance of winning this series and moving onto the NBA Finals.
Knicks:
My finals pick is still alive. Finally, one of my predictions is closing in the right direction.
We all know what this Knicks team can do. They just took down the Boston Celtics, the defending champions, who wanted this badly. Unfortunately, a mix of a humongous Jayson Tatum injury, the Knicks’ performance on both ends of the court, and the Celtics’ struggles in critical situations. Not like there were many of them towards the end of the game, because aside from Games 1 and 2, everything was around 10+ points.
This is something huge for the Knicks, who are advancing to their first conference finals since 2000. A quarter of a century ago.
But if there’s anyone the Pacers need to watch, it’s this guy:
Jalen Brunson.
I know there are 4 other players in the starting lineup, but if you ask me to summarize the Knicks’ season, all I need to show you are a couple of clips of Jalen Brunson and his magic.
Dude, these stats—except for the blocks—but that’s totally fine—are awesome.
This team is exciting to watch.
Timberwolves vs Thunder:
Regular Season Series:
Timberwolves won 3–1
The Timberwolves had the edge in the regular season, winning three of the four games.
Anthony Edwards consistently had strong outings against the Thunder, while OKC struggled with Minnesota’s size in the paint, especially Gobert and Towns.
Chet Holmgren, while solid, struggled to stay efficient against Minnesota’s frontcourt defense.
However, in the final regular-season game, OKC pulled out a win with a big performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who torched the Wolves’ perimeter defense.
The Timberwolves’ length and interior defense bothered OKC all season, but playoff SGA is a different beast. This matchup is a contrast in styles: Minnesota’s size vs. OKC’s speed and chaos. If OKC controls the tempo, the series could flip fast.
Pacers vs. Knicks
Regular Season Series:
Knicks won 2–1
The Knicks took two of the three matchups, though all games were relatively close.
Jalen Brunson averaged over 30 points against Indiana during the season and was highly efficient.
The Pacers’ up-tempo offense clashed with the Knicks’ more physical, grind-it-out style — New York often controlled the pace and forced Indiana into half-court sets, where their defense thrives.
Indiana’s one win came when Haliburton went nuclear and the Knicks struggled with three-point defense.
Context Takeaway:
The Knicks’ physicality and elite rebounding have historically worn Indiana down, but the Pacers are one of the league’s top teams in pace and ball movement. This is a classic contrast of fast vs. force, and whichever team controls tempo will likely control the series.
🐺 Timberwolves X-Factor: Naz Reid
Why: Reid is a stretch big who can score in bunches off the bench, and he’s been incredibly efficient (top 3 in both true shooting and eFG%). Against OKC’s smaller frontcourt, Reid’s versatility could be a matchup nightmare.
Watch for: How OKC handles his pick-and-pop game and whether they can neutralize his shooting without sacrificing rim protection.
⚡ Thunder X-Factor: Isaiah Joe
Why: Joe spaces the floor and brings instant offense off the bench. If Minnesota overloads on SGA or collapses on Chet, Joe's three-point shooting becomes a huge weapon.
Watch for: If he gets hot from deep, it forces Minnesota’s defense to stretch, which opens up driving lanes for SGA and Jalen Williams.
🟡 Pacers X-Factor: Andrew Nembhard
Why: Nembhard is a low-key two-way stabilizer. He can handle the ball when Haliburton sits and defends opposing guards. He’ll likely spend time guarding Brunson — no small task.
Watch for: Can he slow Brunson just enough to force the Knicks into tougher offensive sets?
🔷 Knicks X-Factor: Josh Hart
Why: He’s a stat-sheet stuffer and emotional leader. Hart crashes the glass, defends multiple positions, and hits timely shots. His rebounding as a guard has been game-changing this postseason.
Watch for: How often he disrupts Indiana’s fast pace by grabbing boards, diving for loose balls, or making hustle plays that swing momentum.
So, who’s ready for conference championship basketball? Let’s go!