NBA Playoffs – Conference Finals Takeaways

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks took care of business in the conference finals winning in 4 and 5 games, respectively. The Timberwolves and Pacers made it further than many people expected, while Boston is right where we all expected them to be. The Mavericks were a bit of a surprise beating three 50+ win teams in one playoff run.
 
I previously wrote about the first and second round as well. You can check those posts out in the links below.
 
 
Here are a few takeaways from the conference finals.

1. Dallas’ defense is elite

The Timberwolves had the best defense in the league, but the Maverick’s defense was superior. They were able to take away passing lanes and effective with double teams. They didn’t allow Edwards to have a great series and they were great at defending the perimeter, only allowing the Timberwolves to shoot 31% from deep.
 

2. The Maverick’s role players

Dallas’ role players have played a huge part to their successful post-season run. PJ Washington was the difference maker in their series against the Thunder having big games and making big shots. Derrick Jones Jr. has been a menace defending opponent’s best players, and the frontcourt duo of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II have been a force in the paint.
 

3. Anthony Edwards is just getting started

Anthony Edwards is only 22 years old and is transcending into superstardom. He put together incredible performances in the playoffs with multiple 40-point games and leading the Timberwolves further in the playoffs than many expected. He was, however, inconsistent throughout the playoffs with multiple games under 20 points. This was a good step in Edward’s development into becoming one of the best players in the league. He will only get better and will be back in the playoffs for years to come.
 

4. Boston’s easy road to the playoffs

Boston has been the best team all season, sporting a top 5 offense and defense, and their success continued into the playoffs. However, in every series they have played in, their opponent’s best player missed multiple games. Jimmy Butler missed the entire series, while Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Haliburton both missed 2 games. They are favored in the finals, as they should be, but they haven’t really been tested yet.
 

5. Jaylen Brown’s playoff excellence

Jaylen Brown had an incredible series against the Pacers, winning the conference finals MVP award. He displayed consistency and dominance in clutch moments. He’s also grown as a leader for this team and a steady voice in the locker room. We will see if his excellent performance continues in the finals against the Mavericks.
 

6. Indiana Pacer’s unexpected playoff run

No one expected the Pacers to make the conference finals. They had some luck with Giannis missing the first round and the Knicks injuries. Their pace and offensive efficiency have been their biggest strength this year, but their toughness and physicality are what led them to the conference finals. This was valuable experience for the young players, and they should come back next year even better.

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