Gamble Picks: Predicting the NBA Conference Finals

The intensity of the NBA Playoffs has been really fun to watch. Fans have been brought to the edge of their seats after a promising campaign where they came up with massive strides to beat the odds and come out on top of the semis. Now, there’s just one more big leap to take before two of these four teams can punch their tickets to the NBA Finals.

Who are the Teams Left in the NBA Playoffs?

The Playoffs started with 16 teams entering the highly competitive playoff atmosphere, and then there were eight, and now there are four. The road to the NBA Finals is never easy for any team, and teams that are left standing at this point deserve all the praise for their composure and elite mentality to weather the storm amidst all the pressure and the chaos that transpires in the Playoffs. But now who are the last four teams standing on the verge of making it to the Finals?

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics image

The Boston Celtics may have lost Kristaps Porzingis after that first-round win over their rivals Miami Heat (who also didn’t have Jimmy Butler for the entire series), but the team remains a contender to look out for as they have shown their resilience to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers who were also shorthanded with injuries to Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. Still, availability is the best ability, and the whole Celtics squad have demonstrated their ability to step up in big games as well. The squad clearly runs 12 deep more than any other roster among teams left in the final four of the playoffs.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Well, the Wolves are not done shocking the league with the way they are playing right now. Anthony Edwards turned up the volume in beating the Phoenix Suns in a 4-0 sweep, ignoring the star power he faced. What’s big is that the Wolves even forced the defending champions Denver Nuggets to seven games, and even overcame a 20-point deficit to beat them at home to clinch their spot in the Conference Finals. This is going to be a landmark season for Edwards as he leads the rest of the team – the best defense in the NBA – to the grandest stage of them all.

Minnesota Timberwolves image

Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers image

The Indiana Pacers are defying the odds while also finding their form late in the season. From being seen as a fluke after making it to the final of the In-Season Tournament, all the way to reaching the Conference Finals, it does seem that the Pacers are ready to grind their way to the NBA Finals and make history once more. Tyrese Haliburton has been phenomenal in their series against the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks, overcoming pressure and delivering big, especially with the addition of Pascal Siakam to give them a star firepower.

Dallas Mavericks

This has been a big year for the Dallas Mavericks so far, knocking out the Big Four of the Los Angeles Clippers and then taking down the youngest 1st seed in the Oklahoma City Thunder on their way to the Conference Finals. Jason Kidd deserves a lot of credit for making it work with his revamped squad after the trade deadline. It was Daniel Gafford who has been a massive addition to a squad that already has Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving – both known well as big-time playoff performers. The rise of Dereck Lively II has been phenomenal as well, and it says a lot about the confidence that this team is rolling with now more than ever.

Dallas Mavericks image

Matchup Predictions: Conference Finals

The Conference Finals is one of the biggest stages that fans should keep an eye out for considering that it is going to be an all-out war between the fiery teams in the two conferences. This says a lot about the massive expectations that are set for the coming series considering that the four teams left are brewing some hot rivalries to remember.

Here are the two playoff series that you should take note of.

Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics (1) vs Indiana Pacers (5)

Interestingly, this is a matchup that you would not believe the stats considering that the Celtics won the season series at 3-2. Still, Indiana has been efficient against the Celtics in the season, and the playoffs may be a different beast but it is expected that the series will likely be a fun one to watch. The Celtics haven’t faced adversity in their playoff campaign yet, while the Pacers had to battle hard in order to come up with a trip to the Conference Finals. However, it cannot be denied that the Celtics are experienced enough to handle the pressure that will come from this series.

Boston vs Indiana image

Kristaps Porzingis’ availability will be a key factor in this series. The Celtics big man is known well for being a flexible force in the paint, and that is what exactly Boston needs against Indiana. We all know how Myles Turner can be dominant in the post, and with Luke Kornet and Al Horford being the only there to meet him, it is easy to expect that even Pascal Siakam can thrive on that side as well. Boston will have to rely on its sharpshooters if they are going to steal this series away and ensure a return to the NBA Finals.

Gamble Pick Prediction: Indiana in 6

Western Conference Finals: Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs Dallas Mavericks (5)

Well, this is certainly going to be a generational matchup to remember, and no one can deny the fact that the Dallas Mavericks are going to have a tough time against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The key to their victory in this series is to take out the offense in Anthony Edwards and take their gamble with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. Still, it is hard to shut down a lethal scorer in Edwards considering how well he has played in the playoffs this year. On the other side, Minnesota’s defense will be the key to disrupting the high-octane offense of the Mavs and turning it into their own offensive victory.

Minnesota vs Dallas image

Luka Doncic will have to step up in his games against Minnesota if the Mavs are going to win. They are an even match with a lot of different shifts on the role players – which will be another huge factor to look out for. While Minnesota won the season series at 3-1, they didn’t have much chance to play against the revamped Mavericks – which is another big question that fans have to look out for. The likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaden McDaniels will have to step up on both ends of the floor if Minnesota will have to steal a promising victory to remember – and a trip to the NBA Finals.

Gamble Pick Prediction: Minnesota in 7

Don’t Miss the NBA Conference Finals Action!

This year’s Conference Finals will be a series of matchups to remember, and this is why you should not miss the latest and hottest battles that will take place in the coming weeks. Make sure to watch every single game unfold and take a risk by placing wagers on which team you think has a chance to move on to the NBA Finals!

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