NBA Team Playoff Power Rankings: Conference Finals

With the NBA playoff field down to the final four, the picture for who can win the Larry O’Brien Trophy is now clearer than ever. Each remaining team has had to navigate a gauntlet to make it to this point and has proven to be a true championship contender. Let’s examine the four remaining teams in the playoffs and see who stands out as the strongest.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

While some may question the championship capabilities of the Thunder after struggling to put away a hobbled but feisty Denver Nuggets team, they proved they are ready to meet the moment despite their youth and playoff inexperience. The two biggest calling cards for the Thunder have been both defense and incredible depth.

They showed both in spades against the Nuggets. The acquisition of All-Defensive Guard Alex Caruso, as well as the emergence of Jalen Williams, has taken this young Thunder squad from an up-and-coming team to a championship favorite in record time. It’s also why they retain the top spot in my playoff power rankings.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves

Not many teams in NBA history have had a turnaround season similar to this Minnesota Timberwolves team. They were predicted to be quickly dispatched by a loaded Los Angeles Lakers team in round one. Fast forward a month since the start of the playoffs, and the Timberwolves are knocking on the door of the NBA Finals once again.

The mixture of stellar play from the Wolves’ dynamic duo of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, as well as the veteran leadership and stability from players like Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, has propelled them. The Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t have asked for a worse matchup in the conference finals than this battle-tested Timberwolves team.

3. Indiana Pacers

As much as the detractors of the Pacers may say this team has been lucky in facing other teams struggling with injuries to key players in the playoffs, their overall play of this team can’t be ignored. While every team on this list outside of the Pacers possesses more star power, the balanced approach of Indiana is the key reason this franchise is in its second straight conference finals.

Spearheaded by the best floor general in the NBA in Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers currently sport the top offense in the playoffs. Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle has done a masterful job identifying which lineup combinations can give Indiana a consistent punch on offense. No other team has as much offensive firepower as the Pacers. It is why they have an advantage over their conference finals opponent in the New York Knicks.

4. New York Knicks

Speaking of the Knicks, New York fans will certainly raise their eyebrows at this ranking of a Knicks team that has defied expectations these playoffs. However, many questions remain for this Knicks team despite their gentlemen’s sweep of the defending champion Boston Celtics last round.

One of those questions revolves around how much gas is left in the tank for the Knicks’ starters. All five starters for the Knicks are currently averaging over 35 minutes per game in the playoffs, with both OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges clocking over 40 minutes per game. The lack of depth and trust in the bench by the Knicks could spell doom for them against a deeper and more potent offensive juggernaut like the Pacers.