{"id":78281,"date":"2024-05-21T14:00:53","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T18:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=78281"},"modified":"2026-03-10T23:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T03:48:11","slug":"the-four-possible-nba-finals-matchups-ranked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/21\/the-four-possible-nba-finals-matchups-ranked\/","title":{"rendered":"The Four Possible NBA Finals Matchups Ranked"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the NBA conference finals kicking off\u00a0<\/span>today<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0time to think about possible NBA finals matchups. Many of the remaining teams are surprising\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0the four possible finals matchups\u00a0<\/span>all<\/span>\u00a0offer different levels of intrigue.\u00a0<\/span>Let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>dive into ranking<\/span>\u00a0these four possible matchups from worst to best based on potential entertainment, competition, and overall intrigue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Four Possible NBA Finals Matchups Ranked<\/h2>\n

4. Timberwolves-Pacers<\/span><\/h3>\n

Given the\u00a0<\/span>Timberwolves’<\/span>\u00a0dominance in the playoffs and how the Pacers\u00a0<\/span>haven\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0stood out even against injury-riddled squads\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0would likely be the least competitive of all the possible matchups. The Timberwolves would\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0all\u00a0<\/span>likelihood<\/span>\u00a0handle the Pacers in four to five games with plenty of blowout wins.\u00a0<\/span>Minnesota\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0top-ranked<\/a> defense\u00a0<\/span>is crafted<\/span>\u00a0to stop the Pacers even though they have a top-three<\/a> offense. Anthony Edwards<\/a> and Jaden McDaniels<\/a> are\u00a0<\/span>perfectly<\/span>\u00a0suited to contain Tyrese Haliburton<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Timberwolves<\/span>\u00a0frontcourt\u00a0<\/span>size<\/span>\u00a0highlighted by Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a>, Rudy Gobert<\/a>, and Naz Reid<\/a> off the\u00a0<\/span>bench<\/span>\u00a0would also provide plenty of challenges to the undersized Pacers.\u00a0<\/span>Minnesota\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0size would also allow them to contain Pascal Siakam<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0has been brilliant in the playoffs. This matchup does feature some intrigue on paper\u00a0<\/span>as<\/span>\u00a0Edwards and Haliburton are considered the best two players from the 2020 draft class<\/a>. Both teams have notably never won a championship<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>so<\/span>\u00a0it would be a great story.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Additionally,<\/span>\u00a0the idea of an elite offense and an elite defense squaring off is interesting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>However, based on what\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019ve<\/span>\u00a0seen in the playoffs and how these teams\u00a0<\/span>truly<\/span>\u00a0match up, these finals would be\u00a0<\/span>very<\/span>\u00a0uncompetitive.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Mavericks-Pacers<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to odds from FanDuel, this is the most unlikely finals matchup. It would also be perhaps the most unlikely finals matchup in NBA history as it would feature a fifth versus sixth seed. However, the chances of this being a more competitive series than the Timberwolves-Pacers are very high. The matchup features two of the\u00a0<\/span>league\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0top-ten offenses<\/a> and two below-average defenses<\/a>, w<\/span>hich<\/span>\u00a0would result in plenty of high-scoring games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore<\/span>, both teams are toward the top of the league in three-point attempts<\/a> and three-point percentage<\/a>. The three-point variance adds an element of unpredictability. Ultimately\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0star backcourt of Luka Doncic<\/a> and Kyrie Irving<\/a> gives the Mavs a clear advantage, especially against the league’s 24th-ranked defense. Regardless, this surprising matchup would\u00a0<\/span>have some potential to<\/span>\u00a0be entertaining and competitive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Celtics-Mavericks\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Celtics and Mavericks always seem to have competitive matchups. The elite backcourt of Luka and Kyrie against the\u00a0<\/span>Celtics’<\/span>\u00a0historic offense is incredibly intriguing. As is the matchup between Jayson Tatum<\/a> and Luka competing for their first-ever ring. Furthermore, both Kyrie and Kristaps Porzingis<\/a> would be going against their former teammates. <\/span><\/p>\n

Basketball-wise\u00a0<\/span>both<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>teams’<\/span>\u00a0reliance on the three-point shot adds to the entertainment and unpredictability of this potential matchup. Watching how the Celtics\u00a0<\/span>would<\/span>\u00a0defend Luka and Kyrie would also be incredibly interesting. With Jrue Holiday<\/a> and Derrick White<\/a>, the Celtics have the best defensive backcourt in the league. They also could throw Jaylen Brown<\/a> or Tatum, on one of the\u00a0<\/span>Mavs\u2019<\/span>\u00a0guards, for some extra size. Of course, the Celtics would have to double Luka and Kyrie at some points. At the same time\u00a0<\/span>closing<\/span>\u00a0out on the\u00a0<\/span>Mavericks\u2019<\/span>\u00a0shooters would be essential for the Celtics. <\/span><\/p>\n

As the second-ranked defense<\/a> in the league, this is all\u00a0<\/span>very<\/span>\u00a0doable for Boston nonetheless it’s complicated. Additionally,\u00a0<\/span>Porzingis\u2019<\/span>\u00a0health<\/a> will be\u00a0<\/span>important<\/span>\u00a0as he would have to contain the\u00a0<\/span>Mavs\u2019<\/span>\u00a0lob threats in Dereck Lively<\/a> and Daniel Gafford<\/a> while providing a similar interior presence on offense. Ultimately\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0series projects to be a six to seven-game thriller and a possible finals classic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Celtics-Timberwolves\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The most probable NBA finals matchup is also the most exciting possibility. In the regular season, these teams delivered\u00a0<\/span>two<\/span>\u00a0incredible overtime games\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0the two teams splitting the series. Notably, this matchup would pair the top offense<\/a> against the top defense.\u00a0<\/span>Both the<\/span>\u00a0possibility of the Celtics finally breaking through and winning a title or Edwards leading the Timberwolves to a surprising title at just 22 years old<\/a> is\u00a0<\/span>very exciting<\/span>. Matchup-wise\u00a0<\/span>seeing<\/span>\u00a0Edwards and McDaniels<\/a> defend the Js is very intriguing\u00a0<\/span>as<\/span>\u00a0the two had solid success defending the elite wing duo in the regular season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Porzingis\u2019<\/span>\u00a0health<\/a> will be even more crucial in this series\u00a0<\/span>considering<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Minnesota\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0elite frontcourt size<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span>\u00a0could ultimately make or break the season for Boston.\u00a0<\/span>Additionally<\/span>, seeing how the\u00a0<\/span>Timberwolves’<\/span>\u00a0defense would react to the\u00a0<\/span>Celtics’<\/span>\u00a0elite floor spacing would be fascinating. Can the Celtics neutralize\u00a0<\/span>Minnesota\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0defense by forcing the bigs, especially Gobert, to defend the perimeter more? Conventional wisdom suggests yes<\/span>, however<\/span>, this\u00a0<\/span>wasn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0the case against the shooting and perimeter play of the Suns and Nuggets. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the flip side, how will the Celtics defend Ant and Kat? In the regular season, Brown was the most effective<\/a> on Edwards. However, White, Holiday, and even Tatum will likely all spend time defending him. The Celtics will also need\u00a0<\/span>Tatum\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0size and physical strength to defend Towns\u00a0<\/span>however<\/span>, throwing the\u00a0<\/span>smaller<\/span>\u00a0yet masterful defender Holiday on him is something to keep an eye on. Overall, these two dominant teams would have the potential to produce an ultra six to seven-game series and an NBA finals classic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the NBA conference finals kicking off\u00a0today\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0time to think about possible NBA finals matchups. Many of the remaining teams are surprising\u00a0and\u00a0the four possible finals matchups\u00a0all\u00a0offer different levels of intrigue.\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0dive into ranking\u00a0these four possible matchups from worst to best based on potential entertainment, competition, and overall intrigue.\u00a0 The Four Possible NBA Finals Matchups Ranked 4. Timberwolves-Pacers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4779,"featured_media":78286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,5,30,11,21],"tags":[49245,2109,4840,1090,2559,450,798,239,213,138,406,1133,1881,407,1754,2607],"class_list":["post-78281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-mavericks","category-pacers","category-timberwolves","tag-2024-nba-finals","tag-anthony-edwards","tag-dereck-lively-ii","tag-derrick-white","tag-jaden-mcdaniels","tag-jaylen-brown","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-jrue-holiday","tag-karl-anthony-towns","tag-kristaps-porzingis","tag-kyrie-irving","tag-luka-doncic","tag-naz-reid","tag-nba-finals","tag-pascal-siakam","tag-tyrese-haliburton"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4779"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78281"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181018,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78281\/revisions\/181018"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}