NBA Playoffs: Ranking the Top Duos in the Conference Finals
John Canady
Host · Writer
4) Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam
The Pacers have had one of the more surprising yet fun postseasons up to this point. Indiana has gotten favorable matchups in the first two rounds playing injury-ridden teams, but that doesn’t take away from how explosive the team's offense has been, which has gotten them to this point. Along the way, the team’s new duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam has led them to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll have a big challenge ahead of them in the Celtics.
Haliburton is averaging 19.3 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in his first taste of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Siakam has shown why the Pacers made the in-season trade to bring him to Indiana, averaging 21.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists through the team's first 14 playoff games. Nonetheless, if the Pacers hope to upset the Celtics, they’ll need their duo to put together a nearly perfect series to take out the championship favorites.
NBA Championship Odds: Indiana Pacers +3800
Ranking the Top Duos in the Conference Finals
The NBA Conference Finals are officially underway, and the final four remaining teams are made up of some of the best players in the league. Considering a trip to the NBA Finals is on the line, expect these stars to compete at a high level, looking to punch their team’s ticket. With that being said, here’s a look at the top duos from each of the four teams and how they rank amongst the others.
1) Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown
The Celtics put together one of the best regular seasons in franchise history this season, finishing with a 64-18 record. And through the first three rounds of the postseason, Boston has a record of 9-2, largely due to the success of their young duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Tatum is averaging 25.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals through 11 games. Not only has the Celtics superstar been a vital key to their success, but he’s finding ways to impact the game despite his struggles from the three-point line. As for Brown, the versatile wing is averaging 23.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 54.8% shooting from field goal range.
With the C’s star duo leaving their mark on both sides of the floor, they now have a chance to lead their team to the NBA Finals for the second time in the last three years.
NBA Championship Odds: Boston Celtics -175
2) Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks have undoubtedly earned their spots in the Western Conference Finals. Not only did they defeat one of the most talented teams in the league, the Clippers, but they followed it up by taking down the No. 1 seed, the Thunder. The Mavs retooled at the trade deadline to support their duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, which has proved to make a difference considering Dallas' success in the second half of the season.
Throughout the run, Doncic has averaged 27.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. In addition, Irving has averaged 21.1 points, 5.4 assists, and four rebounds. If the backcourt duo can continue their success, they have as good a chance as any to bring home the hardware. But first, they have a huge challenge ahead of them in the Timberwolves.
NBA Championship Odds: Dallas Mavericks +650
3) Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns
The Minnesota Timberwolves have undeniably been the story of the playoffs up to this point. After their impressive regular season, they proved their success was no fluke. They dominated the Phoenix Suns in the first round and took down the reigning champs in the Nuggets during the Western Conference Semifinals. With two former No. 1 overall selections, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, leading the way, Minnesota looks like the team to beat in the West.
Edwards is putting together an unreal postseason, averaging 28.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.7 steals. As for Towns, the big man is putting together an underrated postseason himself, averaging 18.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists against some of the top frontcourts in the league.
The Timberwolves young duo can clinch their spot in the NBA Finals.
NBA Championship Odds: Minnesota Timberwolves +260
4) Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam
The Pacers have had one of the more surprising yet fun postseasons up to this point. Indiana has gotten favorable matchups in the first two rounds playing injury-ridden teams, but that doesn’t take away from how explosive the team's offense has been, which has gotten them to this point. Along the way, the team’s new duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam has led them to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll have a big challenge ahead of them in the Celtics.
Haliburton is averaging 19.3 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in his first taste of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Siakam has shown why the Pacers made the in-season trade to bring him to Indiana, averaging 21.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists through the team's first 14 playoff games. Nonetheless, if the Pacers hope to upset the Celtics, they’ll need their duo to put together a nearly perfect series to take out the championship favorites.
NBA Championship Odds: Indiana Pacers +3800
Ranking the Top Duos in the Conference Finals
The NBA Conference Finals are officially underway, and the final four remaining teams are made up of some of the best players in the league. Considering a trip to the NBA Finals is on the line, expect these stars to compete at a high level, looking to punch their team’s ticket. With that being said, here’s a look at the top duos from each of the four teams and how they rank amongst the others.
