Jalen Brunson among 12 difference manufacturers in the conference final

There is, each NBA in playoffs, two types of manufacturers of difference: stars and factors X. Either can boost a team for a match, a series or even the entire playoff race.

The main distinction between them comes when things are not going so well. Players considered as X factors are not confronted with the same obligations or a meticulous examination as the stars. Someone whose contributions are considered a happy bonus in good times can be hidden in bad times.

However, the stars do not benefit from such luxury. They expect to respond, charges to transport, reputation to build or improve. They are the players with whom fans and criticisms count the championship rings when evaluating their career. It is a more difficult route to travel, but hey, that’s what money is for.

Here are 12 probable differences manufacturers – six stars and six X factors – of the four teams in competition in the eastern and western conference championships that start Tuesday in Oklahoma City (listed in alphabetical order by surname):

Stars

1. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Job statistics: 28.8 ppg, 3.9 RPG, 7.7 APG

Brunson is the small engine that makes for New York, second by scoring among all the players who have reached this Tour (Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander, 29.0) and the main shooter at 22.3 attempts on the field per game. Since he joined the Knicks three years ago, the irrepressible leader has an average of 30 points in the operators of the series, 4 of which are 4 of which3 in match 1 against Indiana last spring.

2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Job statistics: 26.5 ppg, 8 RPG, 5.9 APG

Come for his dunks highlighted and his personality, remember the last flex of his game: 3 points. Edwards did more than anyone in the NBA During the regular season, and it exceeds all the players (35) still active this spring, reaching 44.2% against Golden State in the semi-finals. Now sitting with Gilgeous-Alexander could bring out the best of the star of the Wolves.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Job statistics: 29 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.4 APG

Gilgeous-Alexander is about to win the most precious player in Kia NBA for the regular season, but he is also on the right track as after-season MVP. Do not think that her minnesota counterpart, Anthony Edwards, will not notice it. Gilgeous-Alexander has historically fattened its statistics against the Wolves, exceeding its career number in 23 meetings, including this season: 35 ppg, 7.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 51.1% shooting (55.6% on 3 points). He went to line 48 times in four games, his plus against any opponent.

4. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Job statistics: 17.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 9.3 APG

The child “surface”, according to 13 anonymous rivals in a doubtful national survey (so do not forget the brands of quotes on this label), gave the pacers what they needed to reach this round for the second consecutive year. He has the lowest average among the stars on this list and nobody in Indianapolis gives a eye on this subject, given his mentality and his talent for having chosen crucial moments for his offense.

5. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

Job statistics: 23.9 ppg, 5.9 RPG, 5.9 APG

Make your choice of production, consistency or hiking impact – all three were so useful for Timberwolves through two towers that people look at the veteran forward with new eyes. His ability to bring the Upcourt ball gave Edwards Mobility, deforms a defense and frees Mike Conley from this duty. It can then punish from the inside or the outside.

6. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Job statistics: 19.8 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.1 APG

Towns has been a double-double machine lately, accumulating seven in its last eight games and 28 in total in 44 appearances in the playoffs. It has displayed stellar figures against Indiana over the years: 27.8 ppg, 11.1 RPG and 56.1% shooting, 40% on 3 points. Beware, however. He on average 4.4 per eliminatory match, while opponents attack him more and more, with four disqualifications and 11 other games of five faults.

X Factors

7. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Job statistics: 8.9 ppg, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 BPG

Gobert should start playing again, after Minnesota faced the disputed Lakers and warriors in the first two laps. He has 41 double doubles in 79 playoffs, but only 10 out of 30 since he joined the Wolves. The quarter Kia defensive player of the year should be useful against an OKC attack that ranks third in the discs (50.5 per match) in the playoffs and is the highest team that remains (16.6 attempts per match of 10 to 19 feet).

8. Josh Hart, New York Knicks

Statistics of the playoffs:: 18.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 5.2 APG

Surprisingly, there is no X in the name of Hart, given the way he characterizes what a guy of factor X. Match 6 Clincher on Boston – 10 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists – and he scored 40% of his points in the series in the fourth quarter. His work on pops glass, with 8.7 rpg in playoffs after a personal summit of 9.6 in the regular season for the 6 -foot wing 4 inches.

9. Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder

Job statistics: 10.3 ppg, 8.7 RPG, 2.8 APG

Hartenstein gave OKC what he needed before he arrived in an underestimated summer transaction. It produces 14.3 points and 12.2 rebounds by 36 minutes in playoffsThe two big jumps of his work in New York last spring, while firing 59%. There is a key reason why thunder score on 62.3% of their putback opportunities.

10. Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

Job statistics: 14.6 ppg, 3.4 RPG, 6 APG

Nembhard has become a perfect rear area acolyte in Haliburton towards the end of their third season together. It can manage the creation of games or the score, it draws 50.5% in total in these playoffs and 50% on 3 points (against 29.1% in regular season). The apparently imperturbable native of 6 feet 5 inches from Ontario also frequently attracts the more difficult defensive assignment.

11. Pascal witness, Indiana Pacers

Job statistics: 18.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.1 APG

Siakam production is right where it was last spring when it helped Indiana reach this same stage, except that its 3 -point shots dropped more reliable (44.1% against 29.8% a year ago). The 6 -foot attacker 8 inch with 6 feet 8 inch is one of the rare pacers capable of generating offenses in the Halfcourt and figures to draw Knicks Ace Defender (and former teammate of Raptors) Og Anunoby while New York tries to limit it.

12. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Job statistics: 19.6 ppg, 5.4 RPG, 5.7 APG

Williams made his stars debut in February, but slips at X-Factor level according to recent inconsistency. He pulled 55.1% (27 for 49) in three of OKC games against Denver in the semi-finals, but only 23.8% (15 for 63) in the other four. He made 42 assists at only 10 reversals. In addition, Williams’ defensive versatility could prove invaluable against Minnesota, whether it is executed on threat n ° 1 EDWARDS or the morphing to limit the second or third threats such as Randle, Jaden McDaniels or Gobert.

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Steve Aschburner wrote on the NBA since 1980. You can send it by e-mail here, find His archives here And Follow him on x.

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