Best Storylines to Follow in NBA Conference Finals
What to look for in the NBA's final four.
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What to Look Out for During NBA Conference Finals - This is the way it should be in the NBA Playoffs with the No. 1 team versus the No. 2 team in each of the Conference Finals. Truly the best four teams remain at this point. Paul George and the No. 1 Indiana Pacers face the two-time defending champion Miami Heat led by LeBron James in the East, while the top-seed San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker take on NBA MVP Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder out West. With a trip to the Finals on the line, BET.com points out the best storylines to follow in the NBA Conference Finals. It’s heating up!(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Which Roy Hibbert Shows Up? - After a damn-near disappearing act during the tail end of the NBA season and through the first round of the NBA playoffs, Roy Hibbert finally came alive during several games of the Pacers’ 4-2 series win over the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers don’t stand a chance against the Heat if the 7-foot-2 big man doesn’t play to his All-Star status. Remember, Hibbert was a huge reason why Indiana was able to push the Heat to seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, as he patrolled the paint and averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds and one block per game. Anything less, especially against the Heat, whose weakness has perennially been inside, isn’t going to cut it. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Paul George’s Ability to Score More - Paul George is easily one of the NBA’s most dynamic two-way players, but looking back at last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, it’s a bit surprising that the Pacers small forward averaged 19 points per game against the Heat. The Pacers are going to need more of an offensive output from their star to dethrone the Heat. By George, I think he’s got it. He better have if the Pacers are want to end up in the Finals.(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Dwyane Wade’s Consistency - Plagued by various injuries throughout his 10 years in the NBA, Dwyane Wade is an old 32 with a lot of basketball miles on him. That being said, D. Wade can still turn back the hands of time on any given night — especially during postseason play — and give the opposition that work, as evidenced by the 28 points he dropped to help LeBron James and the Heat eliminate the Brooklyn Nets in the Conference semifinals. If Wade can turn up on the 15 points per game he dropped on the Pacers during last year’s Conference Finals, then perhaps the Heat won’t need a full seven games to get past Indiana this year. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
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Pacers’ Defensive Strategy for LeBron - If you’re the Pacers, you have to keep it 100 — you’re not going to stop King James, but you could damn sure throw rocks at his throne. The latter means trying to frustrate and stifle LeBron by throwing different looks at him with personnel such as Paul George, Lance Stephenson and even bigger bodies like David West. Again, James is going to get his, but the more Indiana changes up his looks, the better it will be. It doesn’t have to be the King’s court.(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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X-Factor: Lance Stephenson’s Consistency - Just like last year, Lance Stephenson seems to be the barometer for success for the Pacers. When he’s on, the Pacers win. When he’s off, the Pacers take those Ls. Same was true during last year’s Conference Finals, in which Stephenson averaged just 8.9 points per game. This year’s different, though, as Stephenson enters the series averaging career highs in points (13.8), rebounds (7.2) and assists (4.6) per game. Stephenson’s ability to contribute more on all levels — with consistency — will be key for Indiana. (Photo: Michael Conroy/AP Photo)
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Tony Parker’s Hamstring Tightness - Tony Parker is the horsepower in the engine that drives the San Antonio Spurs. And if you’re a Spurs fan, the last thing you want is for that engine to stall when it’s needed most. Obviously, the Spurs veteran point guard is going to play through the pain of his hamstring strain at this point in the season, but if that check engine status lights up…the Spurs will not be returning to the NBA Finals. They go as Parker goes and if he’s not going, the Spurs are going home. (Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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How Does OKC Slow Down Parker? - If Tony Parker plays through his hamstring strain and looks every bit like the dynamic point guard we know, how will the Thunder handle him? They can throw Westbrook and Reggie Jackson at him for sure, but might want to experiment by sticking vet Caron Butler on him. Although Butler loses speed on Parker, he can physically muscle the Spurs’ point and make him work. (Photo: REUTERS/Bill Waugh)
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Spurs Strategy for Durant, Westbrook - Just like the Thunder need a strategy for Tony Parker, the Spurs are going to need one for defending Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Sticking Parker on Westbrook is a given, but it would be nice to see Spurs coach Gregg Popovich employ bigger 6-foot-7 Kawhi Leonard on him at times as well. And with league MVP Durant? Crowd his space as much as possible…and pray. Whatever Pop comes up with, he’s likely going to have to pop an Advil anyway. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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X-Factors: Who Steps Up? - We’re thinking the X-factors in this series are Manu Ginobili for the Spurs and Reggie Jackson with the Thunder. Both have similar scoring averages — Ginobili’s 12 points per game to Jackson’s 13 — and will be counted on to provide a spark for their respective teams. We see both contributing and coming up with big shots at different points of this series, but we give the slightest edge to Jackson, 24, and his younger legs over the grizzled vet Ginobili, 36. (Photos: USA Today Sports/Reuters)