By Ethan Franke
With the first round of the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs complete, the young underdog teams in contention are eager to leave their mark on this year’s post-season.
A shocking yet emphatic first round has left a bittersweet taste in the mouths of avid NBA viewers.
Fan favourites like LeBron James, Paul George and Stephen Curry have all been eliminated, and somehow a team like the Orlando Magic was able to outlast all these superstars.
This new generation of NBA hoopers has put the league on high alert, and a strong playoff run from the right team may solidify the path that they are paving.
The Indiana Pacers
In the draft class of 2020, Tyrese Haliburton was a guard who was quickly dismissed by league critics for his unorthodox and “ugly” jump shot.
The expectations initially surrounding Haliburton were low.
Four years later, Haliburton has crushed the limitations once placed on him and has become the supercharged engine driving this aggressive Pacers team.
True to their name, Indiana was one of the fastest-paced teams in the regular season, and their on-court dominance has certainly translated well in the post-season.
The Pacers asserted their presence in this year’s playoffs when they eliminated Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks with a commanding 4-2 series win.
Antetokounmpo’s Bucks had been a nightmare for opposing teams every year since their championship run back in 2019. Yet somehow, a Pacers team with an average player age of 25 years old has run through the Bucks like a deer caught in headlights.
The Pacers have started off strongly, but their second-round opponents could certainly give them a run for their money.
The New York Knicks
Following a narrow victory in their first match against the Pacers, the New York Knicks continue to showcase their grit and determination as a team, with an improbable driver at the wheel.
At 6’1” (185cm), Jalen Brunson is significantly shorter than the 6’7” (204cm) league average height.
However, he is leading the Knicks in points, assists, minutes played, and shots attempted.
Although only traded to the Knicks in late 2022, Brunson has solidified himself as a leader and scoring threat, with a great ensemble by his side.
The recently acquired Josh Hart, a former college teammate of Brunson, has been a rebounding machine for the Knicks, even at the height of 6’3” (192cm).
The guard/forward duo of Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby has been a critical piece of the Knicks’ perimeter shooting and defence in close games.
Most importantly, the Knicks have former Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau manning the reins, as he guides this team with his veteran experience.
After a 4-2 series win over Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, the city of New York was fired up and their 1-0 start against the Pacers is a clear statement of the Knicks’ momentum in these playoffs.
With two ambitious teams facing off and a chance at a championship on the line, the Knicks v Pacers match-up is not one to miss.
The Minnesota Timberwolves
In early February of 2023, three-time champion Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns to play alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, two of the most prolific guards in the league.
At the time, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was asked about his thoughts on the trade.
Edwards confidently said: “You know they got KD but we got Jaden McDaniels”.
The internet couldn’t help but find his comparison laughable.
Sure, McDaniels could guard Kevin Durant on defence, but the Timberwolves were a 40–42 team last season and had no reason to even think that they could compete with this Suns superteam.
Fast forward to April 29th 2024, the Wolves just swept the Suns 4-0 in a ridiculously one-sided series.
Edward’s comments had aged like fine wine.
McDaniels was the backbone of Minnesota’s defensive schemes against Durant and played critical minutes, including when he scored 18 points in Game 4 to help defeat Phoenix.
Edwards himself has been nothing short of essential for this team. At only 22 years of age, he has lifted this young Timberwolves roster to a contender-calibre team in such a short time.
Edwards averaged 31 points per game against the Suns, with a ridiculous 40 bomb in Game 4 to seal the win.
With his second-round matchup against the Denver Nuggets, Edwards’ confidence has not withered in the face of the reigning champs.
His 43-point eruption in Game 1 secured an 106-99 win against Nikola Jokic’s elite Denver squad, and a second victory in yesterday’s game puts the Wolves up 2-0.
The end of an era?
The once-dominant superstars of the 2010s are now aging veterans, reluctant to pass the torch that is slipping out of their hands.
In the midst of Lebron’s potential retirement, with once great dynasty’s now crumbling with age, the future of the league is both scary and exciting.
The results of this year’s playoffs are crucial in determining the next decade of NBA basketball, and I for one will be watching on the edge of my seat.
Featured image: New playoff heroes are thrilling NBA crowds. Photo: ReneS/CC/Wikimedia Commons
