Four Team USA stars chasing championship glory as NBA Conference Finals are confirmed

The NBA season is drawing to a close, with the final four teams ready to compete in their Conference Finals for a shot at the coveted Larry O'Brien trophy.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have ensured that a new NBA champion will be crowned this year after they triumphed over the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, in an electrifying seven-game series. Anthony Edwards, the standout star of the playoffs, will lead the Timberwolves against Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, and the Dallas Mavericks in the West.

Over in the East, the Boston Celtics breezed past the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Jayson Tatum eyeing his first NBA Championship. The Celtics and the LA Lakers are currently tied with 17 championships each, but the surprise team of the season, the Indiana Pacers led by Tyrese Haliburton, could potentially block their path to their first Finals appearance since 2000.

Following the conclusion of the NBA season, Edwards, Tatum, and Haliburton will unite as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Despite his stellar performances, Irving was not selected for the team.

Anthony Edwards

The 22 year old has been likened to Michael Jordan during the Timberwolves' postseason run. Although Edwards had a shaky Game 7 against the Nuggets, his defensive prowess and the support of his teammates ensured a victory for Minnesota.

They won 98-90 on the road, overcoming a 20-point deficit. The shooting guard has been on fire this season, averaging a whopping 25.9 points per game and is eyeing both an NBA Championship and potentially an Olympic gold medal.

Edwards is gearing up for a fierce battle in the Western Conference finals against Doncic and Irving of the Mavericks, who recently knocked out top seed Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Edwards has been the superstar of the postseason

Haliburton and the Pacers stunned the Knicks

Jayson Tatum

At just 26 years old, Jayson Tatum has consistently delivered powerhouse performances, scoring 25 or more points in four out of five games against the Cavaliers. With such a strong showing, he and his Celtics teammates are emerging as the frontrunners for this year's NBA Championship after dominating the regular season.

Boston last clinched the championship back in 2008 and have faced heartbreak in the Finals in 2010 and 2022. Tatum is set to face off against Pacers' Haliburton in what promises to be one of the most captivating matchups of the postseason.

However, Celtics' Jaylen Brown believes there's room for improvement if they are to make it to the NBA Finals. "We got to be better, to be honest. You know, teams are going to guard us [in] different ways. And we got to be ready to play that way. Tonight, you know, they were trying to get me off the ball. [We made] the right plays over and over again," Brown commented.

Tyrese Haliburton

The Pacers triumphed over the New York Knicks in an intense seven-game series, clinching victory in Game 7, thanks to point guard Haliburton's on-point performance.

The player netted 26 points, along with four rebounds and six assists. As one of the NBA's highest-scoring teams this season, the Pacers are sure to give the Celtics a tough time.

"We're just trying to play free, trying to play fun," declared Haliburton, who has an impressive average of 20.1 points per game. "We understand that we're not really expected to win these games, especially here on the road in Game 7. Like you said, we don't have a lot of experience. So we just come out and play free and have fun."

Kyrie Irving

Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving will miss out on joining Team USA at the summer Olympics. Nonetheless, he remains upbeat as he aims for his second NBA Championship.

His performance this season with the Mavericks, averaging 25.6 points per game and forming a formidable duo with Doncic, has been nothing short of stellar. The 32 year old scored 22 against the Thunder in Game 6 to secure the series, arguably outshining the three previously mentioned players.

During their heart-stopping game, the Mavericks found themselves lagging behind before securing a narrow 117-116 win. "Being down 17 in a closeout game isn't a position you want to be in," admitted Irving. "But that's where we found ourselves. We had to respond the way we've been responding all season."