The stage is set for the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston advanced easily after beating Cleveland 4-1 in five matches. They spent the last few days waiting for the result of the intense clash between Indiana and New York, which the Pacers eventually won on the road in a winner-take-all Game 7. This hiatus gives Boston a recovery advantage, specifically for Kristaps Porzingis, who is still dealing with a calf strain that kept him out since the first round against Miami. While he likely won't be ready for Games 1 and 2, the team is hopeful he can rejoin the lineup shortly.
The stage is perfectly set for the Eastern Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics swept through the second round, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 in five games. Celtics were waiting for the winner of a long-running Indiana Pacers – New York Knicks series, which the Pacers won on the road at Madison Square Garden in Game 7 to save its season. Boston will benefit from a few more days of recovery, allowing All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis to recuperate from a calf strain. The Latvian power forward has been sidelined since Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round series with the Miami Heat. He is still scheduled to miss Games 1 and 2, but there is hope for a return.
The Indiana Pacers are heading straight to Boston on Wednesday, May 22, for the series opener, left with only a single day of rest after their grueling previous series. On the other hand, the Celtics have been a force to be reckoned with; despite a few slow stretches, they've maintained a stellar 8-2 record in the playoffs. Their dominance is reflected in the numbers, leading the pack with a 12.8 net rating and an average victory margin of 11.4 points.
Boston's road to the finals has been defined by dominance, including a 30-point blowout and several wins by 10 to 20 points. However, the Pacers represent a much tougher challenge. Facing a healthy, high-tempo Indiana squad is a completely different beast compared to playing against a depleted Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler or a Cleveland team missing Donovan Mitchell.
Much of the series will hinge on Tyrese Haliburton. While his playoff numbers—18.3 points and 8.3 assists—are a dip from his regular-season peak, the Pacers need him to stay aggressive despite the defensive pressure from Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Even so, the Celtics seem like the clear favorites to advance to the NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum has been an absolute powerhouse, leading Boston in every major category: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. This feat puts him in an elite club, making him one of only two players in the last 40 years, alongside LeBron James, to do this. While Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White have been carrying the load, the return of Porzingis could be the deciding factor in the series length. If he's back by Game 3, Boston could wrap this up in five; otherwise, a six-game series seems more probable.