Jalen Brunson among 12 differentiators in the conference final

Each NBA late season are two types of differences: stars and X factors. Either a team for a game, a series or even the entire playoff run can increase.

The main difference between them comes when things don't go so well. Players who were considered as X factors are not exposed to the same obligations or examination as the stars. Someone whose contributions are viewed as a happy bonus in good times can hide in bad times.

However, stars do not enjoy such luxury. You have to meet expectations, to wear loads, to build or improve calls. They are the players with whom fans and critics count the championship rings when they rate their career. It's a harder road to travel, but hey, that's what the money is there.

Here are 12 different differencesmiths and six X-factor-von to the four teams who take part in the championships of the Eastern and Western Conference, which start on Tuesday in Oklahoma City (Listed alphabetically under the last name):

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Stars

1. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Playoff statistics: 28.8 ppg, 3.9 RPG, 7.7 APG

Brunson is the little engine for New York, which among all players who have reached this round (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 29.0), and the leading shooting participant in 22.3 field goal attempts per game. Since the relentless Point Guard came to the Knicks three years ago, he has scored an average of 30 points for serial openers, including 43 in game 1 against Indiana in the last spring.

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2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Playoff statistics: 26.5 ppg, 8 RPG, 5.9 APG

Come for his highlight dunks and his personality and remember the latest flex in his game: 3 pointers. Edwards did more of them than any other in the NBA During the regular season and he is still active this spring (35) and reaches 44.2% against Golden State in halftime. Adaptation to Gilgeous-Alexander could get the best in the star of the wolves.

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3 .. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Playoff statistics: 29 ppg, 5.9 RPG, 6.4 APG

Gilgeous-Alexander is ready to win Kia NBA's most valuable player for the regular season, but he is also on the right track as a MVP after the season. Do not think that his counterpart in Minnesota, Anthony Edwards, will not notice. Gilgeous-Alexander has fattened his statistics in the past against the wolves in 23 meetings, including this season: 35 ppg, 7.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 51.1% (55.6% to 3 points). He went into the line 48 times in four games, his most against every opponent.

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4. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Playoff statistics: 17.5 ppg, 5.5 RPG, 9.3 APG

According to 13 anonymous competitors, the “overvalued” child has in a dubious national survey (so do not forget the quote brands on this label) that they had to reach this round for the second year in a row. He has the lowest point average among the stars on this list and nobody in Indianapolis makes an eye over it, since his passport-first mentality and talent have selected crucial moments for his offensive.

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5. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

Playoff statistics: 23.9 ppg, 5.9 RPG, 5.9 APG

Take your production, consistency or effect of Randle – all three were so helpful in two rounds for the Timberwolves that people look forward to the Banging veterans with fresh eyes. His ability to build the ball conveyed Edwards mobility, distorted a defense and freed the liberation of Mike Conley from this obligation. Then he can punish from the inside or outside.

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6. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Playoff statistics: 19.8 ppg, 11.3 RPG, 1.1 APG

The cities have recently been a double double machine that has achieved seven and a total of 28 in 44 playoff appearances in its last eight games. He has released star numbers in Indiana over the years: 27.8 ppg, 11.1 RPG and 56.1%, including 40% on 3-converter. However, be careful of bad difficulties. He achieves an average of 4.4 per playoff game, since the opponents are increasingly attacking him with four disqualifications and 11 other games from five fouls.

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X-factors

7. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Playoff statistics: 8.9 ppg, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 BPG

Gobert was supposed to play again after Minnesota was confronted with the size business in the first two rounds of Lakers and Warriors. He has 41 double double in 79 playoff games, but only 10 to 30. The four times since joining the wolves Kia defensive player of the year Should use an OKC attack that takes third place in the course of the drives (50.5 per game) in this post and the medium-heavy team is (16.6 experiments per game of 10 to 19 feet).

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8. Josh Hart, New York Knicks

Playoff statistics: 18.2 ppg, 8.5 RPG, 5.2 APG

Surprisingly, there is no X in Hart's name, considering how well it types it, what an X-factor type does. The skills of the veteran jack-of-all-trades Play 6 Clincher via Boston – 10 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists – and he scored 40% of his points in the series in the fourth quarter. His work on the Glass Pops with 8.7 RPG in this off-season after a personal high of 9.6 during the regular season for the 6-foot 4 wing.

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9. Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder

Playoff statistics: 10.3 ppg, 8.7 RPG, 2.8 APG

Hartenstein gave OKC exactly what it needed before he arrived in an underestimated summer transaction. It produces 14.3 points and 12.2 rebounds per 36 minutes in this post -seasonBoth big jumps from his New York work last spring, while she shot 59%. It is an important reason why the Thunder is achieved at 62.3% of her putback opportunities.

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10. Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

Playoff statistics: 14.6 ppg, 3.4 RPG, 6 APG

At the end of her third season, Nembhard became a perfect back court buddy in Haliburton. He can either handle games or goals, he shoots a total of 50.5% in these playoffs and 3 points (compared to 29.1% in the regular season). The apparently unshakable 6-foot 5-strain from Ontario often also attracts the harder defensive assignment.

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11. Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

Playoff statistics: 18.8 ppg, 6.2 RPG, 3.1 APG

Siakam's production is exactly where it was last spring when he helped Indiana to reach the same stage, except that his 3-point shots have dropped more reliably (44.1% compared to 29.8% a year ago). The WILY 6-Foot 8 striker is one of the few Pacers who are able to insult on the half court and the numbers to draw Knicks Ace Defender (and former Raptors teammate) OG anunoby while New York is trying to limit him.

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12. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Playoff statistics: 19.6 ppg, 5.4 RPG, 5.7 APG

Williams gave his all-star debut in February, but slips into the X-factor level based on the latest inconsistency. He shot 55.1% (27-for-49) in three of OKCs play against Denver in West Semis, but only 23.8% (15-by-63) in the other four. He only collected 42 assists 10 sales. In addition, Williams' defensive versatility against Minnesota could be invaluable, regardless of whether he threatens the time to No. 1, Edwards or morphing to limit the second or third parties such as Randle, Jaden McDaniels or Gobert.

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can send him here by email His archive here And Follow him on X.

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