X-Factors That Will Decide 2024 NBA Championship

And then there were four.

We are down to the last handful of teams alive in the NBA playoffs. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks will meet in the Western Conference Finals, while the Indiana Pacers are facing off against the Boston Celtics in the East.

Each team is unique and has a lot of factors that make it special. They all have a young star—Anthony Edwards, Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton—who powers them, but there is an X-factor for each squad that can help decide if they get to the NBA Finals.

That could be a player, a specific aspect of a player's game or even an attitude.

Here are the most important X-factors for each team.

Indiana Pacers: T.J. McConnell

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers reacts in the first quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

There might not be a peskier defender in the NBA playoffs than T.J. McConnell. He comes in off the bench and just hounds ball-handlers. And he is a critical piece to the Indiana Pacers because his effort on the court cannot be matched.

In the Pacers' series against the New York Knicks, the 32-year-old would come into the game, pick up Jalen Brunson full-court, and start to wear on you. He is averaging almost a steal per game in the playoffs and is constantly lurking.

The play below is a great example of McConnell's constant pressure. After an Aaron Nesmith jumper, he sprints toward Brunson, who has his back to him to strip the inbound pass, leading to a Nesmith and-1.

The question is whether McConnell's effort can be as effective against the Boston Celtics.

Boston has several ball-handlers who can bring the ball up the court against his pressure. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday can all punish him in the post, which the Knicks were incapable of.

McConnell is an X-factor for the Pacers; if he cannot provide the spark off the bench in the conference finals as he has done throughout the playoffs, they will have a hard time beating the Celtics.

Dallas Mavericks: P. J. Washington's Hot Shooting

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DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 18: P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder \defends during the second half of Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 18, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

When the Dallas Mavericks traded for P.J. Washington at the deadline, they were banking on him playing better in a winning situation. And that has proved to be correct in these playoffs.

The 25-year-old was a big part of the turnaround this season for the Mavericks, but it was in the playoffs that he found his shot again.

During the regular season after the trade, he shot 31.4 percent on 5.8 attempts per game. He has seen a major leap in the playoffs, connecting on 40.7 percent of his threes on 6.8 attempts.

The numbers get even crazier in the semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder; Washington took even more threes, hitting 46.8 percent on 8.2 attempts. Anytime his defender tried to sag off him and pack the paint, he made them pay.

It would be a bad time in the conference finals against Minnesota for the Kentucky product to cool off. The Mavericks need his three-point shot to help space the floor, especially since the Wolves often play two bigs at a time.

Washington's shooting is a big X-factor for the Mavericks, and they might be able to ride his red-hot shot to the Finals.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns Fouls

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DENVER, CO - MAY 19: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets during Round 2 Game 7 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 19, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Karl-Anthony Towns is always the X-factor for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 28-year-old is a difference-maker when he is on the floor, and he has stayed out of foul trouble through the first two rounds of playoffs, which has made a big difference for Minnesota.

Towns' availability is critical to Anthony Edwards as his favorite target. In the regular season, Edwards got most of his assists by passing to Towns. That trend continued in the playoffs. Towns' shooting opens up the floor for Edwards to drive. He is a lethal weapon in the pick-and-pop situation.

Edwards knows how important Towns is to his team and his success. He told reporters: "If KAT don't foul, we pretty much can win the game."

Out of the Wolves' 11 games, Towns has had five fouls in just three games and has yet to foul out. Minnesota's championship hopes rest on whether he can continue to stay out of foul trouble.

Boston Celtics: Apathy

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round 2 Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

To no fault of their own, it hasn't felt like the playoffs have begun for the Boston Celtics.

Both of their opponents suffered significant injuries before and during their series, and the Celtics took advantage of it.

Despite that, there have been a few hiccups. The Celtics' three-point defense in Game 2 against Miami was lacking, and the Heat exploded to win that. Boston also let its guard down in Game 2 against Cleveland, and the Cavs stole one.

There has been a lot of consternation about how the Celtics have looked in some of these games. They have appeared apathetic at times. Their closest game this playoffs was Game 4 against Cleveland; the Cavs announced earlier that day that Donovan Mitchell would join Jarrett Allen (who missed the whole series) on the sidelines. It was expected that the Celtics would win that game running around. Instead, it was their first clutch contest of the playoffs.

Boston can get away with that uneven effort in the first two rounds with its opponents banged up. But the Indiana Pacers are one of the healthiest teams left in the playoffs, and they force teams to play their style. Assuming they get past them, they will have an even more formidable opponent in the Finals.

It's not the Celtics' fault that they had an easy route to the conference finals, but they have taken their foot off the gas a few times in this playoff run.

They have the talent, but the question is: Will Boston stop playing to the level of its opponents and be the dominant team everyone saw all season?