NBA Players Who Need to Step Up In the Conference Finals
The NBA's Final Four is in full swing as we could already be in the middle of the East and West Conference Finals.
We've already had some brilliant performances thus far. From Jaylen Brown's 40-piece against the Indiana Pacers in Game 2, Luka Dončić ending his triple-double with a step-back, game-winning three against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night or Jayson Tatum making a statement with 36 points and 12 boards in a Game 1 win, most of the remaining stars are shining.
This isn't the case for all, however.
The following five stars and role players need to step up their games in order for their teams to advance to the Finals and stand alone as champions.
Tim Hardaway Jr., G/F, Dallas Mavericks
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Hardaway was a big part of the Mavs' regular season success, playing in 79 games and finishing third on the team in scoring (14.4 points) and made threes per game (2.7).
Playing as part of a young bench unit featuring Dereck Lively II (20), Jaden Hardy (21) and Josh Green (23), Hardway was supposed to be the trusted veteran that could serve as some offensive insurance behind Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
Dallas keeps winning in spite of Hardaway, however, not because of him. An ankle injury limited the 32-year-old to just two games in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers. While he returned to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hardaway struggled off the bench (6.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 33.3 percent from three in 15.4 minutes) as his playing time was slashed. Some of his shots weren't particularly close, either.
Head coach Jason Kidd has used him sparingly thus far in the West Finals. Hardaway didn't attempt a single shot in his 10 minutes in Game 1 and missed his lone three in five minutes during Game 2.
Dončić and Irving have both stepped up in the series thus far, but there's bound to come a time when the Mavericks need an offensive spark off the bench from Hardaway.
Sam Hauser, F, Boston Celtics
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The Celtics have received healthy contributions across the board in these conference finals. From Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday carrying the offensive load in Game 1 to Jaylen Brown going scorched Earth after All-NBA teams were announced in Game 2, Boston's stars have stepped up in giving the Celtics an early 3-0 series lead against the Indiana Pacers.
Hauser has remained in the playoff rotation, primarily for the floor spacing he provides. A 42.4 percent three-point shooter during the regular season, the 26-year-old hasn't had his usual success yet in this series.
In the first two games vs. the Pacers, Hauser went 0-of-6 from deep and just 1-of-7 overall from the field for two total points in his 31 minutes. In Game 3, he finished 0-of-3 (all from deep) in 13 minutes.
We know that Hauser is capable of more. In Round 1 vs. the Miami Heat he connected on 48.0 percent of his threes in the series, including four triples in a Game 1 win and five in a Game 5 victory that helped the Celtics advance.
The ultimate X-factor on a team that's dripping with star power, Hauser doesn't need to score 20 points a night for Boston to win, especially as they continue to face injury-plagued teams.
His ability to knock down shots will be important in the Finals, however, assuming the Celtics can close out Indiana. On a team that hasn't dipped into its bench much, Hauser is an important part of a second unit that can swing some games.
Karl-Anthony Towns, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Karl-Anthony Towns had a really good series against the defending champion Denver Nuggets, although that strong play has yet to carry over against the Dallas Mavericks.
Towns has been miserable through two games, connecting on just 27.8 percent of his total shot attempts and making three of his first 14 three-pointers (21.4 percent).
He was so bad in a Game 2 loss that head coach Chris Finch benched Towns for the entire fourth quarter of a close game, turning to backup center Naz Reid instead.
"I'm with winning, so whatever it takes to win," Towns said via The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. "Naz has it going. Coach's decision, I'm fully supportive of my coaching staff. Wouldn't question them one bit. Of course, I'm always going to be ready to play whenever he calls. Naz got it going, our team was playing well."
Towns was a good sport about the benching, but this is something that simply can't happen, especially for a player on a max contract who's about to enter a four-year, $224 million supermax deal next season.
The 28-year-old, four-time All-Star doesn't need to be the offensive alpha anymore with Anthony Edwards around, but he has to at least be a consistent offensive force who can carry the team for stretches when Ant is struggling.
Now in an 0-2 hole and going to Dallas, the Wolves desperately need more from Towns the rest of the series.
T.J. McConnell, PG, Indiana Pacers
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T.J. McConnell wasn't bad through the first two games against the Boston Celtics. But with the Indiana Pacers now currently down Tyrese Haliburton to a hamstring injury, the veteran backup will be needed more than ever for the Pacers to have any kind of chance in this series, however.
McConnell is arguably the best backup floor general in the league, a pure passer who rarely turns the ball over and racks up a nice collection of steals. He'll now be asked to score more often with Haliburton sidelined, as he did in Game 3 with 23 points off the bench.
The Pacers have to at least win his minutes to have a shot against Boston, something that hasn't happened in this series so far. McConnell was a minus-8 in his 24 minutes in Game 1 and minus-18 over 17 Game 2 minutes. Then, his 10-of-17 shooting performance in Game 3 saw him also finish a minus-1.
While he's an accurate three-point shooter (40.9 percent during the regular season), McConnell's strength lies inside the arc with his floaters and ability to get to the basket even at 6'1".
McConnell will also be needed for his playmaking more with Haliburton out. The Pacers average 32.1 assists per game in wins this postseason, the most in the NBA.
Every Pacer will be asked to do more with their leader out. Only McConnell will be asked to step directly into Haliburton's role, however, with the task of keeping this offense humming.
Anthony Edwards, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Karl-Anthony Towns isn't the only Wolves star who's struggling.
Anthony Edwards is finally looking like a 22-year-old following a pair of spectacular playoff series. He's struggled not just with his shot but with his decision making as well against a tough Dallas Mavericks defense, shooting just 33.3 percent and dishing out two total assists against five turnovers through two games.
Never a player who's lacked confidence, Edwards has looked hesitant at times with the ball, leading to a crucial turnover near the end of Game 2.
"They're just showing me crowds, man, sitting in the gaps," Edwards said via The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. "But I'm turning down a lot of shots, like my midranges and stuff. I'm turning a lot of those down. But we're getting open looks, so I ain't trippin'."
Edwards, a much improved defender over the past few years, has struggled in his matchups, especially against Kyrie Irving. The veteran point guard dropped 30 points on an efficient 12-of-23 shooting in Game 1.
It's encouraging for Minnesota that they've been close in both losses despite Edwards not donning his superhero cape. With the series shifting to Dallas, however, he'll likely need to put it on again.
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