Playoff Power Rankings: How the 4 conference finalists stack up

OKC runs its postseason record to 8-0 by completing the sweep against the Lakers and punching its ticket to the West Finals.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are the eighth team to sweep through the first two rounds of the playoffs since the first round went to a best-of-seven format in 2003 (24 years). The New York Knicks, meanwhile, have outscored their opponents by

19.4 points per game

, the best differential for any team through two rounds since the playoffs went to a 16-team format in 1984.

The Thunder and Knicks should be the favorites in their respective conference finals series, but we should not assume that their dominance through the first two rounds will carry over.

The Thunder, Knicks and San Antonio Spurs are the 12th, 13th and 14th teams, respectively, to outscore their opponents by more than 13 points per game through the first two rounds since 1984. Seven of the previous 11 lost in the conference finals, with the most recent example being the 2019 Milwaukee Bucks. That Bucks team was 10-1 through the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, having outscored their opponents by 15.3 points per game … and then lost the next four to the Toronto Raptors.

Every series is different, any series can turn on a dime, and we should get some great basketball over the next two weeks.

Plus-Minus Players of the conference semis

Right Way:

Victor Wembanyama (SAS) was

a plus-81 in six games

.

Wrong Way:

Anthony Edwards (MIN) was

a minus-85 in six games

* * *

Previously…

May 4:

Where all 8 teams stand after first round

The archive:

NBA.com Power Rankings

OffRtg

:

Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)

DefRtg

Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)

NetRtg

Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)

Pace

Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)

The 16 teams have averaged 111.6 points scored per 100 possessions and 96.3 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes in the playoffs, down from 114.8 and 100.2 (for all 30 teams) in the regular season.

NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann,

contact him via Bluesky