It's time for the ultimate NBA showdown and eighth different champion in a row

Fasten your seatbelts - the NBA playoffs are entering the final stage!

The Western Conference Finals will begin the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, while the one in the East is scheduled for the following day.

Oklahoma and Minnesota will lock horns in the West, trying to reach the grand NBA Finals. Ever since the franchise was moved from Seattle to the OKC in 2008, the Thunder have played the trophy series only once. In 2012, the team led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden lost to LeBron James' Miami 4-1.

Even though many expected the trio mentioned above would bring many titles to Oklahoma, it shortly fell apart, and the Thunder struggled until the past few years.

On the other hand, Minnesota's situation has been even tougher, as the Timberwolves never played in the Finals. They reached the Western Conference Finals only twice, in 2004, led by Kevin Garnett, and last year when the Dallas Mavericks eliminated them 4-1.

Considering the strength of the teams in the West, many consider them favourites against the Eastern side - whoever moves to the trophy series - as the T-Wolves' Anthony Edwards and the probable MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma are among the greatest superstars in the league.

However, the East won't give up on the title easily. There are the Knicks, the only team in the last four with NBA titles - two, to be precise. Yet, those trophies came in 1970 and 1973 - too long ago for one of the most famous franchises from one of the most popular cities in the world.

New York's resurrection after an abysmal 21st century started with Jalen Brunson's arrival, while the addition of Karl-Anthony Towns further improved their roster. The experienced head coach, Tom Thibodeau, organized things in his own unique way, and now everything seems to be working perfectly. After all, the Knicks knocked out the champions, the Boston Celtics, in the Conference semis.

In 2000, when the Knicks last played in the Conference Finals, they were eliminated by Indiana 4-2, and the same rival awaits them 25 years later.

Just like the Thunder and T-Wolves, the Pacers have never been champions, and the 2000 NBA Final was their only one. Still, they have many reasons to be optimistic, as they rely on "team basketball" more than the other three remaining sides.

Tyrese Haliburton is the key figure in Rick Carlisle's machinery, but Indiana are far from a one-man team. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner, and others contribute equally, as the Pacers often had four, five, or even more double-digit players in the same game.

The fact that you never know who's the biggest threat and that a different player can step up anytime is actually Indiana's biggest strength.

In the end, whoever wins the NBA Championship this season, one thing's certain - that crew will be the eighth different champion in a row. Namely, since the Golden State Warriors won consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018, a different franchise won the league each year: Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics.

Who'll be the next team in this chain? The ultimate NBA showdown will tell.

NBA PLAYOFFS

Western Conference Finals

Wednesday

03:30: (1.35) Oklahoma (14.0) Minnesota (3.70)

Eastern Conference Finals

Thursday

03:00: (1.65) New York (13.0) Indiana (2.50)

***odds are subject to change***