After the Eastern Conference finals ended in one of the most competitive sweeps in recent years, the Pacers looked like a team primed for a step forward. Despite the loss, Rick Carlisle’s team showed it could keep its perpetual offense in motion while playing physical playoff basketball.

When Jaylen Brown signed his supermax contract in the summer of 2023, he voiced his desire for the Celtics to get back to their defensive roots. The comments set the tone for a 2024 title run as Boston’s elite defense was a constant for a team that was on a mission for redemption after a heartbreaking finish in 2023.