Getty Images/Ringer illustration Sometimes, NBA playoff series come down to whichever team has the best player. Other times, they hinge on the performance of a key non-star. The 2024 conference finals are set, and no matter their outcome, the NBA will crown a new champion in June. To preview both matchups, here's a look at one player each from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, and Indiana Pacers whose value, volatility, and indisputable impact are worth a deeper look. There's a very good chance all four will have a hand in deciding which teams advance to the NBA Finals, for better or worse. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves We've reached a point in the Gobert discourse (again) where his awkward, unsightly aesthetic has almost completely clouded his true impact. He was criticized ad nauseam—by fans, commentators, and fellow players on TV who don't understand the difference between a personal slight and keen analysis—for, among other things, the unforgivable crime of allowing an all-time tour de force by the best player on planet Earth in Game 5 of the second round. But when the dust settled and Minnesota beat Denver, reality was laid bare: Gobert...