How did teams with the 12th, 13th, and 24th highest payrolls make the conference finals?

Mavericks Game 1 win over the Timberwolves. What's up with Luka Doncic? How brilliant is Kyrie? Are the stars being delivered to crunch time of these playoff games in their best possible versions?

The Celtics defeat the Pacers in OT in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Should the Celtics be worried about the "blur ball" Pacers? What can the Pacers teach the other 26 teams not in the playoffs about team building?

Henry's article on the average payroll of the Conference Finalists being 13th, and what it means going forward for teams that want to be good.

Caitlin Clark and fandom