If the NBA’s Western Conference represented a different class of competition than the East, nobody told the New York Knicks. Mike Brown’s team extended their playoff win streak to 13 games after stealing two tight games in San Antonio, and are now playing their first NBA Finals games in Madison Square Garden in 27 years with a 2-0 series advantage. The Spurs have looked more terrestrial than their reputation, but they’ve held leads late in both games, and perhaps the real difference between conferences is showing up in the fatigue factor in the final minutes.

The market for NBA Finals MVP on FanDuel is a valuable measure of the impact that each player has had on the series so far. It’s also a look beyond the box score to consider the narratives that are likely to close out the season.

Brunson shook off a slow start to game 1 (including multiple injury scares) to take over in the fourth quarter and nailed tough looks down the stretch. Conventional wisdom and historical precedent have suggested that a team can’t win a championship if their best player is short. But this is nothing new to Jalen Brunson, who’s carried his teams to titles at every level of his career. 

He hasn’t been an efficient shooter to start the series (33.9% FG), but he’s found ways to force his impact; scoring 30 points in the opener and grabbing five steals to go with his 20 points and six assists in game two. The Knicks’ offense evolved when Towns became more of a facilitator, but Brunson’s penetration and pull-ups are still the team’s primary options in crunch time.

Maybe the best argument in Becky Hammon’s favor is that the Knicks are on the precipice of a championship because of the play of their big man, Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s challenged conventional wisdom about his own play during this win streak, using his size to play physical defense and wear on Wemby, while grabbing 12.5 tough rebounds.

Towns has unlocked the Knicks’ offense by serving more as an offensive hub and highlighting his passing, but he’s still the best shooting big man of all time. He sank 3 three-pointers while shooting an efficient 66.7% from the floor in game two, and could easily catch fire and come out of his matchup with Wemby as the most impactful big man in a short series.

Even with his team down two games, Wemby has looked like the best player on the floor for significant stretches. He shot over 50% from the field for 29 points in game two while logging nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Those are star numbers, but the Spurs will need him to resemble something more superhuman if they’re to overcome their size and youth disadvantages and climb back from down 0-2.

Nobody has won the Finals MVP in a losing effort since Jerry West in 1969, and it would take an effort at least as impressive as West’s 40-point triple-double in game seven to repeat the honor. If anyone in the league could pull off those kinds of numbers though, it’s Victor Wembanyama.

There’s still plenty of basketball left, and a handful of players have made steady impacts that could explode with the right combination of adjustments and luck. 

Mikal Bridges (+17500) has regained his form as a dynamic two-way threat. He scored 20 points in game two, and has been a connective tissue and clutch shooter throughout the Knicks’ win streak.

OG Anunoby (+17500) has shown no fear, nailing jumpers and dunking on Wemby for 17 points in each contest. He’s also been an imposing force on defense, totaling six blocks and assists through two games.

Stephon Castle (+25000) has played beyond his years, cutting down his turnovers while scoring in double digits and holding up well on defense.

Dylan Harper (+25000) didn’t even make a postseason tournament with Rutgers last year, but he’s looked more than comfortable on the game’s biggest stage. The rookie has only shot 1-7 from deep in the first two games, but he’ll keep seeing more minutes.