Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks can create Caitlin Clark problem if both sweep in conference finals

FOX Sports host Aaron Torres fears that the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks can create a Caitlin Clark problem if they sweep the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively, in their conference finals series.

"So if the Mavs and Celtics sweep, we're looking at nine days between the end of the conference finals and start of the NBA Finals," Torres prefaced before saying, "You know how many exhausting Caitlin Clark news cycles we're going to have to go through with nine days of no NBA basketball."

Unfortunately, Mr. Torres, there will be a Clark problem anyway. The Indiana Fever star and Iowa women's basketball legend is the most polarizing athlete in sports. Her arrival to the league isn't well-received by the veterans of the WNBA and Angel Reese, her collegiate rival who she went 1-1 against during the past two NCAA Tournaments, isn't exactly her staunchest supporter either.

But can the Celtics and Mavs get the job done? It may not be as easy as it sounds.

Rick Carlisle: 'We're going after' the Boston Celtics in Game 4

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle sounds like a man hellbent on getting his team a win in what has been a mostly exciting and closely-contested (besides Game 2 at least) Eastern Conference Finals series.

“Believe me when I tell you, we are going after them,” Carlisle said (h/t The Athletic). “We’re going to be undeterred. We’re going to be back here Monday night, looking to extend the series, and we’re going to come at them even harder."

Indiana has had otherworldly shooting performances throughout the postseason thus far from the likes of Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and others, and could be playing with an extra chip on their shoulder after nearly stealing Game 3 without Tyrese Haliburton but not closing the door on the Cs.

The Pacers are live dogs in Game 4. Whether that spells an upset is unclear.

Mavs have won every game against Timberwolves by single-digits

Dallas barely beat Minnesota at the Target Center in Games 1 and 2 but won more easily in Game 3 on their home floor. Still, it's not a foregone conclusion that this series won't be extended if/when Anthony Edwards finds his shot.

If he doesn't, those Tatum comparisons can take a hike immediately. The overreactions to Edwards' early-round performances against the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets were generational.

If the Timberwolves can extend the series, though, they'll still be battling history. No team in NBA history has ever come back down 3-0 in a playoff series.