Official NBA General Discussion 2025-26 V1.0

[Los_29]

It was definitely a flagrant, but you don't deserve a comeback win if you're just handing the ball lazily to the other team all game. TJ and a pretty perfect game from Mathurin prevented this from becoming another OKC blowout.

Weird one is I don't know what you'd change outside of more Chet/IHart minutes for OKC. You got what you wanted all game until winning time.

Still OKC in 6 for me. OKC slowly solving the various matchups they have. Just play cleaner and the wins should be comfortable.

This game was never trending towards being "another OKC blowout". OKC jumped out to an early lead then Indiana came right back, but neither team led by more than double digits all game. It was close all night and Indiana just played a more complete game and executed down the stretch.

This is why the games are played. OKC was the heavy favourite and they have led for the majority of the series, but their inexperience — and Indiana's experience as well as getting production from everyone — has given the Pacers a 2-1 lead. It's wild to me that OKC pretty much needs to win in blowout fashion because the Pacers have just been so composed and clutch down the stretch all post-season that you can never count them out if it's close in the 4th.

Yes, Indiana came back...with bench minutes that have sank them for most of the playoffs. With handing TJ the ball for an immediate layup 3 separate times, and Mathurin dropping 27 instead of his combined 2 points in the two previous games. Had they played to their usual level, the OKC lead stretches and you're looking at game 2 again. The Pacers pushing for answers and OKC slowing the pace to a crawl and executing.

OKC has dominated the first two games and large stretches of this one.

If you believe these teams are equals, go ahead and say it. None of the numbers back this, and no analysts who are paid to comment on basketball think that either.

Yes, the games need to be played, and massive underdogs can win them, which is what the Pacers are.

Doesn’t seem like this game is a great example of what you are referring to though. Pacers led at the half and seems like there were no big leads from either team throughout the game.

At the end of the day, it’s not how pretty it looks, results matter. Pacers took control of the 4th and won another game in crunch time.

OKC is the better team on paper and have had better stretches in the series. But Pacers have stepped it up more when it matters.

Been a fun series so far. You can’t even use inexperience as an excuse for OKC. SGA, Chet, Jdubs, Hartenstein, Caruso have all played in the playoffs. This is the year to get that championship.

[billy_hoyle]

It was definitely a flagrant, but you don't deserve a comeback win if you're just handing the ball lazily to the other team all game. TJ and a pretty perfect game from Mathurin prevented this from becoming another OKC blowout.

Weird one is I don't know what you'd change outside of more Chet/IHart minutes for OKC. You got what you wanted all game until winning time.

Still OKC in 6 for me. OKC slowly solving the various matchups they have. Just play cleaner and the wins should be comfortable.

This game was never trending towards being "another OKC blowout". OKC jumped out to an early lead then Indiana came right back, but neither team led by more than double digits all game. It was close all night and Indiana just played a more complete game and executed down the stretch.

This is why the games are played. OKC was the heavy favourite and they have led for the majority of the series, but their inexperience — and Indiana's experience as well as getting production from everyone — has given the Pacers a 2-1 lead. It's wild to me that OKC pretty much needs to win in blowout fashion because the Pacers have just been so composed and clutch down the stretch all post-season that you can never count them out if it's close in the 4th.

Yes, Indiana came back...with bench minutes that have sank them for most of the playoffs. With handing TJ the ball for an immediate layup 3 separate times, and Mathurin dropping 27 instead of his combined 2 points in the two previous games. Had they played to their usual level, the OKC lead stretches and you're looking at game 2 again. The Pacers pushing for answers and OKC slowing the pace to a crawl and executing.

OKC has dominated the first two games and large stretches of this one.

If you believe these teams are equals, go ahead and say it. None of the numbers back this, and no analysts who are paid to comment on basketball think that either.

Yes, the games need to be played, and massive underdogs can win them, which is what the Pacers are.

Are you suggesting that Mathurin is a 2ppg scorer?

Dude put up 16 a game off the bench this year.

I think it's you that doesn't understand how good Indy is offensively, and that you can't keep a bench gunner like Mathurin down for an entire series.

Next game it will be a different former lottery pick for Indy. They have alot of former lottery picks in their rotation. That doesn't even include TJ, Nembhard and Pascal.

Deep team.

[Brinbe]

Also peep that the two highest scorers tonight are Canadian

[pingpongrac]

It was definitely a flagrant, but you don't deserve a comeback win if you're just handing the ball lazily to the other team all game. TJ and a pretty perfect game from Mathurin prevented this from becoming another OKC blowout.

Weird one is I don't know what you'd change outside of more Chet/IHart minutes for OKC. You got what you wanted all game until winning time.

Still OKC in 6 for me. OKC slowly solving the various matchups they have. Just play cleaner and the wins should be comfortable.

This game was never trending towards being "another OKC blowout". OKC jumped out to an early lead then Indiana came right back, but neither team led by more than double digits all game. It was close all night and Indiana just played a more complete game and executed down the stretch.

This is why the games are played. OKC was the heavy favourite and they have led for the majority of the series, but their inexperience — and Indiana's experience as well as getting production from everyone — has given the Pacers a 2-1 lead. It's wild to me that OKC pretty much needs to win in blowout fashion because the Pacers have just been so composed and clutch down the stretch all post-season that you can never count them out if it's close in the 4th.

Yes, Indiana came back...with bench minutes that have sank them for most of the playoffs. With handing TJ the ball for an immediate layup 3 separate times, and Mathurin dropping 27 instead of his combined 2 points in the two previous games. Had they played to their usual level, the OKC lead stretches and you're looking at game 2 again. The Pacers pushing for answers and OKC slowing the pace to a crawl and executing.

OKC has dominated the first two games and large stretches of this one.

If you believe these teams are equals, go ahead and say it. None of the numbers back this, and no analysts who are paid to comment on basketball think that either.

Yes, the games need to be played, and massive underdogs can win them, which is what the Pacers are.

McConnell has been doing this all season off the bench for the Pacers — especially at home, where he had scored 10+ in 5 of 8 home playoff games prior to tonight while also averaging nearly 5 AST in less than 20 MPG. Similarly, Mathurin was Indiana’s 3rd leading scorer during the season and has already had multiple 20-point games off the bench in the playoffs thus far. The guy is quite literally known for his scoring and I have no idea where you’re getting “combined 2 points” from as he had 14 in G2 alone.

Analysts say a lot of things — and a lot of those things aren’t very intuitive. Just because they get paid to talk doesn’t mean they know more than everyone else. The reality is this Pacers team has been very good since the calendar flipped to 2025 and they’ve been even better throughout the playoffs. While they are clear underdogs, this series was always going to be much closer than a 4-game sweep. Their pieces fit, Haliburton/Siakam is a strong playoff duo, they have depth, they have the coaching advantage and they have nothing to lose. All of these hypothetical “what if they didn’t hit all of those threes” or “what if their bench didn’t play so well” remarks show that you haven’t been paying attention as this is exactly what Indiana has been doing for months.

[DreamTeam09]

Who's Indiana's knockdown shooter that's so imperative to team spacing.

[dohboy_24]

ROFL...

[MoneyBall]

The calm, nonchalant way the Pacers walked off the court after they won Game 3 tells me they are mentally prepared to win it all. There were zero "we're just happy to be here" vibes detected.

[ATLTimekeeper]

It was definitely a flagrant, but you don't deserve a comeback win if you're just handing the ball lazily to the other team all game. TJ and a pretty perfect game from Mathurin prevented this from becoming another OKC blowout.

Weird one is I don't know what you'd change outside of more Chet/IHart minutes for OKC. You got what you wanted all game until winning time.

Still OKC in 6 for me. OKC slowly solving the various matchups they have. Just play cleaner and the wins should be comfortable.

This game was never trending towards being "another OKC blowout". OKC jumped out to an early lead then Indiana came right back, but neither team led by more than double digits all game. It was close all night and Indiana just played a more complete game and executed down the stretch.

This is why the games are played. OKC was the heavy favourite and they have led for the majority of the series, but their inexperience — and Indiana's experience as well as getting production from everyone — has given the Pacers a 2-1 lead. It's wild to me that OKC pretty much needs to win in blowout fashion because the Pacers have just been so composed and clutch down the stretch all post-season that you can never count them out if it's close in the 4th.

Yes, Indiana came back...with bench minutes that have sank them for most of the playoffs. With handing TJ the ball for an immediate layup 3 separate times, and Mathurin dropping 27 instead of his combined 2 points in the two previous games. Had they played to their usual level, the OKC lead stretches and you're looking at game 2 again. The Pacers pushing for answers and OKC slowing the pace to a crawl and executing.

OKC has dominated the first two games and large stretches of this one.

If you believe these teams are equals, go ahead and say it. None of the numbers back this, and no analysts who are paid to comment on basketball think that either.

Yes, the games need to be played, and massive underdogs can win them, which is what the Pacers are.

What I see is OKC playing badly in two 4th quarters, aka 'winning time.' Still lots of series left, but they are showing their nerves. Only Caruso has a ring playing in an empty gym.

[HiJiNX]

It was definitely a flagrant, but you don't deserve a comeback win if you're just handing the ball lazily to the other team all game. TJ and a pretty perfect game from Mathurin prevented this from becoming another OKC blowout.

Weird one is I don't know what you'd change outside of more Chet/IHart minutes for OKC. You got what you wanted all game until winning time.

Still OKC in 6 for me. OKC slowly solving the various matchups they have. Just play cleaner and the wins should be comfortable.

This game was never trending towards being "another OKC blowout". OKC jumped out to an early lead then Indiana came right back, but neither team led by more than double digits all game. It was close all night and Indiana just played a more complete game and executed down the stretch.

This is why the games are played. OKC was the heavy favourite and they have led for the majority of the series, but their inexperience — and Indiana's experience as well as getting production from everyone — has given the Pacers a 2-1 lead. It's wild to me that OKC pretty much needs to win in blowout fashion because the Pacers have just been so composed and clutch down the stretch all post-season that you can never count them out if it's close in the 4th.

Yes, Indiana came back...with bench minutes that have sank them for most of the playoffs. With handing TJ the ball for an immediate layup 3 separate times, and Mathurin dropping 27 instead of his combined 2 points in the two previous games. Had they played to their usual level, the OKC lead stretches and you're looking at game 2 again. The Pacers pushing for answers and OKC slowing the pace to a crawl and executing.

OKC has dominated the first two games and large stretches of this one.

If you believe these teams are equals, go ahead and say it. None of the numbers back this, and no analysts who are paid to comment on basketball think that either.

Yes, the games need to be played, and massive underdogs can win them, which is what the Pacers are.

This is how the Pacers have played all season. They don’t pull out ahead and keep the lead. Instead the stay within striking distance and get you in the fourth while you’re wearing down and they aren’t. Plus they have a team of big shot makers. Nembhard, Nesmith, Hali, Turner, TJ, Obi, Siakam at times — these guys have been making big shots in fourth quarters all season.

I think folks who underrated the Pacers coming into the series just weren’t really watching them.

[HiJiNX]

The calm, nonchalant way the Pacers walked off the court after they won Game 3 tells me they are mentally prepared to win it all. There were zero "we're just happy to be here" vibes detected.

They’re the more confident team. And that matters in the finals.

[Son Goku 25]

And next year could be the Knicks winning it all. I think this will be the trend now for the foreseeable future in the league, new teams every year.

[Tha Cynic]

The reason OKC was leading for most of game 1 was due to turnovers. Indiana basically beat them everywhere else. They made up for the turnovers with their 3 point shooting.

Indiana has definitely looked more composed. If you think OKC in 6 still, that means OKC will have to win 3 in a row. I don't see that happening with how confident Indiana looks.
I said this after game one and it's really pretty simple. Yes, there are strategies involved, but this is a game of matchups and talent. When I watch these teams, OKC seems like SGA and a bunch of young guys who follow him. With Indiana, they don't rely on one person. Any of their guards can go off at any point. OKC should theoretically have an advantage inside, but Chet is way too green to take advantage. Indiana has the better guards overall imo.

Also you can see the Siakam influence with them walking away casually after winning game 3 lol. The Raptors did the exact same thing in 2019 in game 3 against GS. Knock them in the teeth and walk away like it was nothing.

[Los_29]

So I watched the game and I don’t see this huge gap that some have mentioned. I actually think Indiana looked much better offensively and seemed to be able to get the shots they wanted. OKC on the other hand struggled to get good shots and would’ve lost by even more had they not shot 46% from three.

This is a series and people forget that Indiana gave an experienced, elite Celtics team all they could handle last year. Every game was close.

[Tripod]

It is funny how most thought OKC's pressure defense would impact Indy when it's the reverse happening. Indy is up in SGA and he is doing just what Brunson did...fight to get over center court then set up high screens. And Indy is loving that.

Meanwhile, when Hali gets pressured, he dumps it off to a wide open teammate and they carry it up without any pressure so then bring it up with speed and OKC is reacting instead of dictating.

It's very fun to watch this matchup. OKC is showing its cracks and Indy is taking advantage. OKC in the regular season and most of playoffs dictated games but in the Finals, altered everything and it's failing.

[Los_29]

Great bounce back game for the Thunder. They won this game at the FT line.

That Paul George trade is just wild. Clippers might’ve just given the Thunder a championship. lol. SGA was incredible once again.

I see you have started building that narrative Sam Presti has nothing to do with this soon-to-be championship

What is with this weird little Presti fan club on here.

Everyone in the league trades PG13 for what Presti did. He was literally in a “right place right time” situation and the rebuild of the thunder has more to do with Kawhi/PG than it does Presti.

Like at the end of the day OKC doesn’t care how it happened, but it’s not like you can simply sing Prestis praises for accepting the most brain dead obvious trade of the modern NBA.

Exactly.

They also seem to forget that they wanted OKC to trade SGA so they could bottom out and get their superstar. SGA didn’t fit the “timeline” was the narrative here.

Presti has no doubt added some good pieces but the reality is they are a play-in team without SGA. And without him they’d be firmly stuck in the middle with a flawed core.

[Psubs]

The reason OKC was leading for most of game 1 was due to turnovers. Indiana basically beat them everywhere else. They made up for the turnovers with their 3 point shooting.

Indiana has definitely looked more composed. If you think OKC in 6 still, that means OKC will have to win 3 in a row. I don't see that happening with how confident Indiana looks.
I said this after game one and it's really pretty simple. Yes, there are strategies involved, but this is a game of matchups and talent. When I watch these teams, OKC seems like SGA and a bunch of young guys who follow him. With Indiana, they don't rely on one person. Any of their guards can go off at any point. OKC should theoretically have an advantage inside, but Chet is way too green to take advantage. Indiana has the better guards overall imo.

Also you can see the Siakam influence with them walking away casually after winning game 3 lol. The Raptors did the exact same thing in 2019 in game 3 against GS. Knock them in the teeth and walk away like it was nothing.

Indiana is playing with house money after a poor start to the season and middle seeding.

[DelAbbot]

I see you have started building that narrative Sam Presti has nothing to do with this soon-to-be championship

What is with this weird little Presti fan club on here.

Everyone in the league trades PG13 for what Presti did. He was literally in a “right place right time” situation and the rebuild of the thunder has more to do with Kawhi/PG than it does Presti.

Like at the end of the day OKC doesn’t care how it happened, but it’s not like you can simply sing Prestis praises for accepting the most brain dead obvious trade of the modern NBA.

Exactly.

They also seem to forget that they wanted OKC to trade SGA so they could bottom out and get their superstar. SGA didn’t fit the “timeline” was the narrative here.

Presti has no doubt added some good pieces but the reality is they are a play-in team without SGA. And without him they’d be firmly stuck in the middle with a flawed core.

Who is "they wanted OKC to trade SGA"? Show receipt of me saying that

[OakleyDokely]

The Pacers just come at you in waves. Because they're so deep, they can manage their minutes so that everyone is fresh. Hali led the Pacers with 36 minutes while their next highest guy was Nembard at 33 and Siakam was the only other guy above 30 at 31 minutes. And this was game 3 of the finals not some random regular season game.

Since the NBA has moved away from superteams and most elite teams only have 1-2 stars now, quality depth has become a lot more important.

[PushDaRock]

I find myself rooting for SGA to win a chip but the Pacers winning it would be great for the league and also for the outlook of our team that it's possible to win a championship without a top 10 player.

[Tha Cynic]

The reason OKC was leading for most of game 1 was due to turnovers. Indiana basically beat them everywhere else. They made up for the turnovers with their 3 point shooting.

Indiana has definitely looked more composed. If you think OKC in 6 still, that means OKC will have to win 3 in a row. I don't see that happening with how confident Indiana looks.
I said this after game one and it's really pretty simple. Yes, there are strategies involved, but this is a game of matchups and talent. When I watch these teams, OKC seems like SGA and a bunch of young guys who follow him. With Indiana, they don't rely on one person. Any of their guards can go off at any point. OKC should theoretically have an advantage inside, but Chet is way too green to take advantage. Indiana has the better guards overall imo.

Also you can see the Siakam influence with them walking away casually after winning game 3 lol. The Raptors did the exact same thing in 2019 in game 3 against GS. Knock them in the teeth and walk away like it was nothing.

Indiana is playing with house money after a poor start to the season and middle seeding.

Indiana made the East finals last year and gave the Celtics a hard time. Their next step was to make the finals. I don't think this is house money.

I am impressed with their defense. Their offense was already stellar.

Also another different team will win the championship this season (maybe one no on expected). It goes to show you that building a good team with depth can play a huge role. No need to tank every season.

The way SGA plays reminds me of Kobe Bryant, and he's Canadian, so I'm slightly rooting for them, but I don't think I care either way who wins.