Official NBA General Discussion 2025-26 V1.0

[Boardbreaker]

Hopefully we actually get an entertaining game 7 and not the blowout they've all been these playoffs

[DelAbbot]

Watching Siakam ball out all playoffs just confirms what we all already knew. Masai is absolutely cooked. He's a great drafter but that's about it, absolutely terrible at team building. We wasted all these years with FVV, OG, Siakam all on bargain contracts with Scottie on a rookie scale and Masai couldn't put a competent team/bench around them.

We withered away their prime years with no center as he wanked off to his 6'9 vision. No centers to speak of for nearly half a decade before it went off the rails.

I'm ready for Masai to go.

[Los_29]

Excited for game 6. The series is what it should be right now. Pacers stole a game in OKC, OKC stole a game in Indiana. Pacers have a chance of extending this to 7 games but OKC is just an incredible team at home. Can’t imagine them losing game 7.

Daigneault has made some great adjustments in game 4 and 5.

I think the series is done. Indy blinked in fourth of game 4 and the magic of their run was lost at that point.

Hali also got hurt so they are now relying on TJ McConnell or Nembhard to takeover. That's a huge ask.

They also seem to have lost Jalen Williams on drives and he is killing them like its death by paper cuts.

I do hope for a miracle, but OKC has been better. Their defense is propelling them.

Can’t look at one individual game. Both teams have made great adjustments and Indiana took care of business at home. Game wasn’t competitive.

Game 7 is going to be electric. I think the Thunder will pull it out but hope it’s a close game.

[mdenny]

I do not want Indiana to win or else Giannis is gonna be a Thunder and it’s game over for the league

OKC will trade Chet + picks for Giannis regardless of this Finals outcome

They absolutely should. It's the only way they can extend their window past next year.

[Dalek]

Excited for game 6. The series is what it should be right now. Pacers stole a game in OKC, OKC stole a game in Indiana. Pacers have a chance of extending this to 7 games but OKC is just an incredible team at home. Can’t imagine them losing game 7.

Daigneault has made some great adjustments in game 4 and 5.

I think the series is done. Indy blinked in fourth of game 4 and the magic of their run was lost at that point.

Hali also got hurt so they are now relying on TJ McConnell or Nembhard to takeover. That's a huge ask.

They also seem to have lost Jalen Williams on drives and he is killing them like its death by paper cuts.

I do hope for a miracle, but OKC has been better. Their defense is propelling them.

Can’t look at one individual game. Both teams have made great adjustments and Indiana took care of business at home. Game wasn’t competitive.

Game 7 is going to be electric. I think the Thunder will pull it out but hope it’s a close game.

Great bounceback by Indiana but I don't know if Hali actually has a calf strain because he looked 200% better in game 6. Good gamesmanship and great game by TJ that set them on the path for a blowout.

I'd say Game 7 goes to OKC with ease but the Pacers might have one more game in them. This has been a fun series.

[SirKen]

Watching Siakam ball out all playoffs just confirms what we all already knew. Masai is absolutely cooked. He's a great drafter but that's about it, absolutely terrible at team building. We wasted all these years with FVV, OG, Siakam all on bargain contracts with Scottie on a rookie scale and Masai couldn't put a competent team/bench around them.

We withered away their prime years with no center as he wanked off to his 6'9 vision. No centers to speak of for nearly half a decade before it went off the rails.

I'm ready for Masai to go.

They needed a table setter. That was the biggest issue. The struggle ball era looked as it did because the half-court offense was garbage.

Also, they went 2.5 seasons without a real center, and one of those was the Tampa season. And as a matter of fact in their best season, 2021/2022, Precious was the starting center.

That first point sounds like a PG problem. Back then, I really wanted us to trade Fred to fill the position with one of Brogdon (pre-injury) or TJ as the PG until we find a 1st or 2nd option for Siakam. Masai and Bobby failed but Nurse and Fred really set this team back for years post championship.

[Pointgod]

I do not want Indiana to win or else Giannis is gonna be a Thunder and it’s game over for the league

OKC will trade Chet + picks for Giannis regardless of this Finals outcome

Smartest thing to do

[YogurtProducer]

I do not want Indiana to win or else Giannis is gonna be a Thunder and it’s game over for the league

OKC will trade Chet + picks for Giannis regardless of this Finals outcome

Smartest thing to do

Maybe - but I don't see a team winning a championship then shipping out key cogs.

Also don't think Giannis wants to go to a team where its a cakewalk. He isn't KD

[WuTang_CMB]

best finals since 2019

[Tripod]

It was such common sense to either trade him with 1.5 years left on his contract or max him no question when he wanted to be here. Instead we got Masai calling him selfish publicly and then trading him cents on rhe dollar. Utter stupidity tbh.

Now let's hope we make Pelicans fans say the same thing about the Ingram trade next year lol.

But if the offers sucked for Siakam, what do you do? You hold on and hope the value changes or the team changes....unfortunately it got worse.

On paper, we 100% should have been better than we played and had better results. That WAS a selfish year from Nurse on down.

I am happy for Indy as they are showing a "team" can do wonderful things.

Masai didnt think Siakam was worth the max and yet he wanted whatever his price was with 1.5 years left on his contract. This is assuming he truly shopped him because Masai ended up trading for Poeltl instead so that doesnt sound like a guy who was truly in a sellers mode.

Like I said the whole time and also in my previous post, you either trade him or MAX him at that point. You don't let him enter his walk year, which is exactly why we got ripped the F off, since the other team only got 3 months of his services.

But all I am saying is we don't know what those offers were for Siakam 1.5 years out.

We know OG's was 3 crap Knick's 1sts so was waiting and getting IQ, RJ and a 2nd better? I say yes actually.

Maybe the same was with Siakam...maybe the offers were just not there.

And let's be honest, you can be the biggest Siakam fan out there....few ever expected this outcome. But even so, let's look:

Game 6: 3rd in pts- win
Game 5: 1st in pts- loss
Game 4: 1st in pts- loss
Game 3: 3rd in pts- win
Game 2: 3rd in pts- loss
Game 1: 1st in pts- win

They win more when he is 3rd in pts vs when he is 1st in pts. And that 1 win was 19 pts on 7-15 shooting and 4-6 from the line. It wasn't a "get on my back" performance.

Indy is the epitome of playing a team game with no egos, no pecking order, etc... Carlisle said it best when he said "I don't care who scores". And Siakam has fit in perfectly need wise and play wise. Hell, their top scorers each game have been PS x2, Hali x2, Mathurin x1 and Toppin x1.

Ironically, it's how the current Raps are built where on any given night BI, RJ, Barnes or IQ could lead the team in scoring.

And fwiw, I personally hope Indy wins to show you don't need to tank for years on end and finish bottom 3. Or that you can win without a top 10 player in the game....let alone the 2/3 superstar super teams players have been trying to create. You can win with a great team and coach.

[AkelaLoneWolf]

But if the offers sucked for Siakam, what do you do? You hold on and hope the value changes or the team changes....unfortunately it got worse.

On paper, we 100% should have been better than we played and had better results. That WAS a selfish year from Nurse on down.

I am happy for Indy as they are showing a "team" can do wonderful things.

Masai didnt think Siakam was worth the max and yet he wanted whatever his price was with 1.5 years left on his contract. This is assuming he truly shopped him because Masai ended up trading for Poeltl instead so that doesnt sound like a guy who was truly in a sellers mode.

Like I said the whole time and also in my previous post, you either trade him or MAX him at that point. You don't let him enter his walk year, which is exactly why we got ripped the F off, since the other team only got 3 months of his services.

But all I am saying is we don't know what those offers were for Siakam 1.5 years out.

We know OG's was 3 crap Knick's 1sts so was waiting and getting IQ, RJ and a 2nd better? I say yes actually.

Maybe the same was with Siakam...maybe the offers were just not there.

And let's be honest, you can be the biggest Siakam fan out there....few ever expected this outcome. But even so, let's look:

Game 6: 3rd in pts- win
Game 5: 1st in pts- loss
Game 4: 1st in pts- loss
Game 3: 3rd in pts- win
Game 2: 3rd in pts- loss
Game 1: 1st in pts- win

They win more when he is 3rd in pts vs when he is 1st in pts. And that 1 win was 19 pts on 7-15 shooting and 4-6 from the line. It wasn't a "get on my back" performance.

Indy is the epitome of playing a team game with no egos, no pecking order, etc... Carlisle said it best when he said "I don't care who scores". And Siakam has fit in perfectly need wise and play wise. Hell, their top scorers each game have been PS x2, Hali x2, Mathurin x1 and Toppin x1.

Ironically, it's how the current Raps are built where on any given night BI, RJ, Barnes or IQ could lead the team in scoring.

And fwiw, I personally hope Indy wins to show you don't need to tank for years on end and finish bottom 3. Or that you can win without a top 10 player in the game....let alone the 2/3 superstar super teams players have been trying to create. You can win with a great team and coach.

From everything we’ve heard the offers were about the same for Siakam the year prior to when he was traded which is one of the reasons that Masai pivoted and got Poeltl instead.

[mtcan]

I do not want Indiana to win or else Giannis is gonna be a Thunder and it’s game over for the league

OKC will trade Chet + picks for Giannis regardless of this Finals outcome

Smartest thing to do

Chet's not going anywhere. A team like this as young as it is...all they need is to keep developing and they'll be back and even better next season. Chet is in his second season. No reason to believe he won't continue to develop and he'll be better next season. The Thunder are the last team that needs to chase Giannis or KD.

[OakleyDokely]

OKC's 3 wins: SGA shoots between 10-14 FTs.
OKC's 3 losses: SGA shoots between 6-8 FTs.

[Basketball_Jones]

I feel the effort was waning this game, like OKC wasn’t trying very hard. Big mistake imo but if they think they can just turn it on like a veteran team to close it out game 7 we will have to see. Chet is a liability out there as well but if he can give them just one good game here they probably win he’s that important.

[OakleyDokely]

The pacers are scary in a 1 game playoff because of 3pt variance. They get hot in a game and it's over early.

[YogurtProducer]

OKC's 3 wins: SGA shoots between 10-14 FTs.
OKC's 3 losses: SGA shoots between 6-8 FTs.

Makes sense - when Indiana defends well and limits SGA they have a better shot at winning.

[HumbleRen]

I feel the effort was waning this game, like OKC wasn’t trying very hard. Big mistake imo but if they think they can just turn it on like a veteran team to close it out game 7 we will have to see. Chet is a liability out there as well but if he can give them just one good game here they probably win he’s that important.

I think we just forget that they're young as hell lol. Think about how inconsistent Siakam, FVV and Norm were in our championship run. Their only vets are Caruso and IHart.

On paper they might be as good as any team we've seen but they're also like 22-25 year olds and that comes with ups and downs.

[pingpongrac]

This is about as close of an NBA Finals that we’ve seen in the past decade. The majority of the series has been highly competitive (a few blowouts but an overall point differential of 7) and the overall numbers have been strikingly similar for the most part; the only major differences are the Pacers have been moving the ball around much more (336 passes per game to 219) which has led to a few more turnovers (2.7 more per game) while the Thunder have been making a living in the paint/at the line (6 more PITP per game and 4.3 more FTA with 5.9 more FTM), but Indiana has pretty much made up that difference with their three-point shooting (3.0 3FGM per game). It was wild to me to see so many people writing off the Pacers before G1 had even started.

OKC has the best chance of winning still (home-court advantage and the best player), but I’m not counting out the Pacers. OKC is pretty much entirely reliant on SGA and Williams on the offensive end in this series and Indiana has a chance because of their depth and three-point shooting, but they are sure to get even more calls at home on Sunday. Either way, this has been the most entertaining Finals to me since we won it all 6 years ago and I’m fine with either team winning. I just hope it’s not a blowout by halftime or an endless parade to the free throw line.

[WaltFrazier]

Pacers are going to cause chaos to teams plans in the future. Showing that you can win in the modern nba without Multiple Superstars as long as you have great depth and two way players.

Orlando already made their move. Cavs will be next. Boston is going to look at Brown and take offers. Bucks are going try convince Giannis they can build depth, etc. etc.

And if they win, watch OKC say screw it. We tried depth now we going to go get a another superstar. haha poor GM's are going to be so confused on how to win.

Unless they can move Chet+ whatever for Giannis, OKC should stand pat, or small tweaks. At their age they will only get better going through this experience.

And they may yet win the title, maybe even win a blowout.

Whatever happens though, the 4th team in the East either winning the chip or going to 7, blows the narrative of West superiority out of the water.

[WaltFrazier]

This is about as close of an NBA Finals that we’ve seen in the past decade. The majority of the series has been highly competitive (a few blowouts but an overall point differential of 7) and the overall numbers have been strikingly similar for the most part; the only major differences are the Pacers have been moving the ball around much more (336 passes per game to 219) which has led to a few more turnovers (2.7 more per game) while the Thunder have been making a living in the paint/at the line (6 more PITP per game and 4.3 more FTA with 5.9 more FTM), but Indiana has pretty much made up that difference with their three-point shooting (3.0 3FGM per game). It was wild to me to see so many people writing off the Pacers before G1 had even started.

OKC has the best chance of winning still (home-court advantage and the best player), but I’m not counting out the Pacers. OKC is pretty much entirely reliant on SGA and Williams on the offensive end in this series and Indiana has a chance because of their depth and three-point shooting, but they are sure to get even more calls at home on Sunday. Either way, this has been the most entertaining Finals to me since we won it all 6 years ago and I’m fine with either team winning. I just hope it’s not a blowout by halftime or an endless parade to the free throw line.

In game 5 the OKC bench players were hitting 3s for the first time. If they can do that again, being back home with confidence, OKC should win.