Official NBA General Discussion 2025-26 V1.0

[TheRealDeal]

This Pacers team reminds me a bit of the 57 win Nuggets squad Masai built post Melo trade. They’re built on depth, pace and ball movement. No true alpha, just unselfish and relentlessly pushing the pace

[mdenny]

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.

i think presti has been claimed by those that only believe in tanking as their god. so many are super invested in him succeeding so they can use him as the golden ticket when arguing about tanking.

Well that would be pretty funny. Because the average draft selection of the OKC rotation is approx 33rd overall. Which is in the bottom 5 of the entire league.

In contrast....the average draft selection of the current Raptors team is approx 13th overall.

OKC is not built from tanking. They are built from player development. Mid to late draft picks amd undrafted players. If anything...okc is proof that you don't need top 10 draft picks.

[mdenny]

Great half. We got a ballgame.

[sidsid]

Saw a bit of it at the end of the half, but Indy is going to have to try to just lean on Siakam and Haliburton. Individual effort, see how OKC reacts if they're hot and change how they defend.

Just don't know how much Nesmith/Toppin offense you want to see in these games, and the occasional Nembhard turnover.

[WaltFrazier]

Wallace is not up to the level of play here, shouldn't be starting

[mdenny]

Awesome game. Can't be disappointed either way.

[mdenny]

Chet looking like he doesn't belong on the court again. Needs another year or two to grown into his body.

[Boardbreaker]

Pacers need to go back to Tony Bradley over Bryant if he’s healthy enough

[sidsid]

Analysts have been talking about it: when are OKC going to play more IHart/Chet together. I think this was the first of the series where they did with Hali on the floor, and it didn't hurt them much. It's a game changer if they can spam that and you have to play more Bryant minutes on the Pacers side.

[WaltFrazier]

What a badly missed call, forcing OKC to waste a challenge

[sidsid]

Man, if the Thunder lose this because TJ gets 3 steals off of the laziest inbounds passes you'll see in the playoffs...

[M3tro]

Mathurin mania

[mdenny]

Analysts have been talking about it: when are OKC going to play more IHart/Chet together. I think this was the first of the series where they did with Hali on the floor, and it didn't hurt them much. It's a game changer if they can spam that and you have to play more Bryant minutes on the Pacers side.

Agreed. I also think the thunder are under-playing IH in general. He needs more minutes. They need his muscle and strength in the paint.

[Spates]

Chet looking like DeMar in the playoffs. I feel bad for him

[M3tro]

Indy just has a wave of role players that show up every game.

Toppin a difference maker in this quarter.

[Basketball_Jones]

Chet is getting dealt for Giannis

[Boogie!]

Wow pacers are pesky how do they keep doing it?

[mdenny]

Chet looking like DeMar in the playoffs. I feel bad for him

That's not fair. It's his third season.

[Son Goku 25]

Either going to 7 or pacers winning it.. damn who would have thought.

[M3tro]

Wow pacers are pesky how do they keep doing it?

Team of destiny, my friend.