2024-2025 OKC Thunder Games Thread

[Clav]

Indy really screwed up last night we simply can’t stop Mccconell right now, and they took him out how weird. Dub was amazing he has stepped up in a big way a true 2nd for us. I agree Chet badly needs some muscle but he is grinding it out. I will tell you my blood pressure was way up last night! This team is so much fun to watch. I hope we move up in the draft we need to keep very good rookies to help with the pending payroll crunch.

They also played Tony Bradley... I mean shoutout for the former Thunder, but he's not a Finals level C.

Any idea why? I was distracted throughout, so I didn't get to see what happened. Carlisle's rotations before had his team playing small during the Tony B minutes, so I assumed that we did something to make him feel like he needed a big center out there. I credited it to our big guys.

Unsure, except just speculating.

I'd frame it like this.... well, Bradley had played decent for them in the playoffs, he was a bit banged up before that game. Hadn't played in a while. Thomas Bryant hasn't been that effective and there's really not many options for Indiana in the post-rotation.

Bradley at least offers some size vs Hartenstein, but I couldn't really say why Carlisle gave him such PT just for that, because he was a net negative on the floor and didn't look good, he wasn't used in the previous 4 games, just seems out of character. However I'm not complaining too much lol Happy to be one win away!

[Dadouv47]

don't feel that good about tonight's game anymore. Stomach hurts already.

[spearsy23]

We have to win tonight. Setting up a single game means anything can go wrong, and Indy is pretty well suited to have a shooting variance game.

[Dadouv47]

I think Indy is gonna start Haliburton just to make us ready to play against him and then sit him after 3 minutes. It's just the smart thing to do to sit him tonight and play him in a potential game 7 if his calf can get better.

[Dadouv47]

I hope we learned from past experience of close out game against Denver. I also hope Indy might struggle in a close out game because they have less experience than Denver.

I don't love the idea of resting Shai/JDub that much in the first half if we are doing well because I just think it's more of a mental game at this point and giving us the best chance to make a decent lead is more important than Shai having fresh legs in clutch time. It's obviously a gamble but that's the path I would take even if I think Daigneault will probably do the same as game 4 and 5 since it worked well.

Need a great Caruso game on the road to win. We aren't winning this if his offense is as bad as game 5.

[Zagor]

I have a trust in guys. It seems they figured it out Indiana's offense.

If Hali plays, we should attack him every possession.

[bbms]

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/track_meet_or_nba_finals_thunder_pacers_blazing_a_new_trail/s1_13132_42347215

Track meet or NBA Finals? Thunder, Pacers blazing a new trail

As they try to outsprint each other towards the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the Thunder and Pacers have set a new benchmark. They have combined to travel 38.4 miles per game in the five games thus far, marking the most distance covered by two teams in NBA Finals history.

In comparison, last year's NBA Finals between the Mavericks and Celtics saw the teams travel a combined 33.9 miles per game, and the Nuggets and Heat the year before averaged 33.8 miles. Even the great Warriors teams with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — who were in perpetual motion — traveled only 16.43 miles per game in the 2015-16 Finals, which is nearly four fewer than this year's Pacers.

i was dying for these gps numbers.

confirmed my expectations: this will shake nba forever... (and makes me want cmb more)

[Dadouv47]

Chet offensive performance is coming.

[spearsy23]

Chet offensive performance is coming.

But like Offensive good or Offensive bad?

[Dadouv47]

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/track_meet_or_nba_finals_thunder_pacers_blazing_a_new_trail/s1_13132_42347215

Track meet or NBA Finals? Thunder, Pacers blazing a new trail

As they try to outsprint each other towards the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the Thunder and Pacers have set a new benchmark. They have combined to travel 38.4 miles per game in the five games thus far, marking the most distance covered by two teams in NBA Finals history.

In comparison, last year's NBA Finals between the Mavericks and Celtics saw the teams travel a combined 33.9 miles per game, and the Nuggets and Heat the year before averaged 33.8 miles. Even the great Warriors teams with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — who were in perpetual motion — traveled only 16.43 miles per game in the 2015-16 Finals, which is nearly four fewer than this year's Pacers.

i was dying for these gps numbers.

confirmed my expectations: this will shake nba forever... (and makes me want cmb more)

MCconnell played 22 minutes last game. Wonder how effective he can be if he needs to play 30-35 minutes. Same for Mathurin to some extent and I think he might be Pacers X factor for tonight's game.

[Dadouv47]

Chet offensive performance is coming.

But like Offensive good or Offensive bad?

Good.

Don't think he played a really good offensive game so far in these final (despite some key offensive rebounds in game 4)

[spearsy23]

If haliburton can't play significant minutes does Dort guard siakam? TJ? Mathurin?

[spearsy23]

Chet offensive performance is coming.

But like Offensive good or Offensive bad?

Good.

Don't think he played a really good offensive game so far in these final (despite some key offensive rebounds in game 4)

I'm wondering if he's in good enough cardio shape to have a good shooting game with the pace and physicality this series is being played at. Prior to the playoffs he had only played more than 3 games in a row once since November, and during that stretch in April he was playing 25 minutes more often than not. He has played 34+ the last 3 games after only doing it twice previously in the playoffs.

[Dadouv47]

But like Offensive good or Offensive bad?

Good.

Don't think he played a really good offensive game so far in these final (despite some key offensive rebounds in game 4)

I'm wondering if he's in good enough cardio shape to have a good shooting game with the pace and physicality this series is being played at. Prior to the playoffs he had only played more than 3 games in a row once since November, and during that stretch in April he was playing 25 minutes more often than not. He has played 34+ the last 3 games after only doing it twice previously in the playoffs.

fair point. I said before the series started that it was gonna be a tough match up for Chet because of Pacers pace so it's a legit concern. I just want him to be more efficient. Don't think he's able to score 30 pts but just want him to hit two or three shots from outside and make the easy ones from inside like he did in game 3.

[falcolombardi]

If haliburton can't play significant minutes does Dort guard siakam? TJ? Mathurin?

Nembhard?

[Devilanche]

If haliburton can't play significant minutes does Dort guard siakam? TJ? Mathurin?

Tj or mathurin

[yves15]

First of two chances. Hope we end this today. Feels like this is last game for the season and I need to look & buy that Thunder champion shirt after

[spearsy23]

Butterflies

[Dadouv47]

a bit concerned about Shai but great start from JDub.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Butterflies

You collect them? Have some displays? Just enjoy watching them outside?

P.S. Laugh. I'm making jokes and being a bit sarcastic.