2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 2-1)

[BrianInPhilly]

Why didn't I Joe play more? He had 6 p in 4 minutes. I get it - he's not great defensively but his shooting scares me as someone rooting for the Pacers ...

[Deathray]

Daigneault's random experiment of starting Cason Wallace in the finals has been a disaster.

OKC has dominated first quarters so far.

[jigga_man]

Another win for the good guys.

[thelead]

Dort Caruso and Joe went 9 for 10 from three

It seems like they're always shooting 80+% from deep... it's unbelievable that anyone can withstand those haymakers.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Chet is a trash offensive player. All he can do reliably is hit spotup 3s. Looks like a Goat in open gyms but cant do any of that dribble, euro, sauce in games that actually matter

It’s amazing how poor his footwork can look at times.

there is a great offensive player somewhere in there... but him trying to play like KD isn't it. His handle is not tight enough to attempt the things he does.

He’s too predictable at times. He tried to attack Turner at the end and got blocked on a 3. Then drove to the basket and needed to just pump fake and he would have probably had a layup and he tried to use his body instead.

He’s so weak that he has to be smarter instead of just thinking his height is enough.

KD despite being skinny is quite strong and has put on muscle since he started so doesn’t have the same issues.

[jokeboy86]

If IND wins it all, probably the greatest title run in the NBA… ever. Crazy!

3rd behind Pistons and Mavericks.

This would top it to me because that Pistons defense was the NBA version of the Baltimore Ravens and Wallace was monster defensively. The Mavericks also had Dirk who was still a top 10ish player and a lot of veterans who in their prime were consistent all stars.

The Pacers have no one on their roster imo who at the moment is trending towards a surefire HOFer. Even with another ring Siakam probably isnt getting in and Haliburton would have to still stay healthy and be consistent for a couple more years especially since even with a ring I wouldnt put him as top 10 player in the league.

[Mk0]

Chet is a trash offensive player. All he can do reliably is hit spotup 3s. Looks like a Goat in open gyms but cant do any of that dribble, euro, sauce in games that actually matter

It’s amazing how poor his footwork can look at times.

there is a great offensive player somewhere in there... but him trying to play like KD isn't it. His handle is not tight enough to attempt the things he does.

There are two major issues. The guy has played 134 games and missed 114, and because of that the offense isn't built with him in mind. He gets his buckets but those spot up 3s are because he is getting kick outs.

I think he is healthy next year and blows up.

Or he just needs his own team to showcase his full potential.

*Not that it is a problem if you manage to win a chip and/or compete for one for the next 5 years.

[Nuntius]

Daigneault's random experiment of starting Cason Wallace in the finals has been a disaster.

It really hasn't. OKC has won every single 1st quarter and they consistently manage to create turnovers early on. If Daigneault was to start the game off with the double bigs lineup then we would just get too comfortable offensively from the get go. Double big lineups don't do great against us. They can outrebound us, yeah, but your transition defense is going to be severely compromised and we will run. Just ask Cavs and Knicks fans. They can confirm that.

Should he start Caruso instead of Wallace? I could see that, yeah, but I do think that he wants the spark that Caruso provides off the bench. So, starting with Wallace and closing the game with Caruso does look like the right call to me.

[jkvonny]

Pacers now have something they never had in the 2000 Finals; a series lead.

True but that started in Game 1 this yr. Lol

Pacers led 1-0

[LakerLegend]

I feel like the Pacers have to win every home game to have a shot at winning this series.

[Nuntius]

Why didn't I Joe play more? He had 6 p in 4 minutes. I get it - he's not great defensively but his shooting scares me as someone rooting for the Pacers ...

He committed back-to-back fouls and Daigneault just pulled him, never to be seen again. I do agree that he could have played more as his shooting does scare me as well.

[CelticSooner]

I feel like the Pacers have to win every home game to have a shot at winning this series.

That's the only way I see them winning this.

[GeorgeSears]

The bench plays better at home.

[iggymcfrack]

I think OKC lost those finals in game 1. In a vacuum I think we are the better team but Pacers at home are better than Thunder on the road so I don't see us coming back from this deficit. Pacers is six is the likely outcome.

LOL, you’re still 2:1 favorites. Thunder may well lose the series, but they certainly haven’t lost it YET. Just win Game 4 as a 6 point favorite and everything’s feeling smooth again.

[SpurNani]

Remember when we were told this would be a OKC sweep?

lol

Remember the Jokic fans were asking for credit for winning 3 games against this team, who is full of 23 year olds.

Not saying they aren't a great team, but they are not some juggernaut team like they tried to pretend they were. These kids can play all the great defense they want but they cant execute in late game situations.

Last years Dallas and Boston teams >>> OKC team this year

[davidv2001]

Indiana has the type of team that can mitigate some of the Thunder’s significant advantages they have against most teams. They have a deep bench and lots of ball handlers, and can score points in a hurry. They also know they are never out of a game because of their offense, and Carlisle is good at making adjustments.

The Thunder have done a good job of turning Indiana over more than any other team could, and they are still down 2-1.

[Nuntius]

I feel like the Pacers have to win every home game to have a shot at winning this series.

I mean, yes. Obviously. You have to win your home games if you want to win the title as the team without HCA.

[jokeboy86]

It’s amazing how poor his footwork can look at times.

there is a great offensive player somewhere in there... but him trying to play like KD isn't it. His handle is not tight enough to attempt the things he does.

He’s too predictable at times. He tried to attack Turner at the end and got blocked on a 3. Then drove to the basket and needed to just pump fake and he would have probably had a layup and he tried to use his body instead.

He’s so weak that he has to be smarter instead of just thinking his height is enough.

KD despite being skinny is quite strong and has put on muscle since he started so doesn’t have the same issues.

Also the thing about KD unlike some of the other skinny frame guys like Ingram and Chet who try to emulate him is he has godlike footwork and is so smooth. With Chet and Ingram they look clunky and not as smooth and a guy like Wemby doesnt have the speed

[___Rand___]

Damn I just got home. Pacers pulled that out? wow

FYI Doris wore purple for this game. wasn't her look IMO.

[Marrs-Law]

Yea, I really am not sure that this kind of win is going to be replicated in the series. The Pacers will need to keep winning the adjustment battle. Regardless, all Indy has to do is win game four to be completely in the driver's seat. Now that should be much watch tv!

The difference in game 2 was Aaron Wiggins…

This whole thing about every Pacers win being an outlier and every Thunder win being the natural order of the world is really weird

I'm a Pacers fan, so I have great respect for the team. I don't think this Pacers team is better than the Thunder's ala, if you play 100 games the Thunder probably win sixty. The Thunder [i]should[i] be up 2-1 right now, and I think if you replayed the series again they would be because the Thunder wouldn't have taken their foot off the gas. And so I look at it: how do you pull out wins against a team that's better than you?

Two more notes:
If OKC's suffocating defense in g2 turns out to be a fluke, then, well, the Pacers might be better. But I don't think it is. I also "steelman" my opponents . This version of OKC, what with the offensive inconsistency, is fairly close to the Pacers. I look at the "peak" OKC game, and maybe they don't reach that enough yet and I should weigh their mistakes in more.

Finally, I think the Pacers have clearly solidified themselves as a top team in the current NBA, and whether the Pacers are the 1st best team or the 3rd best team really doesn't matter. Championships matter. Two games to go