2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (OKC leads 3-2)

Moderators: Clav, Domejandro, ken6199, bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid, cupcakesnake, bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285

Who seizes a commanding 3-2 lead?

OKC
53
60%
Indiana
36
40%
 
Total votes: 89

SportsGuru08
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,762
And1: 1,464
Joined: Dec 23, 2023
Location: Clearwater, FL
       

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#361 » by SportsGuru08 » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:46 am

___Rand___ wrote:Ah this game is like a funeral. Onto game 6!


Not quite but it's close to getting out of hand.
Bergmaniac
General Manager
Posts: 7,517
And1: 11,304
Joined: Jan 08, 2010
 

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#362 » by Bergmaniac » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:47 am

Pacers are quite lucky not to be down by more, their offense has been a mess and Thunder missed a lot of easy shots around the rim.
EmpireFalls
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,125
And1: 8,378
Joined: Jun 16, 2015
   

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#363 » by EmpireFalls » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:47 am

Haliburton the “top 10 player” has 0 points and more TOs than assists at half. Great job
BrianInPhilly
Pro Prospect
Posts: 876
And1: 1,139
Joined: Nov 25, 2020

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#364 » by BrianInPhilly » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:47 am

Tony Bradley better not see the floor in the 2nd half? They're down 14 ... Go small and run them out of gym.

This doubling of Shai has been terrible also. It's lead to guys being out of rebounding position too, just easy offense for OKC.

Personally I don't get what the Pacers are doing on defense. They are GOING AWAY from what has worked the last couple games (not doubling) and I'm not sure why.
HoopsterJones
RealGM
Posts: 16,736
And1: 13,931
Joined: Feb 22, 2014

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#365 » by HoopsterJones » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:47 am

The energy level for the Thunder is crazy. Pacers are barley hanging in there, but feels like they aren’t matching OkC’s intensity.
AKME got to go
User avatar
azcatz11
RealGM
Posts: 31,002
And1: 34,771
Joined: Apr 13, 2017
Location: Phoenix
     

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#366 » by azcatz11 » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:47 am

This game ain’t over ladies
Praying for Burrow
ahmetmekin
Pro Prospect
Posts: 909
And1: 567
Joined: Apr 21, 2018
 

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#367 » by ahmetmekin » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:48 am

Pretty good outcome for the Pacers as they played like a euroleague team in the first half.
therealbig3
RealGM
Posts: 29,529
And1: 16,092
Joined: Jul 31, 2010

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#368 » by therealbig3 » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:48 am

Haliburton is probably best as a spot up shooter and off ball passer at this point, Nembhard, Mathurin, and McConnell are just way more effective as the primary ball handlers against this defense, as crazy as that sounds.

Siakam was also way out of control that half.

Still, a 14 point lead isn’t insurmountable…but it’s a lot. Especially if the Pacers can’t get any easy baskets.
User avatar
___Rand___
RealGM
Posts: 14,146
And1: 13,713
Joined: Feb 26, 2017
       

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#369 » by ___Rand___ » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:48 am

Chuck Everett wrote:Blaming Mathurin here makes no sense. Haliburton has no points. And 2 assists. Horrendous game from him.


Hali showing nothing. No fight.
Image
User avatar
Kawaii Leonard
Pro Prospect
Posts: 996
And1: 1,274
Joined: Jun 08, 2012
Location: raps in 6ix
 

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#370 » by Kawaii Leonard » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:48 am

Wallace and Wiggins are a combined:
18p
6/8 3pt
4 stocks
WarriorGM wrote:Steph is the greatest playmaker of all-time.
User avatar
Chuck Everett
RealGM
Posts: 19,155
And1: 22,015
Joined: May 28, 2004
Location: Los Angeles
   

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#371 » by Chuck Everett » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:48 am

Wiggins and Wallace have combined 6-8 from 3. I mean that's ridiculous, especially considering how poorly Wallace has been shooting.
"Kill 'em with Grindness."
User avatar
kwajo
Head Coach
Posts: 6,542
And1: 13,291
Joined: Apr 29, 2015
Location: Floating on the Bay of Fundy
     

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#372 » by kwajo » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:48 am

I fully expect this to be a close game by 5 minutes left in the 4th.
"They left them homeless, down and out,
In their crumbling empire"
User avatar
VicG
Head Coach
Posts: 6,459
And1: 2,402
Joined: Nov 20, 2001
Location: T.O.

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#373 » by VicG » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:49 am

If Tyrese can bounce back from this half and lead Indy to a win here we have a legend in the making
User avatar
Kawaii Leonard
Pro Prospect
Posts: 996
And1: 1,274
Joined: Jun 08, 2012
Location: raps in 6ix
 

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#374 » by Kawaii Leonard » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:49 am

Chuck Everett wrote:Wiggins and Wallace have combined 6-8 from 3. I mean that's ridiculous, especially considering how poorly Wallace has been shooting.


Beat you to it, my bad
WarriorGM wrote:Steph is the greatest playmaker of all-time.
soxperry
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,948
And1: 4,676
Joined: Jul 08, 2018
     

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#375 » by soxperry » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:49 am

we've been here with Haliburton so many times.. can't judge him until the game is over.. i hate the guy, i'm just saying
User avatar
___Rand___
RealGM
Posts: 14,146
And1: 13,713
Joined: Feb 26, 2017
       

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#376 » by ___Rand___ » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:49 am

SportsGuru08 wrote:
___Rand___ wrote:Ah this game is like a funeral. Onto game 6!


Not quite but it's close to getting out of hand.


I don't see game 1 happening again. no. OKC are just too comfortable, too confident. In game 1 they were a bit tight. That's how Pacers came back.
Image
User avatar
Nuntius
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 23,159
And1: 23,594
Joined: Feb 28, 2012
   

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#377 » by Nuntius » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:49 am

Well, we're trying. But things are definitely rough for us. We are missing open 3s. Hali has been swallowed up by their defense. We are mishandling passes and turning it over. We're missing shots at the rim.

Credit OKC's defense. It's the main reason why they had an ATG season and why they can be rightfully considered to be an ATG team. They're relentless.

But, similarly, we aren't going to give up. I have to hope that Rick finds an adjustment that frees up Hali at the half. Who knows what that adjustment could be.

Just play till the end and we'll see what happens.
"No wolf shall keep his secrets, no bird shall dance the skyline
And I am left with nothing but an oath that gleams like a sword
To bathe in the blood of man
Mankind..."

She Painted Fire Across the Skyline, Part 3
- Agalloch
User avatar
kwajo
Head Coach
Posts: 6,542
And1: 13,291
Joined: Apr 29, 2015
Location: Floating on the Bay of Fundy
     

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#378 » by kwajo » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:50 am

VicG wrote:If Tyrese can bounce back from this half and lead Indy to a win here we have a legend in the making


I know what you're saying, but that's basically what he's already done in these playoffs several times. I think the legend is already made.
"They left them homeless, down and out,
In their crumbling empire"
User avatar
rockmanslim
RealGM
Posts: 11,813
And1: 7,241
Joined: Jul 15, 2008
   

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#379 » by rockmanslim » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:50 am

Watching that drive in slow-mo, Hali is lucky he didn't pop his calf/achilles
click

"Harden's a guy that averages 26 in the NBA, but if he was on the playground with you he'd only average about 5 because they wouldn't let him get those free throws." --Scott Hastings, April 6, 2013


Image
HangTime
Head Coach
Posts: 6,376
And1: 4,321
Joined: Oct 18, 2011

Re: 2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 2-2, Game 5 Monday) 

Post#380 » by HangTime » Tue Jun 17, 2025 1:50 am

I've solved the Pacers.

Pascal has mastered the role of being the highest scorer without being the #1 option.
So, if Pascal is actually asked to be the #1 option, with Haliburton deferring (because of injury), you'll see the flaws.

Return to The General Board