2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 1-0)

[Castle Black]

I expect Hali to really struggle this series. OKC has so much size and length defensively they can throw at him + they're extremely physical. He's going to be in hell against these guys. I think he'll get frustrated and start settling for too many long 3's to his detriment.

[holdenwait]

Wow man, massive congrats to Pacers making it to the NBA finals. Expecting 6 games minimum unless OKC just kicks into killer mode

[Patches Perry]

Said this on the Heat board, but this reminds me of the 2012 Finals, except OKC is in Miami's role now as the young but slightly more experienced squad that is a bit more known for D, with the Pacers as the young up and comer (2012 Thunder) trying to prevent the current Thunder from establishing themselves.

I think Indiana has the experience advantage although slight. Caruso has a title but so does Siakam. The big difference in experience is the coaches. If Carlisle can find a pitch that OKC can't hit, and Daigs can't adjust, it could get ugly. I think it could also resemble the 2011 finals, where OKC comes in the heavy favorite while Carlisle has a team-of-destiny playing incredible basketball coming into the finals.

It's hard to tell how it will play out. I guess that's why they play the games.

2011 finals was a matchup of 58 vs 57 win teams. Miami was a -180 or so favorite, not remotely comparable to this years finals

Opening line is not too different from the Denver series which went 7. Indiana has played at a 60ish win pace since Jan 1st. I don't think it's as lopsided as the line suggests.

[dockingsched]

I’d really be shocked if this went beyond 5.

[cjx]

Hard work is undefeated, Fam

Pacers in 6 !

[HiDef]

Thunder in 6

[JXL]

Thunder in 5.

SGA will dogwalk Nembhard and Nesmith. OKC defensively will make Haliburton work.

[Patches Perry]

Hard work is undefeated, Fam

Pacers in 6 !

I don't appreciate your rooting against OKC every series I thought we were friends

[karmew32]

Pacers are 48-18 since the new year, a 60-win pace. They're the real deal and have the depth to square up with the Thunder. Siakam is a great 2nd option who is both more experience & reliable than JDub.

I know the Thunder prefer playing fast, but they have the personnel to slow the game down and run a heliocentric offense through SGA, letting the role players save their energy to enhance their already historic defense. Their notable advantage in the frontcourt is only a positive. SGA is definitely the best player in the series, and if they can bog the game down & force the Pacers to play ISO (like what the Rockets did to the Warriors in 2018), I love their chances. Pacers definitely have the advantage if the game becomes a track meet.

My prediction.......Thunder in 7

[MoneyTalks41890]

Bet Pops makes an appearance again

[ForeverTFC]

Stern’s worst nightmare. Very excited for this series.

Let’s go Pacers!

[drone3]

This is going to be a great series

[james vincent]

It's hard to tell how teams with really dominant team identities will clash with each other. Pacers play really fast, and OKC is a really fast and deep team. Either the speed and ball movement will be kryponite to OKC's defense, or OKC's propensity to turn teams over will actually act as a multiplier against a team that moves the ball a lot (more movement equals more passes and more opportunities for turnovers). If OKC's turnover machine can force Indiana into 1 on 1 offense with minimal passing, OKC wins easy. If Indiana can work their offense to break down OKC's defense, they can win it.

I really don't know. Good luck Pacers fans. I love yall now but hate yall going forward.

Said this on the Heat board, but this reminds me of the 2012 Finals, except OKC is in Miami's role now as the young but slightly more experienced squad that is a bit more known for D, with the Pacers as the young up and comer (2012 Thunder) trying to prevent the current Thunder from establishing themselves.

I think Indiana has the experience advantage although slight. Caruso has a title but so does Siakam. The big difference in experience is the coaches. If Carlisle can find a pitch that OKC can't hit, and Daigs can't adjust, it could get ugly. I think it could also resemble the 2011 finals, where OKC comes in the heavy favorite while Carlisle has a team-of-destiny playing incredible basketball coming into the finals.

It's hard to tell how it will play out. I guess that's why they play the games.

I agree. I had that sentiment back in 2011 when I expected Miami to win in 5 games but the Mavericks stunned and upset the heavy favourites in 6 games.

Carlisle is the more experienced coach but Daiganut is no slouch either.

The bench for the pacers is going to have to step up with either two of McConnell, Toppin, Mathurin, Sheppard getting 10-15 points or more in the series because I believe (imo) they’ll shut Haliburton down for at least two games (get him below his season averages); they need the other guys to pick up the slack offensively.

If they can win one game on the road, then this series could get extremely interesting.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Pacers are 48-18 since the new year, a 60-win pace. They're the real deal and have the depth to square up with the Thunder. Siakam is a great 2nd option who is both more experience & reliable than JDub.

That’s a legit impressive pace so I’m not pointing this out to diminish that, but OKC is 80-18 since the start of the season.

[TheGOATRises007]

I'm not seeing how the Pacers win more than a game. OKC are just too loaded.

OKC in 5. Maybe even 4.

[cjx]

Hard work is undefeated, Fam

Pacers in 6 !

I don't appreciate your rooting against OKC every series I thought we were friends

We are unequivocally friends. OKC is going to win 2 out of the next 3 Finals. That is the prophecy

[CobraCommander]

Okc in 3

[Beethoven]

There is absolutely NO WAY the Pacers will beat the thunder. All arguments point to an okc championship. This is guaranteed.
Thanks.

[Edrees]

OKC in 5

But I hope Pacers win in 4, 5, 6, or 7. Would be one of the most unlikely NBA champs of all time and exactly the type of upset the NBA needs.

[bledredwine]

This is a really beautiful finals. Deep, skilled teams. Not heliocentric. Hopefully this is the style emulated by other teams going forward.

It really is. It’s the first time I remember a final being like this on both sides in recent memory.