2025 NBA FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Indiana Pacers (Series tied 1-1)

[Mk0]

Thunder gonna be the 2001 Lakers. Lose game 1 and then win the next 4. Haliburton's game 1 shot is his AI stepping over Ty Lue moment for the runner-ups.

Also what happened when OKC played the Heat in 2012

I have no skin in the game. OKC is playing better than Indiana this game. But let's be real, the foul calls are very one sided in this series. I don't think I've seen Shai be called for one offensive foul on his push offs...

I would be happy if OKC wins, I would be happy if Indiana wins. Fouls are fouls.

You don't understand, that makes you a hater.

[sp6r=underrated]

I always feel better when it happens though. When the losers start complaining about officiating, it means OKC is dominating.

OKC fans complain at the same rate as other fanbases. This is an NBA problem.

It is, NBA fans are fickle. They need an external force excuse and officials are the easy scapegoat.

It is a product of a couple of things. Basketball is not a sport of brightline rules, most of the rulebook is subjective. There are a lot of possessions which means there are a lot of plays. The NBA allows the coaches/players to complain, and some players get away with an egregious amount of complaining (Draymond). And that is a recipe for a lot of fan complaining.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

SGA is too smooth literally plays at his own pace. Looks like he's in a league by himself offensively

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If he had the athleticism I think he'd be the guy to take over the MJ/LeBron etc mantle. I don't buy that his personality is the main reason, I think they can make anyone work, and I don't think being Canadian really matters, its purely because he doesn't have highlight dunks.

[Jeremy Lin 7]

I stopped watching at 4:00 left. Too painful.

I stopped watching in 3rd. Was checking the score mostly. It's too boring for me as a neutral.

Stopped watching in the 2nd. Agreed so hard to get into this as a neutral. Something is missing.

The Nations League finals had everything today. Ronaldo vs Yamal.

[jehosafats]

Caruso put up 20pts? I watched the whole game. Didn't catch even one of them.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

There won't be a miracle come back tonight.

Nope.

[RiotPunch]

JDub has to be better on offense. A TO and another brick from 3

That brick killed my parlay.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

I don't see the SGA pushoffs people keep talking about, or at least they're nothing close to guys like Tatum. SGA is very crafty and doesn't really extend much with his arm, I don't think he's affecting the defender when he does it. Tatum will literally get his whole arm into a guy and shove him.

[threethehardway]

OKC played better than IND for two games straight.

Tyrese has to demonstrate he can score at will against playoff defenses.

That "true pg" crap isn't going to work when your team is getting its head kicked in with no resistance.

If the others on OKC chip in on offense, there's no hope.

OKC is just better. Late game heroics don't mean crap other than you was getting your ass kicked for 47 minutes.

[Mk0]

Caruso put up 20pts? I watched the whole game. Didn't catch even one of them.

He hit his 3s and had a handful of drives. When Caruso's shot is on he is incredible. Perfect role player.

[scrabbarista]

I stopped watching at 4:00 left. Too painful.

I stopped watching in 3rd. Was checking the score mostly. It's too boring for me as a neutral.

Stopped watching in the 2nd. Agreed so hard to get into this as a neutral. Something is missing.

The Nations League finals had everything today. Ronaldo vs Yamal.

You guys are haters.

[mfletcher4177]

Also what happened when OKC played the Heat in 2012

I have no skin in the game. OKC is playing better than Indiana this game. But let's be real, the foul calls are very one sided in this series. I don't think I've seen Shai be called for one offensive foul on his push offs...

I would be happy if OKC wins, I would be happy if Indiana wins. Fouls are fouls.

You don't understand, that makes you a hater.

You made my day lol. Well played.

[Nuntius]

Anyone complaining about calls here isn’t a serious person

I always feel better when it happens though. When the losers start complaining about officiating, it means OKC is dominating.

I haven't followed the thread closely (not easy to follow both the game and the thread) but my guess is that the ones complaining aren't Pacers fans. We aren't numerous in here and we don't tend to complain either.

[hardenASG13]

Also what happened when OKC played the Heat in 2012

Nah that one was a bit different. I'm not going to argue OKC was better but they just gave a bad account of themselves in the finals. Philly/Indy is much closer to the underdog pulling off a win before the inevitable defeat.

Yeah the 2012 Thunder were inexperienced but they had a better record than Miami and were favorites for a lot of people going into that series. The talent level of that team was absurd, 3 future MVP's, Serge Ibaka, Derek Fisher, Sefalosha for defense... they were stacked.

Ibaka averaged 9ppg that year. They started Perkins at center (I think that Heat series would've been different if they'd benched Perk entirely) and nobody else on the team averaged over 5ppg on the season. It was all their stars.

[sp6r=underrated]

Also what happened when OKC played the Heat in 2012

Nah that one was a bit different. I'm not going to argue OKC was better but they just gave a bad account of themselves in the finals. Philly/Indy is much closer to the underdog pulling off a win before the inevitable defeat.

Yeah the 2012 Thunder were inexperienced but they had a better record than Miami and were favorites for a lot of people going into that series. The talent level of that team was absurd, 3 future MVP's, Serge Ibaka, Derek Fisher, Sefalosha for defense... they were stacked.

I thought OKC was going to win. They just beat an excellent San Antonio team four straight while Miami went life and death with an older Boston team. OKC's talent level seemed off the charts at the time. And as you said that assessment holds up. In retrospect, I probably overrated em and undervalued Miami but I still feel they gave a bad account of themselves.

Honestly that was their only real bad series from 2010-16. They either had injuries or lost very close series. But in 2012 they played poorly and I'm not trying to take credit away from Miami.

[MrPainfulTruth]

My honest observations:

-It's not the reason they're winning, they've clearly just outplayed the Pacers this game, but the Thunder are allowed a lot more leeway on defense than the Pacers. They're allowed to be physical in a way the Pacers just aren't. Maybe some of that is on the Pacers, because they don't know how to sell fouls as well.

That is what happened in every one of their series and the entire league sees it except for a few casual fanboys who probably jumped on the bandwagon some months ago (to know who i am referring to just watch the replies here). At least two head coaches exploded in post game interviews. Its not what normally happens...Thats why even Doris Burke discussed it on broadcast on ESPN (imagine that!) and why she is abotu to get fired. The entire season including the MVP race, the playoffs and the finals feel scripted. SGA is the chosen new face of the league - a guy with a bland personality that can be formed to represent the league as desired - and as it happened for LBJ before, the league will do what ever is neccessary to achieve the desired outcome.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Jaylin Williams has that from three?

[jkvonny]

Good job, OKC.

Took care of business tonite. Even series now.

Pacers are tuff, gritty.

[Coach Carter]

The 2012 OKC trio were way more talented just lacking in intangibles.

There is no shame in losing to a prime Lebron. They just needed more time

Russ and Harden were never good in the play-offs. KD had to join a winning team, to win. In 2021, I'd admit he was the best player in that bucks nets series. That was the year to change the narrative on his legacy.

[Chuck Everett]

Great bounce back game from the Thunder. Carusohow and Wiggins with found money. Need to bring that same energy to Indianapolis.