If you feel the Pacers are going to beat the Thunder...

[mdonnelly1989]

If you truly believe the Pacers are going to defeat the Thunder....What do you think the masses are missing..

[Iwasawitness]

Nothing... sometimes people just think one team is better than the other.

It isn't complicated.

[dolphinatik]

Physicality. The Pacers can raise the level more than okc and if the whistles are light they more than have a chance. Both yama can win with pace or shooting but pacers have more size in the bench if they wanted to get pushy.

[playoffs]

I think the Thunder are the favorites but I don't think it's as out of the question that Pacers have a chance like many on here are making it out to be. Thunder had a cakewalk against MIN, but struggled against Denver. The perception of their invincibility is based on recency bias of one series against a team that might not even have gotten there had it not been for Steph pulling a hamstring.

No one gave the Pacers a chance against the Cavs, and they demolished them. For that matter, no one gave the Knocks a chance against the Celtics and they demolished them. And then were demolished by the Pacers. Indiana may not be as good as the Thunder on paper but they have an incredible offense, no glaring weaknesses, and a lot of fight in them. And like I said, they have proven they can win as heavy underdogs. That's not to say that they WILL win, but I see it as a 60-40 series in Thunder's favor, not 95-5 like many others on here see it. Definitely wouldn't be shocked to see the Pacers winning it.

[chilluminati]

Basically? "Never say never". That's it. I have no other logic.

How many times have things gone exactly as planned in this decade of 2020's basketball? We're not in the prime LeBron/Steph era anymore, we're still waiting for others to reach that level. And those teams assembled that made the league predictable over the past 15 years or so? The CBA is now working against those types of teams coming together. I say all of this just to try and make sense of how unpredictable basketball has become in this era of parity. I mean, who actually has an accurate playoff bracket anymore?

On paper, the Thunder wins. But every time we pick a logical winner, we're usually wrong.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I think the Thunder are the favorites but I don't think it's as out of the question that Pacers have a chance like many on here are making it out to be. Thunder had a cakewalk against MIN, but struggled against Denver. The perception of their invincibility is based on recency bias of one series against a team that might not even have gotten there had it not been for Steph pulling a hamstring.

No one gave the Pacers a chance against the Cavs, and they demolished them. For that matter, no one gave the Knocks a chance against the Celtics and they demolished them. And then were demolished by the Pacers. Indiana may not be as good as the Thunder on paper but they have an incredible offense, no glaring weaknesses, and a lot of fight in them. And like I said, they have proven they can win as heavy underdogs. That's not to say that they WILL win, but I see it as a 60-40 series in Thunder's favor, not 95-5 like many others on here see it. Definitely wouldn't be shocked to see the Pacers winning it.

I wouldn’t call it recency bias. The Thunder have very clearly been the best basketball team in the NBA all season and it’s pretty likely we are watching the birth of a dynasty that’s going to win numerous Championships over the next handful of years.

[UcanUwill]

Maybe Pacers get very hot from corners? OKC defends on ball players crazy well, forces turnovers, but gives up corners to a point. So hey, 3 point variance is a possibility. Sometimes, Chet and J-dubb just can't hit jumpers at all, so here you go, it is a long shot, but get hot in 4 games, its possible.

[dhsilv2]

Maybe Pacers get very hot from corners? OKC defends on ball players crazy well, forces turnovers, but gives up corners to a point. So hey, 3 point variance is a possibility. Sometimes, Chet and J-dubb just can't hit jumpers at all, so here you go, it is a long shot, but get hot in 4 games, its possible.

OKC closes out better than anyone I've ever seen. If the pacers get hot, they'll adjust. Pacers will have to solve 4-5 different defensive looks if they're going to win this. It's a tall order but nothing is impossible.

Also OKC in 5.

[UcanUwill]

Maybe Pacers get very hot from corners? OKC defends on ball players crazy well, forces turnovers, but gives up corners to a point. So hey, 3 point variance is a possibility. Sometimes, Chet and J-dubb just can't hit jumpers at all, so here you go, it is a long shot, but get hot in 4 games, its possible.

OKC closes out better than anyone I've ever seen. If the pacers get hot, they'll adjust. Pacers will have to solve 4-5 different defensive looks if they're going to win this. It's a tall order but nothing is impossible.

Also OKC in 5.

I agree, but Pacers offense is no slouch. We will see, I have OKC bet going on, so I will be hoping they win, but it is wild how much of a favorites they are now. I made a bet when they were still in second round, if I bet same money on them today, my cashout would be around 10 times smaller than at time they played Denver. Of course another variance there was Boston, who just crapped their pants.

Rick did it once already, so I fear him and his squad still. I am confident in OKC chances, but some fear exist.

[Statlanta]

If you'd think the Pacers win the series then it's because they steal a game due to their heroics of pace and on the back of their coach and 2nd best player having championship experience.

[nate33]

OKC's offense is highly dependent on generating turnovers and scoring on the break. Indy is 2nd best in the league in A/TO ratio, and 3rd best in the league in avoiding turnovers overall. If Indy can take care of the ball and hit 3's, they can stay in it.

[bbms]

carlisle has to find a way to steal one in okc for them to have a shot.

if he comes 0-2 to indiana there'll be no series

[dhsilv2]

Maybe Pacers get very hot from corners? OKC defends on ball players crazy well, forces turnovers, but gives up corners to a point. So hey, 3 point variance is a possibility. Sometimes, Chet and J-dubb just can't hit jumpers at all, so here you go, it is a long shot, but get hot in 4 games, its possible.

OKC closes out better than anyone I've ever seen. If the pacers get hot, they'll adjust. Pacers will have to solve 4-5 different defensive looks if they're going to win this. It's a tall order but nothing is impossible.

Also OKC in 5.

I agree, but Pacers offense is no slouch. We will see, I have OKC bet going on, so I will be hoping they win, but it is wild how much of a favorites they are now. I made a bet when they were still in second round, if I bet same money on them today, my cashout would be around 10 times smaller than at time they played Denver. Of course another variance there was Boston, who just crapped their pants.

Rick did it once already, so I fear him and his squad still. I am confident in OKC chances, but some fear exist.

I mean by some metrics this is the best team since the 1996 Bulls, including those KD/Curry teams. People just seem to be sleeping on the season we just saw. I'm not saying they're THAT good either but...OKC has been a run away favorite all year despite people playing the "too young" card.

I know Jokic gave people pause we people gotta realize just how good Jokic was in that series...on BOTH ends.

[Optms]

Lack of experience for OKC and Thunder not being nearly as engaged as they should. Also the Pacers just being that good?

I have OKC winning but it wouldn't shock me if the Pacers win. Pacers are battle tested and Haliburton is really elite this post season. He is leading a well oiled offense and OKC will learn trying to take away Haliburton's passing lanes won't be as easy as it was with Jokic. He doesn't make careless passess and he doesn't depend soley on the halfcourt to do his damage.

[azcatz11]

Nothing... sometimes people just think one team is better than the other.

It isn't complicated.

They are treating the pacers like a g league team lol

[Blame Rasho]

OKC's offense is highly dependent on generating turnovers and scoring on the break. Indy is 2nd best in the league in A/TO ratio, and 3rd best in the league in avoiding turnovers overall. If Indy can take care of the ball and hit 3's, they can stay in it.

Nate33… long time poster… you have said it the best and I concur.

[tamaraw08]

Maybe Pacers get very hot from corners? OKC defends on ball players crazy well, forces turnovers, but gives up corners to a point. So hey, 3 point variance is a possibility. Sometimes, Chet and J-dubb just can't hit jumpers at all, so here you go, it is a long shot, but get hot in 4 games, its possible.

OKC closes out better than anyone I've ever seen. If the pacers get hot, they'll adjust. Pacers will have to solve 4-5 different defensive looks if they're going to win this. It's a tall order but nothing is impossible.

Also OKC in 5.

I think one of the biggest reasons why Denver managed to beat them 3 times was that OKC struggled as a whole shooting 32% from 3 the whole series.
Chet shot 22%,
JDub under 24%
Dort under 29%
Both Shai and Joe, 33.3%.

[UcanUwill]

Maybe Pacers get very hot from corners? OKC defends on ball players crazy well, forces turnovers, but gives up corners to a point. So hey, 3 point variance is a possibility. Sometimes, Chet and J-dubb just can't hit jumpers at all, so here you go, it is a long shot, but get hot in 4 games, its possible.

OKC closes out better than anyone I've ever seen. If the pacers get hot, they'll adjust. Pacers will have to solve 4-5 different defensive looks if they're going to win this. It's a tall order but nothing is impossible.

Also OKC in 5.

I think one of the biggest reasons why Denver managed to beat them 3 times was that OKC struggled as a whole shooting 32% from 3 the whole series.
Chet shot 22%,
JDub under 24%
Dort under 29%
Both Shai and Joe, 33.3%.

For how good OKC supposedly is, I just do not have faith when Chet or WIlliams shoot the ball. Maybe thats just me and numbers would disprove that, but thats how I feel watching them. And those are their two other guys beside SGA. SGA got his MVP so he was ultimately recognized, but I feel some fans did not recognize what a carry job SGA did this year, Some people who argue Luka is better act that Luka would cure cancer with this Thunder team, like it is some kind of monstars squad. SGA supporting cast while great defensively, still leaves some to be desired, some kind of superteam it aint, I do not think. In two years, maybe they will be that, but now, team definitely has some real flaws.

They are still great tho, they are better than others in a way, they do not even need a good shooting night to win a game.

[Helsbyte]

I expect in game 1 that both teams come out of the gate a little too excited and we will see early timeouts by both coaches as they try to settle their teams down. Indiana I believe have Siakim, a proven vet they will go to calm them down to get a bucket or two. I don't know who on OKC is going to do that. I can see Indy jumping out on OKC early in game 1 and OKC tighten up further. Maybe I am wrong. Who knows, both teams first finals appearance. I expect some jitters early on.

[Mavrelous]

Rick The Prick Carlisle