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

[BigGargamel]

It's wishful thinking, obviously. There is no logical reason other than "wanting to see it" to pick the Pacers.

[mdonnelly1989]

They are treating the pacers like a g league team lol

If I were a Pacers fan, I would have been so angered listening to the recent Bill Simmons Podcast. He and Russillo insinuated that it wasn’t worth “previewing” the Finals because the matchup was lopsided.

Like, we’ve been talking about the NBA season since Halloween! Why stop now!?

They are selling it that way because if they're "wrong," then they can flip it around and say it's either the biggest choke or the greatest upset of all time (by the Thunder) and then they can do a million-and-one pods (over the summer and into next season) about how this is devastating for OKC and they may never recover from a more perfect opportunity to win a chip. It's a content hedge.

Think about this. Everything they cite is analytics based, yet they still felt Cleveland would roll Indiana just because, not actually looking at the player matchups, things like shooting variance, injury concerns. Boston wasn't in trouble in their minds until they were down 3-1. Somehow Denver, with an interim coach was able to make OKC play ugly AF in multiple games with an injured team. You can't use analytics for everything. You still have to watch the games and see what some of these teams do well.

Minnesota played right into OKC's hands because they collectively do not valuable the basketball. Total opposite of the team Indiana is. OKC may totally dominate the Pacers, but if they do, it's not going to be because SGA was awesome. He's a given. It's going to be because Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have reached their final form and all their playoff armor has been built. If it's a 6-7 gamer (in either direction), it's probably going to be because the latter two are still not consistent enough to be great every night.

This is really fascinating to me because, Thunder were either A.) One game from being eliminated in the second round again and major choke job given regular season success... or B.) Already being talked about as the next dynasty given their age and team structure.

Pretty wild to think about how a game 7 like that can determine the NBA history landscape

[Chuck Everett]

This is really fascinating to me because, Thunder were either A.) One game from being eliminated in the second round again and major choke job given regular season success... or B.) Already being talked about as the next dynasty given their age and team structure.

Pretty wild to think about how a game 7 like that can determine the NBA history landscape

A single game can have that huge of an impact on the league as a whole. I absolutely agree.

[Ssj16]

For all the advantages OKC has over Indy, they are at a deficit in two areas for the first time this playoffs-

1. coaching
2. depth

.

Depth??????

[lethalizer]

This is really fascinating to me because, Thunder were either A.) One game from being eliminated in the second round again and major choke job given regular season success... or B.) Already being talked about as the next dynasty given their age and team structure.

Pretty wild to think about how a game 7 like that can determine the NBA history landscape

Wouldn't be the first time this has happened, you should know this first hand as a Bulls fan.

91-92 Bulls had a +10 SRS, won 67 games, swept the first round series against the Heat.

Then came the Knicks, who gave them one hell of a fight and pushed the series to 7. Just like the 2025 Thunder, they also blew them out in game 7 to close out the series.

Lose that game 7, and everything changes for the Bulls dynasty timeline.

[PistolPeteJR]

Yeah, don’t see it. OKC in 5 or 6, no disrespect to Indy. But I do think this series is going to be a slugfest.

[flow]

They have consistently overachieved in these playoffs. They have 5 guys that can make a 3 in their starting lineup. They have no ego. They are unselfish. They play hard. Them winning wouldn't surprise me...

And 4 more on the bench.

[Froob]

I think it'd have to be an insane shot variance. I think Indy will take their chances giving up open 3s and take a lot of em.

[hugepatsfan]

There’s really no way to pick IND and it be rooted in any logic. It’s kind of like last year before with BOS/DAL or DEN/MIA where one team is so far ahead of the other. At least with BOS/DAL last year you could lie to yourself and say the gap was close enough that Luka being the best player could matter.

Series should be a sweep or done in 5 like the last 2.

[Pattycakes]

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

Huh

This is the finals bro any team can win. What am I missing is the real question

[Jailblazers7]

That game 7 against Denver really did feel like a turning point, especially for Jalen Williams. He was having some real struggles in the playoffs over the past 2 years but he broke through in game 7 and has carried that confidence/momentum forward. If he continues playing like he did in the WCF, then OKC is extremely hard to beat.

[M2J]

Pacers don't turn it over and that can force OKC to be a half court team.

[Fo-Real]

The Pacers are very talented and deep with game changers on both ends of the floor, I think they have a shot. They have multiple defenders to throw at Shai. Honestly, I don't like the chosen one feel the Thunder are getting and I'm hating a little. I like the grit of the Pacers!!

[CIN-C-STAR]

1) 3-point shooting variance
2) Injury variance — doesn’t have to be Shai but even if one of Chet, Jaylin Williams or Caruso go down these teams are pretty even imo

Other factors:
Coaching — Advantage Carlisle
OKC’s reliance on Shai — he’s the MVP so no small task, but if they limit him I don’t particularly love OKC’s second options. Jaylin Williams has had some big games but struggled in others, including in past playoff runs. Chet is super young, and the lights of the Finals are bright.
Parity — Indy was a 60-win team with Hali in the lineup the second half of the season. These teams are a little closer than the analytics show, and there have been plenty of upsets these playoffs.

That said, OKC in 6 imo.
Would be surprising but not shocking if Indy wins.

[nbafan38]

People want a storyline and a close series, the reality is the teams with thunder like metrics almost never lose in the finals and 69/79 champions have been a top 3 seed. Anything can happen but thunder have the best player, the best team, and homecourt so this is way more likely thunder in 5 or less than pacers win the series.

[Upperclass]

Pacers will win in 7. OKC's main players can showup and Indy can still win due to Siakams experience, Carlisle's experience and Haliburtons ability to control a game.

Mainstream media and fans dont neccessarily know how to5 determine a series winner so its not about something being missed. Whichever team is expected to win is who most poeople think will win.

[Lalouie]

if posters directly answered the question "if you believe the pacers will win,,,,"

i would've expected almost zero replies to the thread

[Upperclass]

Pacers will win in 7. OKC's main players can showup and Indy can still win due to Siakams experience, Carlisle's experience and Haliburtons ability to control a game.

Mainstream media and fans dont neccessarily know how to5 determine a series winner so its not about something being missed. Whichever team is expected to win is who most poeople think will win.

Was pretty obvious. Pacers are a better shooting team and a MUCH better rebounding team.

[Upperclass]

They'll win in 6 though

[cgf]

It's wishful thinking, obviously. There is no logical reason other than "wanting to see it" to pick the Pacers.

Obviously