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

[Ito]

Wat the hali

[Edrees]

Why is it most of the critics/haters of the Pacers seem to be fans of Western Conference teams and by that i mean Denver (and Joker Stans from what I am reading)

I think we all wanted (no matter who we root for) a long and dramatic finals series that goes at least 6 games, yet some fans (not OKC Stans who seemed magnanimous and gracious in defeat) seem rattled the poor plucky underdogs from small town Indiana upset the apple cart and stole game 1.

Aside from last year, I don't think I have enjoyed a more enjoyable game 1 of the Finals since 2008 !

They built their team (Indy) the right way, I remember reading somewhere they have only had one under 30 win season since the 80s, never tanked, and made some bold and aggressive trades and astute drafting.

Also suffered a ton of injuries this season.

This team is as anti trust the process tanking Sixers (a team and philosophy I truly abhor) and should be given their flowers for that.

Just thinking, if they win the chip, does this mean the Nets and Flint Tropics are the only teams left from the ABA who haven't won a championship in the NBA post merger??

#LetsGetTropical !

Every laker fan is rooting for the Pacers, if you check out lakers subreddit it's not even close.

Reminds me of when the Sixers took game 1 against the Lakers in 2001.

I personally expect OKC to basically dominate the rest of the series.

Except the Lakers showed how dominant they actually were by being undefeated before that including sweeping a 58 win team without home court advantage. Oh and also winning a title the year before.

OKC hasn't shown that, even being extended to 7 by a team that only won 50 games. Basically OKC didn't lose this game to complacency. they lost because Pacers played out of their goddamn minds.

LAL only lost to complacency because of 11 strait playoff wins and no losses, coming off an NBA title, they thought it was going to be easy so they just relaxed. this situation isnt' remotely like that.

[PlatinumState]

Its over

I just don’t personally understand this mentality.

It’s one game. It’s not super rare for the team who lost the first game to win the series. OKC did it against the Nuggets.

What do we gain by EVERYTHING being decided by the latest instance? If the Pacers lose next game, the same people saying it’s over now, will be shouting how the Thunder have dominated 99% of the minutes.

Why does the latest thing have the be the indicator of everything?

When you win on the road against the best reg season team while getting a record number of turnovers in a finals game, its over trust me

[RookieStar]

I have this weird feeling. I dunno i cant explain it but... now we have had our feel good "anythin is possible" moment.... i kinda feel OKC gonna win 4 straight.

Its like they popped their cherries and now can get serious

[KillMonger]

interesting strategy to hunt shai in the waning moments of the game.....i was always told shai was a good defender.....didn't look like it to me in those moments

[Deivork]

Pacers don't start trying until the last 5 minutes I swear

Clutch time merchants


Truly incredible stuff hope they pull it off

Yeah, for the whole game it was like... dude this Pacers team are not giving their all. OKC wasn't playing a perfect game, but you couldn't question the effort: tough defense, forcing turnovers, amazing Shai, Caruso and Lu... Meanwhile Pacers with defensive lapses, hesitating on offense, passive Hali, subpar Siakam, allowing steals... It was all scripted for a Thunder win. I still don't believe they did it.

[Deivork]

Mark D. is learning how to coach on the fly.

He's one of these tinkering type of coaches that likes to be creative vs liking winning.

There is no reason to go small against the Pacers.

Thunder doesn't have any offensive fire power besides Shai. The Thunder is built like the 90s Bulls. Generational defense and an ATG scoring guard that carries the offense.

There is no reason to play Ajay Mitchell or Isaiah Joe at this point.

Play JDub, IHart, and Chet. Focus on rebounding and stopping paint touches. Focus on contesting every shot.

The offense by the team isn't going to be there and there's no point in screwing around to manufacture it when everyone knows your team can't score for crap.

JWill better get his game right in the off-season. He's terrible. The Thunder's issue on offense is mostly his fault. He can't shoot 3s. He can't dribble. He can't create for others. He's useless against playoff defenses.

Some good points. But I don't agree on J-will. He played bad, he's still inconsistent but he's played very good PO games and he's in his third year.

Moving on from Hartenstein felt odd, and a card that you may wanna save for countering. Now they used it right away and lost. Risky. What was the goal? They're line-up has brought them here so you don't adapt beforehand.

[Mavrelous]

The geniuses on the NBA app, sent a notification that IND won game 1, I didn't look at it except at the header, so I watched the game with that in mind, and had no clue how it went down, absolutely insane...

[Raps in 4]

I have this weird feeling. I dunno i cant explain it but... now we have had our feel good "anythin is possible" moment.... i kinda feel OKC gonna win 4 straight.

Its like they popped their cherries and now can get serious

Nah

[Raps in 4]

The geniuses on the NBA app, sent a notification that IND won game 1, I didn't look at it except at the header, so I watched the game with that in mind, and had no clue how it went down, absolutely insane...

It's the Pacers. You should have known.

[doogie_hauser]

Why is it most of the critics/haters of the Pacers seem to be fans of Western Conference teams and by that i mean Denver (and Joker Stans from what I am reading)

I think we all wanted (no matter who we root for) a long and dramatic finals series that goes at least 6 games, yet some fans (not OKC Stans who seemed magnanimous and gracious in defeat) seem rattled the poor plucky underdogs from small town Indiana upset the apple cart and stole game 1.

Aside from last year, I don't think I have enjoyed a more enjoyable game 1 of the Finals since 2008 !

They built their team (Indy) the right way, I remember reading somewhere they have only had one under 30 win season since the 80s, never tanked, and made some bold and aggressive trades and astute drafting.

Also suffered a ton of injuries this season.

This team is as anti trust the process tanking Sixers (a team and philosophy I truly abhor) and should be given their flowers for that.

Just thinking, if they win the chip, does this mean the Nets and Flint Tropics are the only teams left from the ABA who haven't won a championship in the NBA post merger??

#LetsGetTropical !

Every laker fan is rooting for the Pacers, if you check out lakers subreddit it's not even close.

Reminds me of when the Sixers took game 1 against the Lakers in 2001.

I personally expect OKC to basically dominate the rest of the series.

Except the Lakers showed how dominant they actually were by being undefeated before that including sweeping a 58 win team without home court advantage. Oh and also winning a title the year before.

OKC hasn't shown that, even being extended to 7 by a team that only won 50 games. Basically OKC didn't lose this game to complacency. they lost because Pacers played out of their goddamn minds.

LAL only lost to complacency because of 11 strait playoff wins and no losses, coming off an NBA title, they thought it was going to be easy so they just relaxed. this situation isnt' remotely like that.

Got to love it when Celtics and Lakers fans find some common ground we can all agree on !!

[Sharcm1]

I think that since the pacers have now done this for three straight series then maybe we should all start believing in them.

But damn what a come back by the pacers. Again. I thought they were outplayed most of the game. Especially the first half. 20 turnovers in the half and looked like the thunder were swarming them on d. But they found a way again

[Deivork]

Reminds me of when the Sixers took game 1 against the Lakers in 2001.

I personally expect OKC to basically dominate the rest of the series.

I really doubt that. Not only Pacers took one game. It was an away game, a tone setter and they now have the moral ground. I'm not sure who will win, but it will be close for sure. Despite some great numbers, OKC's proving to be far from a juggernaut. Nothing wrong with that, but as others have said, they're not the 16-1 Lakers.

[Deivork]

I have this weird feeling. I dunno i cant explain it but... now we have had our feel good "anythin is possible" moment.... i kinda feel OKC gonna win 4 straight.

Its like they popped their cherries and now can get serious

Would you say the Thunder played a non serious game? I wouldn't. They looked like often (dominant) but then missed shots in the end and lost. They have room for improvement? Sure, but so do the Pacers who, on the other hand were quite subpar.

[Deivork]

The geniuses on the NBA app, sent a notification that IND won game 1, I didn't look at it except at the header, so I watched the game with that in mind, and had no clue how it went down, absolutely insane...

Happened to me in a previous round. Such a tremendous shame of a service. We pay more than other subscriptions and get trash.

[eyeatoma]

Read on Twitter

?t=aoY27P1Zv6Sr76ybr3mPdw&s=19

The Pacers have been sports bettings wet dream!!

Sent from my SM-X920 using Tapatalk

[RookieStar]

I have this weird feeling. I dunno i cant explain it but... now we have had our feel good "anythin is possible" moment.... i kinda feel OKC gonna win 4 straight.

Its like they popped their cherries and now can get serious

Would you say the Thunder played a non serious game? I wouldn't. They looked like often (dominant) but then missed shots in the end and lost. They have room for improvement? Sure, but so do the Pacers who, on the other hand were quite subpar.

Actually... kinda weird but aside from SGAs usual YOLO and Nesmiths late game usual, both teams didnt play like what i expect.

I dunno... as i said... just this weird feeling... could be just gas lol

[bbms]

the thunder led the whole thing for 47:59.7 seconds lmao they played great, just poor shooting and poor execution to finish it

they have proven they got in them to recover from these situations

let's see

[The Corey's]

Read on Twitter

?t=aoY27P1Zv6Sr76ybr3mPdw&s=19

The Pacers have been sports bettings wet dream!!

Sent from my SM-X920 using Tapatalk

I cringe at how fake that video is.

[Bloodbather]

Unbelievable ending, these Pacers are ridiculous. Can't believe they keep pulling off the same ****, Real Madrid levels of psychological edge here.

That being said, I'm going to double down on my prediction. I think this is the only game Pacers take in this series. I always thought they could only win by shooting a ridiculous percentage from 3 and I think this was it.

I think OKC is more likely to replicate their turnover forcing than Pacers are their 3PT shooting. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren probably won't disappear to the extent that they have.

Maybe they have another one in them, but I don't see them winning the title. Either way, what a start to the Finals. I'd be glad to be wrong and get a great competitive series.